The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-04-19
A MODERN SPARTAN.
BY MISS EDITH MAY DOVE.

DIT
'FDaisy's BROTHER" Geordie whis-
pered back.
"Where from?'
GA MISUNDERSTANDING re-
ligious place in the village"
"He looks like Milton," calmly
remarked Clifford, who had an ire
pressible habit of comparing chance
acquaintance to historical person.
ages. From that time on Roy was
Milton in his mind.
Soon after Roy's return to the
Inn Clifford suffered under second
attack of his disease. Roy, always
mindful of his duty, called on the
sick lad in his room. He found the
invalid recumbent on a sofa, busily
smoking cigarettes, while Daisy was
reading to him. Her selection
was "Mrs. Brown at the Play" and
Geordie assisted her by occasionally
staggering about and muttering
chic" From this scene of i'll tim
ed dissipation Roy fled, to never re-
turn.
When Clifford recovered from
this attack it was nearly time for
the return of himself and Geerdie
to school. Clifford decided to put
finale on the vacation joys by set
of charades, and Roy was invited to
attend "select meeting of the di-
rectors, in the parlor, at 2 D. M,
sharp" He went and found
scene of great confusion. Clifford
with book of stage directions, sat
on tiny table which tottered under
his weight. Geordie was sewing
rings to a green curtain, and prick
ing his fingers in the operation,
while Daisy was actually making
arrangements to appear as nun !!
Roy ventured no remonstrance, but
sat down and stared at this sacrilegi-
GUS party.
DWELL now," said Clifford, brisk
ly, "What'll you take? We want
pretty young lady, who's to dis
tribute tracts to the villain of the
piece-that's me. Daisy's too wick
ed for the part, and Geordie must
be hero. Will you take it ?"
Roy shook his head.
''Then there's the part of the
butcher" continued Clifford, ga
handsome young fellow who falls in
love with the cook-Daisy, what do
you say to that ?"
Roy again shook his head.
"And the fast young man, we've
no one for him, you're hardly swag-
gering enough, but you might do
with training, you wear a suit of
large plaid, you know, and talk on
horse racing"
Roy silently arose, made a bow
and left the room.
"That means he's satisfied, eh %
inquired Clifford.
"He's utterly disguised with the
whole affair, and will have nothing
to do with it." Daisy interpretated.
"Then this is all there is about
it," said Clifford returning to his
cast of characters, "we've got to in
vent some one for the butcher, the
swell, and the tract distributor. We
three alone can't sustain every part.
Daisy's already the heroine, and
parlor maid; Geordie, you are hero,
a coachman, a soldier and a sailor;
while Pm villain, the dude, a drunk
ard and the maiden aunt. I wond-
er if | can keep my parts separate.
1t won't do to lisp for the william
instead of the dude, and give the
drunkard's stutter for the maiden
aunt"
The parts yet remained untitled
and Clifford was seriously debating
in his mind the probability of con-
structing a set of dummies, when
the break appeared, filled with a
family party-mamma, fair, fat and
forty; papa, big, gruff, and gray j;
a white capped bonnie guarding a
'pampered lap-dog; several pretty
girls in stylish hats, and a couple of
lads numbered with gun cases. Gift
ford caught one glimpse of the par
ty, and sprang out into the hall
shouting, you've come, you've
come, and to my salvation. Nelly
shall be tract distributor, Hally
shall be butcher, and Joe shall be
swell. Come right in and learn
your parts, we'll have rehearsal
this afternoon" And sure enough
they did. Everything went off
charminly. Gifford's new found
friends harmonized perfectly with
Geordie and Daisy; and two days
later the "grand finale" of charades
and tableaux was enacted in the par
lor, to the assembled occupants of
the Inn. Every one was called be-
fore the curtain, and Clifford dis
tinguished himself behind the scenes
by rushing out in the dew and gath
ering huge punches ofheather which
his co-workers were ordered to keep
Gas mementos." OF course he
caught cold by his imprudence, and
went off the next morning in the
break, wheeling badly, but he was
SO persistently cheerful that this
scarcely cast damper on the occas-
ion. No sooner did silence reign in
the long fopsy turvy Inn than Roy
drew his sister into the parlor and
said sternly: "Don't you dare te
cry. Arrangements have been made