Evening star., 1927-06-01
THE EVENING STORY
. HE court windows we're peril
ously close. Voices carried too
well. Quarrels, personal inti-
nnnnnic.ct Hl lnr,noc. NIra IL.

we'll. Quarrels, personal 1ntl-
Il macies, condolences we're watt
ed impartially from one apart
ment to the other. George Garter,
finding his room too close for comfort,
resolved to risk the babel of voices and
opened his window wide. Tonight
there was a new sound vaguely pleas
ing. 1t was a child's voice, thin and
sweet.
God bless daddy and mother and
grandma and all my seven aunts, and
keep everybody from marrying my
Aunt Ann. Amen"
George was too busy to pay much
attention to the words. but when night
after night he heard them repeated he
began to feel a natural curiosity. per-
sonal and professional, regarding Aunt
Ann. Coming home from his office
earlier than usual. he saw perched
upon the broad sill of a room across
the court fairy-like vision. 1t must
be the child whose prayers he. had
heard.
"Hellor he said tentatively
Hello" she answered.
Whats your name?"
Ruth. What's yours"
George"
81 have u cousin named George. but
he's got hair.
Sorry l haven't much hair. But !
have some candy. Want some?"
She jumped down from the sill so
quickly that he feared he had scared
her.
Aunt Ann. Aunt Ann, Can I have
some candy? George wants TO give
me some"
"George?" came back in a sweet
voice. who's George?"
"Come along and I'll show YOU"
Presently Ruth appeared with tall,
red-haired young woman.
Here's George, Aunt Ann
George bowed smilingly at the novel
introduction. Aunt Ann. who was
cursed with O great shyness, flushed
to the roots of her red hair as she
caught sight of the good-lOOking man
instead of the boy she expected.
Il have scraped up an acquaintance
with your niece. May she have some
candy?"
Just one piece. thank you. Say
goodnight, dear. It's your bed time. u
Goodnight, George. Thank you
for the candy"
Good night, Ruth. .
He heard the sound of voices from
an inner room and listened deliber'
ately
You mustn't call him George"
"But that's his name, Aunt Ann.
He told me-"
George huckled to himself. The
Good night, George" in the sweet
childish voice fingered in his memory
as he listened to the child'S prayer.
Some day he would ask her why she
didn't want Aunt Ann TO get married.
The acquaintance Waxed apace.
George learned the kinds of candy his
little neighbor liked best, and the
names of all her dolls, and how to play
house, and much of the amazing lore
of childhood. The night she told him
her Aunt Ann had gone to the country
he ventured to say:
"Why don't you want Aunt Ann TO
get married.
Because l love her best of all. and
if she gets married she'll go way like
Aunt Carrie, and l want her all 10
myself"
When Aunt Ann returned from the
country she sent Maggie off on her
vacation and she and Ruth We're all
alone. Aunt Ann had summered with
crowd of gay young girls and had
absorbed some idea quite foreign 10
her own plain, straightforward ones
quaIms, however, as one of those
giddy girls might have done. Ruth
chartered necessarily of George. One
day after supper Aunt Ann put on her
prettiest dress and such wonderful
slippers, and a bit Of rouge, which was
quite unnecessary.
How pretty you look, Aunt Ann"
THANK you. darling. Do you want
to come to the mail box with me?'
"Yes. Where's your letter." How
funny for Aunt Ann to go to the mai
box without letter!
Aunt Ann didn't stop to answer her
but, taking her hand, started dowr
the stairs. She was almost at the
bottom, when suddenly she let go OF
Ruth's hand and fell in a heap at the
foot of the stairs. She gave a scream
Ruth tried vainly to help her.
You're awful heavy. Shall I call
George?"
That wonderful child!
'tI guess you'll have to-"
BY the time George had answered
the summons Aunt Ann had tainted
dead away. George carried her up
stairs in a jiffy and placed her on the
couch. There was a puzzled look in
his eyes as he felt her pulse, for il
beat rhythmically and regularly, and
her skin was healthily flushed. She
looked sweet enough to kiss. and he
dared. Presently she revived and said
wearily:
I'm all right now. Thank you very
much. 1t was kind of you to help
me- The tones were that of dis.
missal.
I'm glad you're better. May come
again?"