Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-15


course you wouldn't know about it,
seeing you only been back in London
~ week after doing your paintings all
the Summer on the contenink. Italy is on the
contenink, I suppose? Lor!-but you ave got
your studio in a mess, 'avent you, sir. Ia bet
ter dust your books bit.
Yes. that's what e used to call me. Such
one for Jokes, e was. You know, sir, when ed
come ome on his leave, used to stop me work
and go to Victoria Station to meet him. And
wasn't so well of you might say in them days.
It was doorsteps them strand polishing door,
knockers; and every penny counted. Oh, I'm
much better of now, sir-what with cleaning
gentlemen's rooms and all that and not 'aving
to work out-of-dcorS in the cold and rain, like.
So it was losing one and thruppence every time
I went to meet him; because had to wait In
the station all day, not knowing which train Q
would come on
And that's what e used to say to me-first of,
like "'Ullo Lady Wipers! ere am-back ome
once more; safe and sound So come on-and
let's ave glass of beer together"
That was the first thing e thought OF, sir.
Oh, e was a great one for his beer. NO
messing around, taking me in his arms and all
that. Come on" ed say, "let's ave glass OF
beer" And I was that proud of him, sir
carrying his gasmask and kit-bag and souvi-
neers and all, and trotting behind him on the
way to the pub
"A pint of the best" e used to say. "And
No. e never kissed me, sir-but once That
was when e went back to Wipers for the last
time In 1915 that was. e kissed me then.
just before e got on the train. / don't know
what come over him to do it-but e kissed me-
Oh e was fond of me in his cart, you might
say; deep down in his cart, sir. Only e never
showed it. e was too much of a man for that.
"Well" e says, so long, Lady Wipers Keep
the old ONE fire burning" e says. And don't
forget-if anything appens to me-you own
80 NtyorS Y1afd
for with me blood" e says. That's what the
King said in that speech e made the other day.
So If cop it," e says, you go up and tell 'em.
Tell em you own Wipers as much as anybody In
the land-and that Private Bill Blodgett, your
husband, jolly well said So"
And it was then e kissed me, sir. Oh e could
talk like Winston Churchill sir-when ed had
drop or two. e was always fond of his beer
That's how met him. sir, first Of all. Ed had
too much, as the saying is. Beg pardon sir
these books are dusty ART they?
IVES, used to keep meself pretty tidy in them
- days and had little back room all to me-
self and everything I'm talking now, sir, OF
long ago; before the started. used to
go out every morning and wash door-steps and
polish knockers. And sometimes I got bit
of extra work that kept me late. Ard likely the
last doorstep would be out Kensington way, sir
and I'd fancy bit of walk ome-through
the park like.
1t kept me pretty late, you might say. But
didn't mind it. There was always flowers in
the park and couples going arm-in-arm. And
it was through being late as I met him. sir,
ED had too much as usual, and there e was.
sir; lying in the gutter. And such state I
was frightened at first, sir. didn't know what
to do with him. Ed been in fight, and some
ruffian or other had knocked him down-and
his cad had struck the sewer. And there e lay
sir-half-dead like.
So I 'elped him up best could-till e
come to his senses bit. e didn't know where
e was nor nothing, and couldn't remember
where e lived So took him with me, sir
the poor feller-and then sent for the doctor
And the doctor come and put several stitches
in his cad and left him lying on my bed I
didn't like 1t at all, sir-me being a decent
young woman But what was to do? So sat
up all night nursing him. And glad of a bit Of
company was; although it was only man
groaning, you might say.
You know, sir, always blame that doctor for
the poor job e done. The stitches must ave
been very clumsy ones; because Bill had the
marks of 'em ever after. Sort of ridges, they
vas: hard as nails, sir, when you felt enl. z
always had 'eadaches after that, and used to