Evening star., 1924-09-21

WnHn Janey crosby ana the others
,urrtcd away from him.
x X
| A FTER that Velvet Pants was an
outcast. In the evening, when
the men were sitting about the
porch, competing for Janey Cros-
by's smiles, there was no place for
| him there. He tried to join in their
talk and play, but they froze him out
| At last he seemed to accept his status
| as a pariah without really under.
standing it, for he would take his
guitar. which he had constructed
| from the ruin of an old one, and go
alone into the woods. IT was said
| that he sang there to himself. sad
! songs in his native tongue.
| Janey Crosby's birthday came to-
| ward the end of the harvest season
| and it was the most important social
event of the year in Crosby Corners
All the village was invited, and all
the village came, the girls in their
| fresh dimities. the men, soaped and
collared and uncomfortable, but hap
Ey. They brough presents, as il they
| were bringing tribute to queen. and
| Janey. as graciously as a reigninE
| sovereign. took them all, and smiled.
The party was held in the Masonic
| hall. and it was an affair of consid-
| cradle tone, with dancing, two help
| ngS of ice cream all around, and a
| three piece orchestra.
The dancing was half over. Janey
and Pete High, her current partner,
! had gone out on the porch; a har-
| vest moon silvered the village streets.
| Look" exclaimed Pete, whats
that sitting down there on the horse
| block?"
IT'S man." said Janey. her eyes
following his pointing finger.
But who can ii be-"
The girl looked again, and made
out a small. bent figure sitting there.
chin in hands, eyes turned toward the
! lighted hall ears toward the music
| guests.
Why, it's Velvet Pants" she ex-
| claimed
snail I chase him away?" asked
! Pete. looking belIigcrent. Janey laid
a restraining hard on his arm.
NO; don't chase him. Pete. Let
! him stay. The poor fellows probably
| lonesome. Everybody is here but
him"
He deserves to be lonesome.
said Pete; hes yella"
! Would YOU jump in to save a per-
! son from drowning if you didn't
know how to swim" asked Janey.
! "Of course I would" replied Pete
promptly. Now. see here, Janey
Crosby, don't YOU go sticking up for
that wop. He's not fit to associate
| with white men"
She sat gazing at the small, miser-
| able figure; then she made a sudden
resolution.
I'm going to ask him to come up
to the party" she said.
NO. you amt
Whose birthday is this, Pete High !
| l guess il won't do any harm to give
him a dish of ice-cream. Run down
and tell him I'd like to see him. Pete. ="
| Pete mumbled protests, but he
went. Very diffidently Velvet Pants
approached the porch. Janey Crosby
saw that he was wearing new. clean
shirt. that his black locks had been
| parted and buttered. and that his
shoes had been vigorously shined
| over his shoulder was slung his
| wreck Of a guitar.
This is my birthday. Velvet Pants
said the girl. Il want you to help
me celebrate it. Pete, will you &c,
another plate of ice-cream?''
The small man bowed twice very
low. Then he spoke. He spoke me
chanically. as if the words had been
often rehearsed.
Il haf no gif' for you on your
birthday. Mees Crosby, but haf learn
| a song American to seeng for you
1 hear heem on funnygraf. 1 hope
| you like"
He said it humbly. but not without
certain pride that attends the ac-
complishment of a difficult feat
! Janey laughed delightedly.
| 80 you learned an American song
just for my birthday? Well, now
wasn't that a sweet idea! Come in
the hall and sing, SO they can all
hear"
Velvet Pants looked Mortified at thie
suggestion.
but. no. he protested. It do no,
| seeng good"
That's all right. They won't
know the difference" said Janey
| laughingly. Come along
She pushed him through the open
doorway. The guests looked up;
what would Janey Crosby do next:
| Folks announced Janey Crosby,
'Mr. Velvet Pants is going to sing
for US. He learned little American
song just for my birthday. Wasn't
that nice of him?"
THE small brown man glanced un
certainly about the hall; then he
began to play chords on his guitar
Some of the girls Uttered. In a
round. clear tenor, Velvet Pants be-
gan to sing:
Kces me haEain KEGS me hasain,
| KEGS me hagan and hagain.
him at this point. He groped for q