The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-01-03
md then Dolly Lincoln spoke up hurried

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think"
As the girl disappeared in number twen-
ty.four Dolly Lincoln burst out In subdued
tones:
81 think we are hoirid little prigsP A
moment more and then vehemently, "I'm
going to invite her TO my party to nightP
"DOllyp cried the whole four OF her COM
panions 10 Mortified chorus.
81 AMI am, so there"
"a girl that could do such thing as she
didP
"Well, we don't know anything it's after
all .circumstantial evidence as the news
papers say"
well. I should think il was q pretty
clear case. Julia Norris goes sway and
leaves her bag, or reticule. or something,
with her, and inside of that bag is the al
zebra problem for exhibition When she
comes back the problem is missing out OF
the bag. and Miss Fannie Drayton, who Is
the only rival in algebra that Julia had. of
course comes in frst and gets the credit
she would probably have come in second
but for that, as che usually did, for poor
Julia coming back at the last moment has
to make out a new one, which in her hurry
can't help being higgIedy -piggledy and full
of little errors. 'CIrcumstsnIial evidence 7"
winds up Flora Wainwright, with final
burst of scorn.
Dolly Lincoln does not reply to this; per-
hsps che is wisely silent, or perhaps she is
oSerruled and regr. ts her declaration of q
few moments ago. The tour girls think the
latter; and the time goes on, the minutes
by, the tea hour comes, and the
four girls, Milly and Margie
and Florry and Katy, have put
on their prettiest frills and ribbons and
gone in little giggling body to Dolly
Lincoln's door. Dolly meets them with all
her merry archness of cordislIty. She is a
little dramstist, is Dolly, and is fond of put
ting everything in that light; 30 she bends
and bows and welcomes them with gay
travesty of reality. She calls Flora VAIN
right her dear duchess, and hopes she left
the duke veil; and MIlly and Margle are
the Princesses of Portmanshire, and little
Katy DOwnes is the Countess OF Kisses. II
is not long before the whole company are
clustered together over the contents of the
Christmas box. The box was go big that
Dolly has separated the sweets, the candies
and cookies and fruits from the rest and put
them into pretty basket which is passed
about from guest to guest.
What pretty basket" exclaimed Flor
~ Wainwright enthusiastically and she
lifts it up from the table for inspection.
Eyes; isn't it1 1t was Julia Norris's. She
gave it to me when che went away"
From the basket they fell to discussing
the contents. Such q tempting array of
dainties. Bon bons fresh from Paris-new
devices the like of which none of the girls
had ever seen before. The most enchanting
of these were sugar robins EGGS. Inside
of each was a little gold ring. There were
six of them.
Just enough to go round and one left
over, DolyP' cried Milly ecststically, as
she cracked the thin sugar shell of the one
bestowed upon herself.
Dolly did not reply, but looked little
troub ed, Milly thought. Perhaps after all
Dolly was regretting her gener' sity in Civ
ing them all such treasures. She managed
somehow to convey this to Dolly. Dolly
dung herself back on the bed where she was
sitting, in little burst of laughter.
"WEst a goose you are, Milly. These
bon bons are made to give away. Mamma
chose them on purpose for me to give to my
friends They are Christmas fsvors
TELL you what we can do" here cried
out little Katy Downes, waking up out of
one of her day little dreams. Tell you
WudL you CdQ hnO hhlY SLruCk QeT
tiny hand upon her knee in the delight at
her new ides; 'you--we-csn make q
club and call it the Robins Ring Club"
Dolly jumped off the bed and clutched
Katy in wild embrace.
the thing. Hurrah for the
Robins Ring Club! Hurrsh for the
Countess of Kissesp and Dolly showered
A. a lattar urop L afv ,rrSsl oha e. ,,aA e.
mercy.
Just here in the midst of sll this conmo-
ton there came 9 rap upon the door, and
Dolly few back TO her throne upon the bed,
and then called out rather excitedly: 'Come
ini"
The door opened and there appeared up
on the threshold-Fsnny Drsyton. At the
moment every one of toe girl guests stared
in amsEement. How dared she intrude her
set, they thought. The next moment their
amazement took a different form, for Dolly
from her seat upon the bed waved her
hands invitingly. and said: "Better late
than never, Fanny. Come in and sit down
1 was afraid that Jane hadn't given you my
note, you were 80 long coming"
The four pair of eyes that had been star
ing at the girl IN the doorway, now turned
away from her and became intent upon
something else. Milly Jarvis leaned against
Margie Gaines, and Margie Gaines became
absorbed is tasting piece of csndied Cocoa
nut, and Florry wainwright bent her head
over the basket, while Katy Downes clasp
ed her hands over 8 cookie in her lap, and
looked as If she were going to sleep.
A second or two Fanny paused Oh the
threshold, then as Dolly kept urging her to
come ia, she slewly approached the bed and
ae slowly sank into the vacant chair near
by. Dolly's eyes flashed as she saw how all
the girls ignored this unfortunate latest
conner, and her bravo, generous, pitiful spir
it rose up to NEE. the situation. With her
esyest. brightest manner che introduced
Fanny to the others as the Empress Eu-
genie, and sparkled off into go many funny
jokes that despite their determination to be
dignifed and cool, first one girl and then
another giggled over their candies and
cake.
But not one of them turned a glance up.
on Fanny, or vouehssfe1 q word to her.
They fell to talking again with each other,
but they paid not the slightest attention to
the unfortunate Empress Eugenie. Dolly
tried 10 make up for all this by quiet little
eourtesies and kindnesses. She passed her
the Basket of sweets again and again. and
when Fanny helped herself timidly and
spariagly, she heaped plate for her with
the cream or the dainties.
But it was of no use; che near.sighted