The Washington herald., 1915-11-07
NOl4

whitea'
well. that tickled me- No kidding. says
l. I'm not looking for smoke. even if do
come from Pittsburgh
You are quite distance from home says
She
I'd have gone thousand miles farther.
says ].
Not if you hadn't walked up when the train
started in SheIbyville.' says she; and then she
burned almost as red as one of the roses on the
bushes in the yard | remembered | had
dropped off to sleep on a bench in the Shelby
vile station. waiting to see which tram she
took. and only just managed to wake up In
time.
And then | told her why | had come, as
respectful and earnest as could. And | told
her everything about myself. and what | was
making. and how that all asked was just to
get acquainted with her and try to get her to
like me-
''She smiles little. and bushes some. but
her eyes never get mixed up. They look
straight at whatever she's talking to.
l never had any one talk ike this to me
before. Mr. Pescud.' says she. What did you
say your ndIllc iS-JOin!
. John A. says |.
And you came mighty near missing the
train at Powhataa Junction, too says she. with
a laugh that sounded as good as a mileage
book TO me-
How did you knowa' | asked.
Men are very clumsy said she. l knew
you were on every train. ! thought you were
going to speak to me. and I'm glad you didn't.
Then we had more talk; and at last kind
of proud. serious look came on her face and
she turned and pointed finger at the big
house.
The Alyns.' says she. have lived in Elm.
croft for hundred years. We are proud
family. Look at that mansion. 1t has fifty
rooms See the pillars and porches and bal
comics. The ceilings in the reception rooms
and the ballroom are twenty-eight feet him.
My father is lineal descendant of belted earls.
81 belted one of EN- once in the Duquesne
Hotel. in Pittsburgh says |, and he didn't Of
fer to resent it. He was there dividing his at
tentions between Monongahela whisky and
heiresses, and he got fresh
"'0f course, she goes on. my father
wouldn't allow drummer to set his foot In
Elmcroft. If he knew that was talking to one
over the fence he would lock me in my room.
Would you let me come thereP says |.
Would you talk to me if was to call? For.
goes on, if you said | might come and see
you. the earls might be belted or suspendered,
or pinned up with safety-pins. as far as | am
concerned
"T must not talk to you.' she says. because
we have not been introduced 1t is not exactly
proper So will say goodbye. Mr.
Say the NAME says l. You haven't for
gotten it.
"'Pescud,' says she. little mad.
{" The rest of the name! demdsds, cool
as could be.
John. says she.
John-what? says
- John A. says she. with her head high
Are you through, now?'
I'm coming to see the belted earl tomor-
row. says.
Hell feed you to his fox-hounds.' says
she, laughing.
IF he does. it'll improve their running,
says l. I'm something of hunter myself.
&" ! must be going in now. says she. l
oughtn't to have spoken to you at all. | hope
you'll have pleasant trip back to Minneapolis
or Pittsburgh. was it2 Good-bye!'
Goodnight. says |, and it wasn't Mime
apolis What's your name. first please?'
she hesitated. Then she pulled leaf off
a bush. and said:
my name is Jessie, says she.
Goodnight. Miss Allyn says l.
The next morning at eleven. sharp. rang
the door-bell of that Worlds Fair main build
ing. After about three-quarters of an hour an
old niger man about eighty showed up and
asked what wanted. gave him my business
card, and said wanted to see the colonel. He
showed me in:
Say, did you ever crack open a wormy
English Walnut That's what that house was
like There wasn't enough furniture in it to
fill an eight-dollar flat Some old horsehair
lou,,ss and three leooed chairs and. some