The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-08-20
BELLA's GLOVE.
True Story of California watering Place

''Well, girls, what shall we do to-
day?"
It was on the broad piazza of the
Baden-Baden Springs, one of the sum-
mer hostelries in che Santa Cruz noun
tains. Not man to be seen-the long
piazza was a vista of skirts. At one
end sat the matrons, either doing some
one of those numberless things called
s'fancy-work,n or else retailing their
household troubles. At the other sat
the young ladies, some with novels in
their laps, some idle. They were gaZ-
ing listlessly across the garden to the
disused croquet ground.
No one said, 'sLet's play croquet."
No, indeed, there had been a pitched
battle on the croquet ground the day
before. Miss Helen Winn had re-
marked that she named no names, but
when a person was wired she did not
think it fair for her to move her ball
when the others were not looking.
Upon this Miss Tillie Robertson had
burst into tears. and said that Miss
Winn was 'fa hateful thing" Miss
Carrie Bunner, partner to her of the
tears, Immediately laid down her NAL
let with great dignity, and ostentatious-
Is escorted Miss Robertson from the
ground, saying, There now, Tillie. -
''Never mind them," etc., all of which
was inexpressibly goading to the other
side.
By way of showing the two scceders
how unnecessary they were, two other
ladies took their places, and the game
for while was conducted in the smooth
est manner, and the conversation in
sugared tones. From the fact, how
ever, that they came home in four diff
ferent directions, it is supposed that
something went wrong. John, whose
duty it was to put away the mallets
and balls after ladies used the ground,
related on his return to the Kitchen,
that he ''found them there mallets
scattered all over creation, Jest where
them gals flung 'em when the game
bust up"
No, although they had all ''made up'
since, the Influences upon the whole
were not favorable to that game which
stirs the feminine soul SO deeply. BY
the way, was the woman ever born
who would not cheat at croquet if she
got chance?
well, girls, what shall we do to-
day?" 1t was Bella Chester who spoke.
Now Bella had not been mixed up in
the quarrel of the day before. If there
was one thing she did not care for. it
was croquet without gentlemen. 1t is
unnecessary. then, to tell you that sho
was coquettish. But she was pretty,
too, was Bella-bewitchingly pretty.
And yet she was not SO pretty that
other women did not like her, for they
did. There are two kinds of pretty
women.
Lets go to the springs said Helen
VIM, ''and watch them bottling the
waters"
''Pshawl said Bella, ''there's only an
old man and boy there. Girls" she
went on, 81 have an idea. How far is
it from here to Santa Maria College?"
''About six miles," said Helen.
'.Then I'll tell you what let's do.
up, and get John to drive us over
there. It's vacation time now, and the
students have gone. Wen have the
monks show US all over the buildings,
the mission church, and everything"
They're not naonks," said Carrie
Bunner, with an air of wisdom (Miss
Bunner was a Catholic,) ''they are
fathers"
ssWell, I'd like to know what the DIFF
ference isl said Miss Bella, briskly.
I-don't-know,n said Miss Carrie,
weakening; tbut you must call them
fathers anyway"
'.Tll call them anything they like"
said Miss Bella ''But come girls-iet' S
go and get ready"
In fifteen minutes five of the girls
were all ready. They had simply put
on immense straw hats and very ugly
busters. Their gloves were veterans;
their shoes substantial, but not beauti-
full. In short, they were attired as
sensible girls should be for a ride over
California road in summer
But the minutes passed, and Bella
did not come. John chewed tobacco,
and soothed his impatient horses as they
t1icked the flies from off their backs
and paved the ground. John was
restfulness filed his soul when he was
waiting for ladies. He had driven
around watering places for many years,
had John.
At last she came. A simultaneous
cry arose.
s'Why, what ever has kept you SO
longP'
Suddenly Helen exclaimed: ''Well,
1 declare! If that girl hasn't gone and
changed her dressr'
Eyes, and fixed her hairt'
ssAnd put on clean pair of glovesr'
'tAnd changed her boots!"
1t was all true. Miss Bella had en-
deavored to shroud these treasons in
her buster and hat, but it was usel ess.
She was indeed pretty sight. as she
stood there, with one dainty foot upon
the step. Even John was moved. He
refiectively spat on the nigh side. and
made room for her to sit by him. Miss
Bella sprang into the seat. John was
better than nothing. And as they spun
along the road, she laughed at his we'll
worn stories, admired his skill as a
driver, and when he turned to look at
her would drop her eyes. And JohnP
Well, he chewed tobacco. IT'S won-
derfully soothing. in any form, is the
maligned weed.
At last the little town was reached,
and John dashed up to the college gates
in style The ladies descended, crossed
the wide and dreary-looking campus.
and applied for permission to see the
old mission church and the college
buildings. 1t was granted them, and
n