Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-03-11

III 1ltCE ~ lJbS@-"s buE ps'i 'Hs' La =
sight Of "a white streak vanishing round
the corner.
Now, that pas too bad CT Guy!"
exclaimed Mrs. Wallace. following her
friend. "l'd no idea he was the-e-I
thought he'd gone to his room"
"Was it really Guy?' asks Mollie,
with her cheeks all afbme, and her
baby mouth poutipg, almost ready to
cry. didn't know he Was at home
"Of course you didn't. The wretch
ed boyl It's shamei" And the
wretched boys stepmothsr sinks into
the hammock and shakes.
Don't laush-it's dreadful! What
shall do?'-buryipg her mortified
face in her hands.
"Why. you can't do anything. Ha,
ha, ha! beg your pardon, bat l can t
help it,"
cts too bad of You. III go right
home!'
"Oh, no-don't! And, besides. you
can't. That mans there still"
$50 he is "-dropping her hands in
despair.
GOOD afternoon, ladies'" says Guy,
stepping ont Of the sitting room, neat
and complete in white coat and blue
necktie. Mollie bows and stammers,
but Mrs. Wallace tries to look severe.
Elm very much displeased with you,
Guy" che says, pulling down her pretty
mouth.
A tortoise.shell kitten comes rubbing
and scrubbing against Guys legs, and
he pOunces on her at once
"Now, mamma. don't You scold, or
I'll duck Buffer in the cistern,' and he
holds Buffer, kicking and scrabbling,
over the water-butt at the corner of the
piazza.
But, Guy
"Another word, and I let go!"
Buffer is rescued by simultaneous
charge from both ladies, who, on con-
dition of her release, promise to say
no more about it," So peace is re-
stored, and the culprit proposes game
of croquet.
All adjourn to the lawn, where the
field is laid out, partly screened from
the house by line of evergreens and
shrubbery, aud shaded by two great
elm-trees and rock-maple. A clump
of cardinal flowers nod their scarlet
heads in the bretz,, and the dim out
line of the Catskiils--far, far away
make y background for Mollie's pretty
figure.
Guy picks up the mallets from the
grass, where they lie scattered, and
Lands them to the ladies', who merrily
join in the interesting game.
"There, Mollie, there's the white
fer you-stands for youth and innocence,
you know. And there, mamma, there's
the rcd for you--becomiog toyour bru-
nette beauty"
"How often have I told You, you
scamp! not to call mo mamma? It's
too absurd"
"Well, then. my dear child. will you
take the first shot?"
"Gay -"
whats the noise?" interrupts
Noble.
"Carriage-wh I declare |" ex-
claims Mrs. Wallace, in disgust. 81
was in hopes no one else would call to-
day. Upon my word, what with hear
ing it's fine day, and being bored
about Miss Curtis's elopemant, and be-
ing canvsssed for contributions to the
fair, my brain is almost added Do
come and help me, Mollis."
"Oh. cant!" breathes Mollis, fear
fully pesping at tho carriage from DO
hind tall lilac bash. ITS his moth
or and sister, and can't bear them -
they re- almost as horrid as he isl"
"Oh! it's Phil Sadler, is it?" cries
Guy.
Mollie colors furiously and turns
away.
"You're very mean!--I shall GO right
home"
"You can't" teasingly; hes there
still. Don't You see his mig trotting
the horses up and down 2"
mo; you may stay here, Mollie, and
play with Guy till come back. They
won't stay long. I'll sooa send 'em
fying!"
Mrs. Wallace shakes pretty fist at
the carriage, and departs to kiss and be
kissed, after the fashion OF ladies in
the same "set."
"You f,ss, Mollie," says her adyer
sary; ard while the balls so skiinmisg
round the field after esch other, he
adds straw or two to her burden.
"You know, Mollie, ii it's Phil Sadler,
you might as we'll give up AZ once"
Miss Avsrill has sent her bail sliding
through the center wicket, and now fires
ut his and misses it; then she looks up,
troubled and surprised.
What DO you mean?
Guy hits her ball, AID starts on q
long run.
Why. you sec. Mollie-tske care.
you are right in the way of my wicket!
he's one Of those felloss--that was a
scraich!--one OF thoae fellows who.
when they've made up their minis to a
thing, never give it np.-Thers. I'm
through Hs' II Ger tainly get you in tho
end, Molliv; it's only question Of
time"
Mollie stands leaning on her malles,
with her pretty brown eyebrows ell in Il
pucksr.
"Why, be can't. Guy. You know he
can't!"
"Oh. bat no will! You might as
well do IS the coon dis to the Kentucky
sharp-snoo:sr. and say, Don't shCot,
Captain Scott; Ill come dows!-It 3
your nnrn. Aoy.'
81 woA't!" aays Mollie, viciously.
eroQueiing his ball 10 Tho other end of