The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-09-03
aOW STELLA MADE A "HIT.T

nursery, with hair tumbled, my face
red and sticky withcandy and a great
rent across the front of my overskirt,
where it had been caught by a nail a
few minutes before during q fierce blind
man's-buff scrimmage. My little sister
Alice was having q birthday party,
and, of course, l had to assist in en-
pertaining theguests. There were just
twelve, seven boys and FIVE girls.
Supper was over Everybody was too
excited to sit long at the table, and
we all retired to the nursery at the top
of the house, where there were nc re-
strictions as to noise, and,where the sew
en- boys exercised their shouting fran
chise to the utmost, assisted in amore
subdued way by the five girls, the
youngest a wee thing offouryears who
had insisted on sharing her stick OF can
dy with me.
When John Benton tapped at the
door Isaid, "come in" carelessly, sup
posing it was a servant.
81 beg your pardon, Miss Latour.
They said / should find you here. But
perhaps / have made a mistake"
"Not at all, Mr., Benton" said l as
l scrambled to my feet. 1--WE are
pleased to see you. Sit down on-on
the piano stool. The chairs have been
taken into the other room. We have
been playing blind-man's-buff."
"I-I received this inYitation," 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 compa-
ny on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at FIVE
o'clock"
Hooked reproachfully at my seven
year.old sister Alice. She had sent
one of her printed invitations, in which
the printer had neglected to insert the
name "Alice," to John Benton, and
the great BOBBY had takeni it for grant
ed that | was the Miss Latour. So he
had come, without even sending an ac-
ceptance 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
disheveled hair.
"Well, / am glad you have come,
though | suppose this is not exactly
the kind OF gathering you expected to
find, is it?"
II did not care much what / said to
John Benton. Ever since | had met
him at the Warrens' ball three months
ago, when he insisted on dancing with
me three times in the course of the
evening and trod Oil my toes each time
my brothers all declared he was in
love with me, but was too bashful to
tell me. ] often met him, and though
/ am sure | am not an awe-inspiring
parsonage, / couldnot help seeing that
he was never at ease in my presence.
Not that he was backward where men
were concerned. My brother Will took
me to the Oil Exchange one morning,
and the first thing l saw was John
Benton, with his hat on the back oil
his head, grasping q brass railing with
one hand and shaking the other, hold
ing some paper in the face of a savage
looking man, and shouting ut him at
the top of his voice in the most defiant
manner. Will said the savage-looking
man was a bear, and Mr.. Benton was
q bull. Then Mr.. Benton caught sight
OF me, and came and suffered and
stayed with me for ten minutes. Will
told me afterwards that in that ten
minutes the market dropped nearly a
cent, and Mr.. Benton lost a thousand
dollars.
But it was evident Mr.. Benton was
not thinking about the market as he
walked over to the piano-stool in his
dress-coat and white necktie, ard sat
there, with n Of the most sheepish
smiles | ever saw on q young mans
face.
Now, Lou, you must sit down on
the floor again SO that we can play
torfeits," said my tyrannical sister
Alice. "And you, too, Mr.. Benton.
Come on"
John Benton blushed and looked at
me
eve shall have to obey, lam afraid,
Mr.. Benton" / said. "But you can
SIT on the piano. 5 stool, il you prefer
"Oh, but | don't Miss Latour. Al
low me to assist youto-to sit down."
And he actually tried to make q
courtly proceeding Of depositing me
on the floor, as if it could be any
thing but ridiculous, however it was
Effected.
Then he sat down himself, with lit
tie Stella, the four-year old mite, be-
tween US, and the game OF forfeits
went on. Most OF the penalties were
IN the shape of kisses, and ! felt nerv-
Gus until my turn came. Alice held
the forfeits over the head Of 9 partic-