Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-07
By Harvey O'Higgins

/ not see she was laughing at him. He
did not answer.
"Haven't yuh never been? Because"
she went on without looking up, u
want to know If they do it right in the
books"
He rose slowly.
"She wants 1t back Saturday" ne
said. II had better come fer 1t Oh"
She dropped the book.
"Yuh're not goin'?" she cried.
He started toward the door. She
sprang'up and got in front of him.
Now. you 60 away back there an
! sit down." she ordered. IT amt said
anythin' to ny on the handle at like
that. Go on, now! won't let yuh
60. Go on back an sit down."
He did 80.
Great sakesl" she said. YOU'RE as
touchy as anythin'.'
He had been looking at her feet. He
| raised his eyes to hers now humbly and
apologetically, but with another express
sion, too--as dumb as the look of q
dog-that struck her pale. 1t was a
glance that did not last second. 1t
was followed by long silence, during
J which her eyes were fixed on him in q
stare that slowly changed from an ex-
preston Of surprise that was almost
| stupefaction to one of wonder and
compassion that was not unmixed with
shame.
Il guess it's kind O. cold out, ain't
it," she said at last. II wish t q
hurry up an get warm again"
He replied that he did not mind the
cold, and the rest OF the evening passed
in a constrained conversation, chiefly
abort his work In the wholesale house
and hers at the lunch counter" When
he rose to leave her she did not meet
his eyes.
She hurried of to bed on the plea
that she was tired. Her mother heard
her coughing far into the night.
X II
ION the following evening It was al
~ most o'clock before Larkin ar
rived, and he was received by Mrs.
Connors with suspicious manner that
thawed as soon as she saw how he
| took to heart the news that Maggie
had been worse all day and had gone
to bed.
Amt she gettin' better9" he whis-
pered
Her under lip trembled, her little
sunken eyes filled. She shook her head.
He took bag Of peanuts from his
pocket and laid them on the table.
Amt she any better?"
mot bit" she said under her voice;
mot q bit. An I've had the doctor
ev'ry blessed day, an drugs, an dainties
that's eat up the little bit I'd put by
for us--ev'ry cent Of 1t. I'm at my
wits ends. ! am that"
She began to pour out all the ankle
ties that she had been restraining for
months. He listened, blinking at the
bag Of peanuts.
Thank Heaven. I got my own health.
but I'm gettin' old. I'm not good for
much. Our frien's 3 all got troubles
Of their own. heaven knows--poor
souls It's bad way well be In II
Maggies never to get strong again--a
bad way" She sat down and knotted
her hard old hands together in her lap.
AN her such bright girl. poor child"
She sighed and shook her head. He
turned his hat over in his hands and
studied it. There was a miserable 81
lence.
How d'yuh do, Mr.. Larkin?" q
voice chirruped from the door. He
started at the sight Of her peeping
around the hanging at HIM She
laughed "Yuh're gettin' so fash'nable
thought yuh weren't comm"
Il was huntin' fer some peanuts" he
confessed. II couldn't find a peddler."
"Peanuts" she cried. "Waitll I get
my wrapper on"
He turned to smile at Mrs. Connors.
They'll do her no hurt, anyways
she conceded. II wish't was port wine,
poor girl"
1t was port wine the next time he