Andrew the Glad

"You always did have the making of a philanthropist in you, Dave," said

Andrew thoughtfully. "You're a near-one at present speaking."

"Philanthropist go hang--the rest of the week I have spent getting the

old Confeds together and having everything in shape for the unveiling of

the statue out at the Temple of Arts. I tell you we are going to have a

turn-out. General Clopton is coming all the way to make the dedication

speech. Caroline is about to bolt and I have to steady her at off times.

I've promised to hold her hand through it all. Major is getting up the

notes for General Clopton and he's touching on Peters Brown only in high

places. It'll be mostly a show-down of old General Darrah and the three

governors I'm thinking.

"The Dames of the Confederacy and the Art League are going to have

entries on the program without number. I have been interviewed and

interviewed. Why, even the august Susie Carrie Snow sent for me and

talked high art and city beautiful to me until I could taste it.

"And all that sopped up the rest of the week when I ought to have been

delivering pork steaks and string-beans at people's back doors to please

Phoebe. Money grubbing doesn't appeal to me and I don't need it, but from

now on I'm the busy grub--until after the 'no man put asunder'

proclamation."

"How you can manage to do one really public-spirited job after another,

'things that count,' and then elude all the credit for them is more than

I can understand, Dave," said Andrew as he smiled through a blue ring of

smoke. "Some day, if you don't look out, you'll be a leading citizen.

In the meantime hustle about those flowers. Time flies."

"I'll send them right up," said David as he donned his coat and hat and

took up his crop. The hours David spent out of the saddle were those of

his indoors occupations. "I'll be back soon. Just fix the flowers; Eph

and the cook will do all the rest. And put the cards on the table any

old way. I want to sit between Phoebe and Caroline Darrah Brown--well,

whose party is it? You can sit next on either side."

"Wait a minute, are--"

"No, I must hurry and go brace up Milly for a pair of minutes. She

wouldn't promise to come until I insisted on sending a trained nurse to

sit with old Mammy Betty and the babies until she got back to 'em. Billy

Bob is as wild as a kid about coming, he hasn't been anywhere for so

long. I talked a week before I could persuade Milly, but she's got her

glad rags and is as excited as Billy Bob. I tried to buy that boy twin

for Phoebe's present but Milly said I had better get an old silver and

amethyst bracelet. It's on my table in the white box. Bye!" and Kildare

departed as far as the front door, but returned to stick his head in the

door and say: "You'd better put Hob by Caroline Darrah on the other side; he's savage

when he's crossed. And tack in Payt opposite her. I invited Polly the

Fluff for you--she is a débutante and such a coo-child that she'll just

suit a poet."