Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-08-10
COMPANY TO SUPPER.

COMPANY TO SUPPER.
There was not living being in the
house but Della, Lottie and me, except
ing the cat, who was snoozing away be-
hind the kitchen stove.
The rest had gone to Falltown to some
kind OF a meeting. There was always
something going on somewhere for the
grown folks, and suppose there was
never child in the world who hated to
be left alone worse than I did. So this
time they let me have Della and Lott1e
come to stay with me.
we were up stairs braiding palm-leai
hats-girls were brought up to work in
that town-when suddenly the front doc,
bell rang. '...
Now, the front door bell was not runo
more than once in three months, and It
was so rough and rusty it would only
tinkle. Almost everybody came through
the side yard to the double-leaved doors
that always stood open into the little
square south entry with the sun shining
in.
So, if the bell rang, it couldn't be one
of the neighbors. It must be good deal
OF stranger, and was as afraid of stran-
gers as vas of dogs.
''Let's pretend we didn't hear it," said
Della.
"Seems as if heard something, but
may be it was the cat knocking down a
milk pan," said T.
But 1t was of no use. There came an
other tinkle, as though sheep with a
bell around his neck had bitten off q
mouthful of tough grass.
II thought heard wagon stop a
long time ago." said Lottie. eyes, there
IL one tied out there" she added, Skin
mishing to the upper hall window
"You will have to 60; Totty."
"No, you needn't. Pretend we were
braiding so fast we couldn't hear a
thing" said Della, who would 90 out of
her way to tell story any time.
"Oh, I'll have to go! I don't dare to
not" said I, casting aside my braiding
in despair.
Then I battered down the little ma
hogany-stained flight of stairs, the bell
ringing for the third time, and tugged
away at the great door key.
And it did hate to turn in the rusted
lock! And when it turned at last with
complaining shrek, how the brass door
knob refused to move! Then q strong
hand from outside took hold, the bolts
gave way, the door flew open in twink
ling, and there stood two men. One was
very tall man, and one was middling-
sized man, and they had whiskers and
hats and linen coats.
"Good afternoon" said they, making
bows. "Is nobody at home but you?n
"No, ma ammo, sir; the folks are all
gone to Falltown," said I, hoping with
all my might they would keep right on
to Falltown, too. But then my sense of
hospitalitality set in, and | added:
"They'll be coming home soon. viii
you walk in?" ...
''Thank you," said the middle-sized
man. "May we put our horses in the
barn first
ayes, ma'am-yes, sir" said I, glad to
be rid of them for so long Then l ran
upstairs to the girls.
'They are going to stay; they are put
ting up their horses. I guess they've
come to see Amy. She has a great many
gentleman friends" said I, proudly,
minded to pick up what crumbs of COM
fort could
"Then shall go straight home," said
Della, tying up her straws. ''And, Lot
tie, you've got to go with me, because
you are my company
ooh, don't gor' l cried, in an agony of
bashful terror at the thought of being
left to face the strangers alone.
"Will you give ME your beads if
stay?" demanded Della. ~
My beads were six in number. made of
white glass. with square Sides They
were strung on red thread, and, when
they were not finger ring, kept them
in an isinglass box along with the only
tooth had yet shed, Sabbath. school
card marked give mills" piece of blue
clay, the head of doll and horse
chestnut. went to my heart to lose
these beads, but anything was better
than losing the girls, so was just going
to say that Della could have them. when
Lottie spoke up:
"Aren you ashamed, Della, to try to
get away Totty's beads?" said she. SIll
stay with you lofty, till the folks come,
anyway"
looked at her gratefully.
"Do you want bite Of my liquorice?"
SAID l, plunglng to the bottom OIL my pOck-
ct and bringing up asmall piece wrapped
In bit of newspaper.
II don't care,' said she, holding out
her hand, "where shall l bite to?''
Bite to there" said marking off a
space with my finger nail. And Della
may have taste, too, continued, will
ing to heapa few Goals Of fire on her head.
But Della was not very sensitive, and, ac-
cordingly, she helped herself to a gener-
Gus mouthful, and didn't seem to feel
scorched bit.
"Let's 60 down stairs and be there
when they come in from untacking,"
said, she, just as though she hadn't
thought Of going b"ms.
SWELL" said l, lundling up my hat
and straws.
So, when the tall man and the mid
dling-slzed man came in, there we sat on
high red, wooden bench with our feet
dangling, and each with half-braided
hat IN her hands. The gentlemen paused
moment, as though little surprised at
such an appearance, and as though they
expected some sort of introduction or
salutation. A faint impression floated
over my mind at the same time that some