The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-04-29
TWO GIRLS AND THEIR ES.
CORT.

than ten o'clock, SO l suppose l shall
not be home before train-time,'' said
Horace.
NO said his mother, sit will not be
worth while to attempt to come home
between that hour and eleven. So you
will not fail to be there in good time. ."
Half an hour later he entered a bril-
iantly lighted hall, and was soon list
ening to the selections which made up
the programme of promenade concert,
and gazing with lively interest upon the
people about him. 1t was an era in his
life. He had recently entered college,
and his mother had come to this fashion,
able college town to live, that she might
be with her only son. They had hitherto
lived very quietly in country village,
and Horace felt boyish delight in his
new surroundings.
There were plenty of bright, intelli-
gent-lookilg young people at the con-
cert: boys who might be his mates, and
young girls whose acquaintance he
might hope to make. He had a loyal
respect and admiration for women, and
in his very heart believed that every
thing sweet, lovely, modest, gentle, dig
nified and beautiful belonged by right
ful inheritance to young girlhood. Alas,
that any one should ever have cause not
to believe as he did
During an interval in the music, near
the close Of the concert, young man,
one OF the few present whom he knew,
came to him.
I'm in bit of a fix, Horace" he
said, land | wish you would help me
out.
Il shall be glad if can, Jack"
''Well, | brought two young ladies
here-city girls, very lively and pleas
ant you'll find them-and I've Just re-
ceived a delayed telegram to the effect
that my mother expects me to meet her
over at Sugarloaf Junction, and L can
only make it by starting at once. Now
viii you see the girls home? I've told
them how it is, and it will be all right
with them if | find an escort to take my
place"
Il shall be delighted-with certain
limits said Horace. Il can be at their
service until eleven, but after that |
have an engagement that / must fulfil"
That will do exactly. You see there
are only two more numbers on the pro-
gramme. You'll be out of here by ten,
and it will not take you more than half
an hour to escort the ladies home"
"Then," said Horace, desirous of
guarding carefully against any possible
misunderstanding, you viii explain to
the young ladies that | am their humble
servant until eleven"
The young man went away, and re-
turning, conducted Horace TO the other
side of the nall and introduced him.
MIR. Horace Brand-Miss Willard,
Miss Paxton"
Nothing could have been more to
Horace's liking than to be called upon
for such duty as this. He was charm
ed with the lovely faces, the light, pleas
ant chat and the ripping laughter of
the young ladies, though he wished they
would pay more heed to the music. for
it did not quite comport with his idea of
good manners that they should whisper
and laugh while it went on, to the very
evident annoyance of several ladies and
gentlemen near them. But he tried to
excuse it as thoughtiessness that came
naturally from an overflow of spirits.
When the last piece had been played,
Horace would at once have moved to-
wards the door, but the ladies seemed in
no hurry, and introduced him to several
of their friends whose acquaintance he
was glad 10 make.
''Oh, what glorious moonlight ex-
claimed Miss Paxton, as they finally
reached the open air. Its altogether
too fine an evening to ride home on a
poky street-car, En-. Let us walk"
Il am afraid it is too far" said Miss
Willard, who was Miss Paxton's cousin
Not bit. It's early yet" As
rather prolonged discussion on the point
ended in decision in favor of the street
car, Horace noticed that it was then
nearly half-past ten, but thought, "a
they waited another ten minutes for IA
car that he had still plenty of time to
meet his engagement. But he grew a
trifle uneasy as Miss Paxton continued
her witty conversation with little circle
of friends, regardless of the car when at
last it did come.
''Oh, never mindr' she said, as he
ventured to draw her attention to it.
''Who wants to 90 home when the
night is so fine? Wen wait for the next
one. Aunt Emily is out tonight she
went on, with laugh and shrue of
n6r pTeIlN SuOulUelS. III II WASH [ Tor
that, En- and would have to heed the
time, for she is one of the goody-goody
women, who hold that girls should be
at home at early hours, and has other
such old-fashioned notions"
Horace set his teeth in his nervous
ness as at last the little party We're seat
ed in the car, but found comfort in re-
membering that the station at which he
must not fail to present himself at fifteen
minutes past eleven, was in the quarter
of the town to which he was conduct
ing the young ladies. As no more de-
lays were likely to occur. he felt sure he
could still easily reach it.
But as they were passing by a bril-
liantly lighted saloon, Miss Paxton rang
the bell for the car to stop.
Come" she cried, with laugh, as
she sprang Oft Her cousin followed,
and Horace, as a matter of course, fol-
lowed the two.
Don't think me rude, Mr. Brand. but
| never can pass an ice-cream saloon
without indulging myself-and I'm 60
ing to take the unusual liberty of invit-
ing YOU and my cousin to take an ice
cream with me-
She was walking towards the bril-
hanty-lighted window, when Horace,in