The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-25
CHAPTER VII.
A SWISS FAIR.

CHAPTER VII.
A SWISS FAIR.
Miss Earle was still a visitor at the
/ Deanery. and was to remain yet another
week in order that she might take part in
a bazaar, for which the ladies Of every
age aud grade in TIE neighborhood had
been working for many a month past.
She had enjoyed her visit far more than
/ she usually enjoyed visits of any kind,
and in spite of the season of real hard
grinding work under which every officer
and man in the garrison was then groan.
ing. she had seen good deal of that lieu
tenant of the Banksfffre regiment, who,
in common, went by the name of Beautiful
jim. The more she saw of him the better
she liked him. while Beautiful Jim was
on his part, as he graphically put it, 80
dead broke in the way of spoons that he
could not possibly be any broker
This bazaar was to be al unusually
smart affair. Ii was in aid Of the funds
Of the City hospital, and as the dean was
president of the committee. was TO be
] held in the grounds at the back OF the
f, Deanery and residence These were both
large and spacious gardens, divided only
by park railing and a wicket gate.
Then not only was it to be bazaar but
also a mask of flowers and a pastoral play
The bazaar In the guise of Swiss fair,
was to be held in one garden and the mask
and pastoral was to be given ia the other
Aud il was really wonderful how this
Deanery garden had been transformed,
more than twenty chalets had sprung into
existence in various parts of 1t, row with
open fronts being the bazaar proper, ana
others scattered here and there for such
purposes as fortune telling, refreshments,
/ flowers. art gallery and cafe cIantant
where almost all the amateur singers IN
Blankhampton were TO hold forth as
sirens who would charm shillings and half
crowns ont of the pockets OF all corners
/ for the benefit Of those who were poor
and sick in the community.
There was a tlsh pond without any wa
/ ter and an Alpine dairy where the sweet
est and freshest Of milk was dispensed
/ for a consideration by the sweetest and
prettiest of dairymaids, and there was
very smart little shop with the sign OF the
red glove, next door to one in which pipes
and sticks Of every size and shape and
price might be bought
The whole thing was wonderfully well
managed. Each chalet had its double set
Of ladies', one permanent saleswoman
whose name hung over the door; the rest
bright and as faras was possible beauteous
Young damsels who divided their laDors
between acting as assistant shOpwOmen
TO their head for the time being and tax
ing part ia the mask or pastoral in the
adjoining garden,
ii was not yet the hour for thy bazaar
10 be thrown open TO the public, and the
Leslie girls, after setting their own stall
10 their satisfaction, went off in two and
three 10 see the effect of the others.
Let MS 90 and sec how Lady Margaret 5
stall looks suggested Sarah Leslie to her
sisters as they went up the narrow street.
But before they could reach their goal
they were stopped by the sister OF the
member for the city, who was standing
outside her stall contemplating the effect
thereof This was Miss Gervase perhaps
the most energetic and charitable. and
certainly not the least popular woman,
for many q mile round Blankhampton.
She was very tall and wonderfully fair,
with crinkled golden hair, punched up at
the back Of her head into Il sort Of cloud OF
glory: her eyes were blue, bright forget
me not blue, and she had lovely hands.
NV dears, she said in brisk, fresh.
busting voice, the voice of q woman who
could get through twice as much work as
most Of her kind; my dears how do YOU
think my stall looks! .,
"Oh awfully well, Miss Gervase, "
Sarah Leslie replied, heartily. Every
thing these girls did was hearty, and they
were like sea breeze on bright SUM-
mers morning for freshness.
Il got my picture done in time, you see.
Oh NV dears. worked like slave to
finish il aud there's my embroidered
screen at the back. Like IT Yes
think those water lilies on 1t are pretty
good any way, they took ne three
months TO work. And then I've got all
that old china in the corner, and case OF
curios which, by the bye, Jack has bought
already.
Dear Miss Gervase, IL puts us all IN
the shade completely" struck in violet
Leslie chcerily "for so it ought. Tor
you've worked harder than any one, and
the whole thing is your doing fropl be-
ginning to end
The Leslie girls passed on; then they
came to Lady Margaret's chalet, where the
deans lovely daughter and her friend
Miss Earle were just putting the finishing
touches to their display Of fancy goods,
with the aid OF several other girls, all
dressed alike as Swiss peasants.
They stayed there good while iaugh'
Ing and chattering like flock OF pros.
and presently Sarah Leslie noticed that
Aileen's visitor kept looking toward the
house.
Are you looking out for somebody
Miss Earle :" she asked, with frank curl
} osity.
Nancy Earle smiled.
Yes; Lady Margaret has asked my
, Young brother to come and stay for the
, bazaar; and he, you know, Is just gazet'
ted to the Blankshire regiment. and SC
delighted at the chance OF coming aud