Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-20

sputtered noisily under the shadowy
arch a huckster's cart ratified east
ward; and still the man did not come.
Everything seemed to be hghting
against her.
A tap sounded upon the panel of
the door. She wheeled quickly, but
remained where she was, undecided.
The tap came again, with a little more
throat.
"Come in"
The door opened.
"Oh. 1t is you. Mrs. Oliveri" ash
why. what's all ,this?" demanded
the landlady. indicating the trunk and
suit case and the depuded walls.
II am leaving in few minutes. The
rent of the piano has been paid to
date. They will come for 1t tomor-
row."
Leaving? What in the world has
happened?" ..-, ..
Il wish I could tell you. but can't.
] have lived three years in this room,
and you have all been very good to
me-"
But don't understand! Child, you
are all alone, and i couldn't love you
more If you were my own. Tell me
what has happened and maybe l can
help"
Dear Mrs. oliver the only help is
what l must give myself"
You are running away to get mar
ried?" ~ Be-.
ming away from myself!
~
should only lie to you. My determi-
nation is irrevocable. Some day I'll
come back and tell you
You leave me with grave and ter
rible doubts" said the landlady in a
troubled voice.
Mrs. oliver"
We'll, this is life; this is a big and
wicked city; 1 am old. and 1 know.
You are young and pretty and alone
The landlady's motherhood, which
was as compreh ending as it was deep,
yearned toward this girl, who had
always remained aloof. The brood
she gathered under her wing was
composed Of struggling artists and
writers, but yonder chick had been
Matched from a strange egg. You
can't tell me what the trouble is"
mo" The girl turned quickly
toward the window. Once more came
the beat of iron shoes. A baggage
cart stopped at the curb 1.-THE man
for my things. Thought he never
would come" She walked toward the
door. The landlady stepped aside.
The girl whirled unexpectedly and
flung her arms around the surprised
lar 1,xl, 1T
been so good to me! Good-bye" She
flew out into the hall and down the
stairs. You will find trunk and
suit case upstairs. Please hurry" she
said to the cartman, whom she met
coming up the steps.
"All right, miss"
'Ill ride with you and give you the
directions"
The man nodded. Five minutes
later he got up beside his passenger
and flicked the horse with broken
whip.
The girl looked up at the window.
She saw the bulky figure of the land
lady in silhouette. and hard lump
came into her throat. She had never
been happy in that room, but some.
tiheS sue Hdu Known content.
Beautiful old square. so brave in
history. once so brilliant in fashion,
shunted to one side like a plaything
which no longer amused the grown
up child called New York. 1t was
only now, when she was going to
leave 1t, that she realized how much
she loved every stone of it. The cleo
trio lamps were blurred and the blue
lances. grotesquely broken. danced
absurdly. She knew that she was
gazing through tears.
She focused her gaze upon the
dropping head of the horse. and for
long time refused to look right or
left. Shifie- shuttle. shiffle shuttle went
the iron shoes. One was loose. She
could hear the clink OF IT each time
the animal lifted the hoof.
"Muggy weather" volunteered the
cartman. 9TH OF nag amt got much
gumption might"
She did not reply. She heard the
sound of his voice. but the words
fell meaningless against the stone
wall around her thoughts. She was
weak and contemplate thing. no
better than the painted woman in the
street Did one inherit moral as well
as physical characteristics? Were
there such things as sixteenths, thir-
ty-seconds. sixty fourths handed