Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-08
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
In the Garref
rr,rpuRJCK HART

r,. oorret was very old and very
lne Through the little dormer win
dusty ,he gin streamed in long, slanting
DOVE ,n which danced millions of tiny
llnes l,1sn - notes. In the shadowy recesses
eoluen oucer, dim objects; spinning
weIe collection Of old trunks; some
wn.rvr furniture. Surely there was no
oroa.I ors desolate part Of the house than
tn,S. tnyot on this particular Saturday
.a.noon there were signs of life in
sls'' %. sorret. First the trapdoor at the
wv ed of the stairs had been raised, and
neah n,,ah greot caution a head had been
Nar,ed into the. room--the head OF a
,ns n man, and very handsome young
.v ,on foo: but as there was no one to
sos except a few ancient spiders. his
sood looks went unappreciated. The
tounu s man had entered the room quiet.
/, and gone to an old trunk In one OF
dormers; there he had remained
AL a long time, sitting quite still and
1ooking out through the dusty panes.
\ AT last the young man rose ana
s,r,tched himself. Then he spoke. In a
roice that was defiant. Apparently he
was addressing the spiders ~.
II don't care, he announced. lie.
her 20 rldlnB WIth ietcr 'So'oiooh
she wants to. / don't care conti'
mental whoops my dear.
This defiance seemed to make him
,rorp cheerful. and he began to rum.
mose about the dusty place. In few
rniprtes he had unearthed number Of
anc;ent habiliments and was clothing
himself in them. From dusty recess
same a long slirted coat from another
= cooked hat; and in long box low
Sown near the rafters he discovered an
old dress rapier. When he was clad he
tnrned about admiringly, trying to see
himself.
"IIl bet I'd have knocked them
azzy in George Washington time" he
chucked staggering up and down and
having low to an imaginary compan-
ion. Then he whipped out the rapier
and exclaimed: "Ods bodkins. sir .
And do you dare to insult the fairest
OF the" n slight sound made him
pause. He listened intently. 1t was re-
peated--some one was certainly coming
nm the garret stairs! In sudden
manic, lest the unknown find him in this
ridiculous masquerade, he looked Wild
ly about for place to hide, and just
as the door swung open he dropped out
OF sight behind the largest Of the
trunks, where he could see without
being seen.
The newcomer was a girl; any COM
petent Judge of girls would tell you
that she was a very lovely girl. But
her loveliness alone was hardly suffi
cient for the gasp which the man behind
the trunk gave on seeing her.
She went to the same dormer which
be had occupied and stood looking out
Of the window for some time. Then,
as be had done, she spoke:
II don't care" she announced aloud.
'If he wants to go off and suIk all
day, let him Just because he thinks
I'm going riding with Peter West
brook IL d-don't care"
There was suspicious quiver in her
voice that bclied the brave words and
the man behind the trunk was within
an ace of stepping out to comfort her.
But before he could follow his impulse
she had risen and was moving restlessly
about the dim ROOM She peeped into
trunks, made the spinning wheel whir
few times and came so close to the
hidden watcher that he was in mortal
terror lest she find him; but he went
undiscovered. At last, rs she was look
Ing into trunk in far corner of the
garrtt, she uttered n cry of delight and
drew forth something billowy and lovely
"A creation in purple silk, with huge
panniers and number of r0ttling
hoops. She cast quick, apprehensive
glance around the garret, and there was
reaching for hooks which concealed
themselves in odd places; and 10 ! there
stood the dainticst and demurest Colo
nial dame that ever graced the minuet
with George Washington or any other
hero Of bygone days. AS the man be-
fore her had done, she tried to see her
self by dint Of twisting, but unlike him
shC was not satisfied with the result.
In far corner stood n mirror. which
he had overlooked and to this friend Of
all women she directed her steps unhes-
itatlngly.
Trust a girl to find mirror" !"
thought the concealed watcher.
up and down the floor she pirou-
cited. AT last she fell into some steps
Of the mnuet. curtseying to an imag-
mary partner; and then, with great
suddenness she sat down on q trunk
and burst into tears.
This was more than the man behind
the trunk could bear. With great
caution he stepped ont, aud when he
mad reached the middle of the floor he
coughed. She looked up with a faint
Shrek, and hcaswept bow that was
masterpiece.
You will pardon me, madame" he
said in strained voice. But ! have
never been able to look on the tears
o. a beautiful woman without at once
uying to the rescue. Is there aught
can do?"
- why - why Harry Fahnestock
How you scared me-"
=. cry your pardon, but I wot not