Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-07-05

"You can't do more, yet Miriam, said "She've
thrown open the door SO wide maiden can and he
won't walk in"
"Shes done nothing unbecoming, answered the
mssis; "but she loves him, and of simple girl
like her can't help showing it,
RUT simple she was not and love him she didn't;
because she wasn't built to love anybody but her
selfish, greedy self She knew that he bit above
her by his havage birthl and she knew that he
only and would have pot of money some day, and
she knew plenty else about him; but from her point of
Nicholas catch at all for himself only for
his possessions. She'd had affair at seventeen
that to nothing; but she really loved any
body else than Miriam Wedlake, it Tom Bassett
the postman,-a faxen man, much her own color, with
high complexion and the cheek OF the devil where
girls were concerned.
They say that Satan finds some mischief always for
idle hands to do but in my experience extending over
three score years en I've found that It's the busy
interest Satan most, because they've got the en-
ergy and push and pluck The lazy be feeble folk most
tmes-too lazy for anything like right down bit
of good wickedness because you see, wlckedness IN
the grand hard work, and plenty of it.
And it's among the busy people, not the lazy Ones
you'll find the biggest rascas.
And it with Postman Bassett; tor, though he
never walked less than twenty mile day, yet come
Sunday that always hungry and thirsty tor a
bit of naughtiness, poaching such hke,-and when
he wasn't after the fish birds he'd got girl in tow
bit too much about him go very far in that direction
Besides, he had only postman's money and lived
with a drunken mother. So Tom Bassett use
though she admired his dashing and, that being
So for her to pretend to love Nicholas Damerel was
ridiculous IN my opinion.
However, at seventy years old you know exactly
what your opinion is worth in the of the younger
generation; uttered mine except sometimes
to Jane Wedlake. She always very kind to me for
her fathers sake, because Rupert Wedlake set good
store me- though seemed no more than dull old
dog other folk
Me and Jane, however, would get talking about 1t
sometimes and she'd often stand up for Nicholas, yet
wonder good bit why he held off, and when he'd
screw his courage up and pop the question.
"N1iriams done all she could to help him, and so has
Mother and SO have l. said Jane.
We were coming back from a reve at the time, and
had left Mrs Wedake and her eldest at the fair Then
a horse overlook in a lane, and on the horse
Nicholas Damerell.
HAVE e had enough too, Mr. Damerell?" asked
II Jane; and he nodded.
Then talked about the hay, and said it cruel
thin along of the dryth; and he nodded again.
@Dd you see Miriam and Mother?" asked Jane; and
he shook his head
Suddenly he spoke. 3You singing when came
up he said.
And SO she had been, trying song that she'd
heard sung at the fair by comical black niger.
a can't sing answered Jane. miriam sings better
far than me-"
After a pause Damerell spoke again. you're iar!'
he said.
Then he reckoned he'd talked enough for after
noon, and shut his mouth and listened to and Jane
From time to time he fdgeted with something in his
pocket but whatever it might have been he left there
Jane, who always sporting, stuck up for Miriam
in her little way and told her sisters good points
"a few more than she had be honest. And Nicholas
listened very respectful with his dark eyes
on her and me and now on his horses ears