The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-04-20
STELLA MAKES A hit.
Her Striking Song, Little Birdie
on the Tree"

If I had been caught in such a situa-
ticr by anybody but John Benton ]
sh,rld have been terribly annoyed.
There | was on the floor of the nursery.
with hair tumbled, my face red and
sticky with candy and great rent
across the front breadth Of my overskirt.
where il had been caught by Il nail a
few minutes before during a fierce
blind-man s-buff scrimmage. My little
sister Alice was having a birthday par
~ and of course had 10 assist in enter
tanning the guests, They were just
twelve, seven boys and five girls. Sup
per was over (every body was too ex-
cited to sit long at the table, and we
all retired to the nursery at the top of
the house. where there were no reStric-
tons as TO AOise, and where the seven
boys exercised their shouting franchise
to the utmost, assisted in a more sub
dued way by the five girls. the youngest
a wee little thing of four years, who
had insisted on sharing her stick of
candy with me.
When John BENT. Benton tapped at the
supposing it was servant.
81 beg your pardon, Miss Latour.
They said l should find you here. But
perhaps have made some mistake"
Not at all, Mr.. Benton" said |. as
j scrambled TO my feet. I'VE are
pleased to see you. Sit down on-on
fhe piano stool. The chairs have been
taken into the other room. We have
been playing blind mans buff
IL received this invitation, went
on Mr. Benton, taking an envelope
from his pocket and reading from the
gilt-edged card within: Miss Latour
requests the pleasure of your company
on Tuesday, December %, at five
o'clock"
looked reproachfully at my seven
year-old sister Alice. She had sent
one of her printed invitations, in
which the printer had neglected to in
sert the name "Alice." TO John Ben
ton, and the great BOBBY has taken ii
for granted that was the Miss Latour.
So he had come, without even sending
an acceptance to herald his approach.
in full dress, with a great expanse OF
white shirt-bosom, white necktie, and
yes, / am sure of this hair crimped.
A nice contrast TO my torn dress and
dishevelled hairl
We'll, / am glad you have come.
though l suppose this is not exactly
the Kind of gathering you expected 10
find, is it,"
4 -
John Benton. Ever since | had met
him at the Warren ball three months
ago. when he insisted on dancing with
me three times in the course of the
evening, and trod on my toes each
time, nv brothers all declared that he
was in love with me, but was too bash
full to tell me- | often met him, and
though / am sure | am not an awe.
inspiring parsonage. ] could not help
seeing that he was never at ease in my
presence Not that he was backward
where men were concerned. NV
brother took me to the Oil Exchange
one morning, and the first thing / saw
was John Benton, with his hat on the
back of his head, grasping brass rail
inc with one hand and shaking the
other, holding some papers. in the face
of strengthening man. and shouting
at the top of his voice in the most de-
faint manner. Will said the savage
looking man was bear, and that Mr.
Benton was bull Then Mr.. Benton
caught sight of me. and came and
suffered and stayed with me for ter
minutes. Will told me afterward thai
in that ten minutes the market dropped
nearly q cent, and Mr.. Benton lost
thousand dollars.
But il was evident that Mr.. Benton
was not thinking about the market a
he walked over to the piano-stool il
his dress-coat and white necktie, ant
sat there, with one of the most sheep
ish smiles ever saw on young man
face.
Now, Lou, you must sit down OIL
the floor again, so that we can pla..
forfeits," said my tyrannical siste
Alice. 'And You too, Mr.. Benton
Come on"
John Benton blushed and looked q
me.
I'VE shall have to obey. am afraid
Mr.. Benton" i said. "But you can 81
on he pisno-stool. if You prefer it.