The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1889-03-28
THE DINNER PARrY.

~ abe arose. the long Jets on her drss
iinsiing softly. There siIl be oply oar
selves and my future son-ia-lsv, Mr.. Gil
man, aud Mr.. samson, our pastor. ans
Evsline Gordon and her brother. Just q
Informal little dinner. III send the car
risse Tor you. you mustn't fail me
And she called her lunch party Iss
month Just . simple little affair. said Jes.
sie. sitting down on stool al her grand
r,oih,rs feet. vLeo she bad gone; and
then bov ielt 10 my old brosn cashmers
among the ssiins and the dismondsl And
I've nothing bat my poor old pink fos this.
She's very kind. Of course. bnt because
she was friend OF Aunt Mary's isn't any
reason Why she should Try 10 get Aunt
Msrys poor little niece into society. Aud
| cam afford IL. and It would be easier for
me II Mrs. Bostwick would stop inviting
me. don't know Why she dossi
i Grsndma smiiins down foudly on the
gsosIs grand daughter whom she had
brought up, thought sbe knew.
4 Even beyond Mrs. Bostwicks undoubt. (.
I'd kindnsss Of heart there we're obvious
reasons. An uncommonly bright aud pre,.
~ girl wss an attraction and addition In
sDybody's psrlor and at any ybody table.
Keep on ifyou enjoy it, dear. said grand.
ma. kindly.
Ill 90 TO night. because I've promise
and then I'm gong TO tell Mrs Bostwick.
said Jessie, brsvely, that cant siford il.
She was a sensible girl, and she felt no
regret for the decision, not even when she
stood before her glass, that evening. in the
''old pink thing" looking her prettiest
and feeling her brightest.
The flowers ct her corssse had cost m ore
than she could well afford and the bug gled
ruching crushed by her round chin had
taken the last dollar 10 her purse, and she
shook her yellow head at her attractive
reflection.
You look /" gay as = new penny said
grandma, sdmiringIy. And you call to
mnd-I want thinking of it-but you
take me right back to one night, inner
before last. when we WAS out to your Uo.
Gle Joseph's. You was going down the
road to some doinss, with the young folks,
and you bad pink dress with some Aow-
ers stuck on, just as you've got now.
S'pose you've forgot in
Jessie's face was lowered. II had grown
red and warm, and her eyes we're bright.
ened, and yet softened.
Forgotten it? No; and she knew she
never should forget it, The dress had {
been pink ginghsm, aud the flowers some Z
Willy little "Chiness globe flowers" that
grew in Uncle Joseph's yard. and the 90 Z
casion bad been pound. patty" at the
little parsonage.
But il had been the happiest summer OF !
her life. In the face Of oil the gaie,ies that
had followed. Jessie confessed il. '
She was only seventeen then. and AL. 4
red Foster was twenty. He bad lived o
,e1t to Uncle Josepb's-s d.workiug {
'armer's boy, tall. red.handej. brown.fao d
ID. and perhaps little awkward. But he
had fine eyes and gentle voice. and far Q
better manners than her cousins, Bob and q
seldom, and they had won their way into
Iessies soft heart. p
Had he cared for her? She did not v
coming home from the min
sters that night, be had been hesitant and II
1t had seemed as though be b
Vas trying to say something he was halt al
frsid TO say; and when be left her At the ri
oor. be had pressed her hand very hard, o
nd fingered little. II
And the next week they hsd come back q
o the city. and that bad been the end.
Well, il bad been boy and girl affair st
the best. and Jessie had tried to forget hl
: But she had never quite succeeded.
md in the depis Of her heart she had q
herished . faint hope Of meeting him b.
gain some time.
II was not likely. since Uncle Joseph H
sd moved TO Dskots. But the thought r
ould come up now and then. She was il
binking OF II. dresmily, when Mrs. Bost
ick's coschmsn left her Ut Mrs. Boat. Qr
ick q imposing front door. be
You look charming! said Mrs. Bostwick
she kissed her At the wide psrlor door. be
ou'll csriivste al. the gentlemen. Geor- m
. sent college friend. who Is in the city dc
IN mporarily,. with lotter Of introduction cd
nd be is such gentleman! I'd have Civ su
him over to you for dinner il l could co
I'VE msuaged it. Of
They we're in the big, bright room, and or
'ssie had nodded 10 pretty Miss Bost di
ick. and stood waiting quietly for intro ju,
actions.
Mise Brooks, Mr.. Gilman Sam
n-Mr. Foster. said Mrs. Bos.wiek. ic'
nigny. DO
Aud Jessie bowed. tb'
But when she raised her eyes. she stood dr.
lite still, quite silent and motlonless. WV
We for her trembling hands. 'n'
He heart seemed TO have bounded up to ~
Z throat. She wondered whether she -
ire DO, little insane. or sbsurdly dream " -.
2. II vas Alfred Foster himself who o.
risen TO meet her.
Miss Brooksl be exclaimed in frank :,
light ~,
Aud tLen Mr. Bosiuick took Mr.. Sam
: arm. and Mr.. Gilman ofIsred his 10
ssie. and Alfred took charge Of Eveline ~ ,
,rdon. and Mhs Bostsick followed With y
ung Mr.. Gordon. and they vent 10 to 80,
,per.
Yes. IL vas Alfred ~.
Al