Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-12-13

time went on untll one Jay IN tho oerAJ
part OF June bombshell was cast into
the camp OF the girls-Mr Richard
Grayton wrote them that he could no
longer live without seeing his adored
Miss Smith and announced his inten-
tion Of coming to Wellesley the follow
ing Friday. This was indeed startling
news. What was to be done? II Mr..
Grayton were to call and ask for Miss
Smith. he would be ushered into the
presence OF the professor Of English,
who was the only Miss Smith in col.
lege. Surprise and explanations would
naturally ensue, then an Investigation
and woe to the three conspirators II
they should be found out! They all
secretly wished to see this Richard
Grayton, for his picture showed him to
be handsome, his letters proved him
cultivated, and his determination to
come to Wellesley bespoke his earnest
ness 1t might be possible to bride the
maid so that when Mr.. Grayton should
call, one Of the three should represent
Miss Smith. But then. which should 1t
be? They all wished to see him but 1t
was obvious that only one could. Each
one, in the mere wishing to meet Mr..
Grayton, was conscious of transcending
the laws of etiquette and propriety-
yet what girl has not at some period Of
her life broken one Of Mrs. Grundy's
iron-clad rules2
"Well," said Christina at last, ''the
only possible plan that / can think of Is
this: You know my brother Bert comes
out from Cambridge Friday morning to
see me. Now, as Mr.. Grayton would not
be apt to call before the afternoon, the
best way is for me to tell Bert the whole
story-how we wrote Mr.. Grayton for .
lark without the slightest Idea that he
would ever come here. and also show
him Mr.. Grayton's picture that he may
be able to recognize him. Then Bert
can 70 down to the station, find Mr..
Grayton. and II he discovers him to be
what his picture and letters have led
US to believe him, gentleman, he can
explain the whole matter TO him and
bring him up to call on US as college
friend. II he finds that he Is not gen.
tleman,is old, hideous, ETC., then, by the
use of little diplomacy no can prevent
his coming up to the college. Now.
what do you think Of the plan?"
Edith and Louise assented to the
proposition, and the two intervening
days (t was then Tuesday, were passed
by the girls in restless anticipation. A
note was dispatched by Christina to her
brother Bert bidding him to be sure to
come over 70 Wellesley Friday morn
ing, as she had something very impor.
tant to tell him. Edith and Louise pic
tured to themselves the surprise which
Mr.. Grayton would manifest when told
that 1t was three girls, not one, TO
whom he had been writing, und that the
picture he had SO rapcurously adored was
o composite photograph.
At last the eventful Friday came and
at ten o'clock Bert Lockwood appeared.
After Bert had chatted for few min
utes with all three girls, his sister took
him into the adjoining room to unfold
the story to him. Breathlessly did
Edith and Louise await the result
They could distinguish Christmas
voice telling the story, then came
sounds as of hurried EXPLANATIONS on
Bert's part then loud burst of laugh
ter from Bert and soon Christina came
back to the room with . most crest
fallen expression on her face.
'Will he do 1t? Is 1t all rightP''
eagerly questioned both girls in .
breath. .''What did he say?"
.oh, girls!" groaned Christina, shat
Wellesley girl should live to see this
day."
"why. what do you mean," exclaimed
Edith.
81 mean" responded Christisna dis
gustedly, 'that 1t Is one Of Bert's pro-
voking jokes. He and his chum OF last
year. Harry Pelton, inserted the adver-
tisement in the newspaper, and replies
were to be sent to Buffalo. where Mr..
Pelton now is. Mr.. Pelton took the
nom de plume Of Richard GraytOn, and
when he wrote Bert that he had received
an answer from Wellesley, Bert's sus-
picions were aroused, and he found out
by careful inquiries who the girls were
who took the mail addressed to Miss L
A. Smith The rest Of the correspond
ence and announcement Of Mr.. Gray.
toms coming to see rs was undertaken
to cure me Of my love for romance.
While Mr.. Grayton is . perfect gentle
man, he is, Bert says, one OF the home
lest men in his class"
"But the photograph gasped Louise.
Those handsome features, those
dreamy eyes which we admired So"
And that tar-away expression" in
terrupted Edith, in which we thought
there was q tin0e Of sadness. Don't you
remember how we pitied him for being
compelled to worship only composite
photograph, the shadow Of dreamP"
'Don't pity him any more" returned
Christina grimly, ''for that photograph
ovar which Wa all went into raptures,