The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-08-04
CHRIS.

Kun down to Farlan'S, and ge
some more of that lace ruffiing
please"
When Valerie Richards tackled hel
'please F." on last, she always meant tc
have her own way. So Chris tool
down her linen ulster. and donned hel
pretty shade hat. with something of 6
sigh.
With the mercury up lowell. Jack
said twas up farther than he could
count-the prospect of a two miles
walk over hot, dusty country road
doesn't seem particularly inviting.
You must hurry, Chris as she
passed the sewing-room, for, when
Guy gets back with Keith Falconer, j
shall want you TO help me dress
So obliging little Chris hurried. Halt
way to the village she espied a phaton
which she instinctively knew contained
her cousin Guy and his chum, Keith
Falconer.
For the good opinion of this latter
gentleman, whom she had met a
few times before, she had already con-
'celved quite respect. And as
our little Chris had the good sense
to realize that the aforesaid good opin-
ion of most gentlemen isn't usually
heightened by the appearance of dusty.
red-faced heroines, she tilted her hat
down over her face at the lowest angle,
and, lowering her sun-umbrella peril
-ously near her nose, tried to skulk by
without being recognized.
OF near-sighted, absent-minded Cous-
in Guy she had no fear. but with Mr..
Falconer it might be different. ANY
way she got by, and hurried along to
Farlan's, the great commercial empori-
UNI of the little village.
Coming back, with head aching,
blood boiling, and eyes before which
little black specks seemed continually
dancing, Chris conceived the brilliant
idea of slipping in the back door, and
up stairs, thus avoiding observation.
Which idea she Immediately put into
execution.
Now it so happened that Keith Fall
coner, catching sight of the little dusty
figure slowly entering the side gate, be-
came suddenly convinced of the neces-
'sity of solving in his own mind its
identity with that of certain other
little dusty figure which had crossed his
line of vision something more than an
hour since.
Making his excuses to the ladies, he
stepped lazily out through the long
French window to the piazza. Once
out Of sight he quickened his pace till
he reached the back door, which stood
invitingly open. A grapevine grew con-
veniently near, and, inwardly blessing
the hand that planted it, Mr.. Falconer
-ensconced himself comfortably in its
shade.
Chris, coming slowly up through the
strawberries, had not seen this little
'strategetic by-play. But raising her
eyes she became attracted by much
more vigorous and expressive panto-
mime-Falerie at one of the open Win
dows waving her hand furiously, beck
oning her to hurry.
Obeying this mandate, Chris started
to run: a projecting root caught the toe
of her boot, and she fell heavily to the
earth.
In an instant Keith Falconer was by
her side; in another, had raised her
slight form, and, supporting her with
his strong arm, inquired anNiously if
she was hurt
"No-that is Oh, I don't know,'
was her frightened and bewildered re-
ply.
Then, OF a sudden. she burst into
tears, and darted into the house.
Perhaps if Miss Valerie Richards had
been aware that the sewing-room win
dow was directly above the afore-men-
tened grapevine, behind which Mr..
Falconer had again seated himself, with
a somewhat disturbed countenance, the
greeting she gave Chris might have
been a trifie less shrill; her keynote
pitched trifie lower.
AS it was, the young mans refiec-
tons, pleasant or otherwise. were some
what abruptly checked by:
Where under the sun have YOU been
all this time? Here Watkins has been
waiting whole half-hour for that lace,
and we began to think you were waiting
for Farlan to send to New York for it!
Hurry now and help her get it on, for
you'll have to do my hair in an hour.
Do for goodness sake get rid of those
red eyes, for you've got to play this
evening, if"
Then MIR. Falconer, with curious lit
tie smile on his face, left his retreat, and
retraced his steps to the piazza.
Chris, coming out of the sewing-room,
met Jack in the upper hall. Jack, be it
known, was the only real, true-blue"
friend that Chris had in the whole Rich
ards family. Uncle Richards was too
much immersed in business; Aunt Rich
ards too much engrossed in getting a
rich husband for her daughter; and
the aforesaid Observation-Disclosures
much taken up with the same idea.
Absent-minded, book-loving Cousin |
Guy knew there was ..Chris," for he |
had occasionally noticed that industri-
Gus young person busting his books, and |
he had a vague idea that she always put |
his dressing-gown and slippers in the |
right place. If questioned about her,
however, doubt if he could have told |
she were eight or eighteen.
So in all ..the wide, wide world
''Chris reckoned only Jack as her one
friend and admirer.
"What is it, Chris? Has Val been