The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-09-28
"But for such very. Gerry important
occasion as this" smirked Miss Areth.


lusa.
eve never have any important occa-
Isions," laughed jessie. "Look, Miss
Blythe, do you think my pansy petal is
as deep purple as the originate"
And when tho three old maids had, at
last, taken their departure, Jessie looked
at her mother in amazement mingled
with mirth.
Mamma" said she, "what do those
.old women mean?"
81 think, dear" said Mrs. Mordaunt,
"that they arc tho least bit unsettled
in their minds-just little crazy, you
know"
And the Misses Blythe went away, OK
changing mysterious chances, and wills.
pcring to each other:
"They can not deceive usn'
Tho Misses Blythe told everybody
they could think of-always in strict con
tldence. of course. Everybody repeated
it to everybody else, and by Friday
evening the train to Walkley Station
was full.
To Miss Bctsey Blythc's infinite dis
appointment, the Smith house, q pretty,
old-fashioned mansion with a pillared
front, garden full of clipped box mon
strosities, and an octagonal conserva-
tory, built out from the south end, was
not lighted up after any extraordinary
fashion. Mrs Smith, IIarold's mother,
a dimplcd old lady, in white lace cap
and cleaning gold spectaclc-glasses,
was knitting, half asleep, when the
three Misses Blythe were ushored in,
followed by 4 crowd of other acuuaint
ances.
"OhH' said she, rubbing hnr eyes to
make sure that it was not adream, this
is a surprise party, is it? I'm sure I'm de-
lighted to sec you! Only it's pity Harry
isn't at homer
"My good SOUL said Miss Arethusa
Blythe, shaking her finger, '.its no
use trying to deceive us. NYo know al
about it,"
"All about what?" said Mrs. Smith.
about the wcdding!" cried out the
company in chorus.
Whose wcdding?" demanded Mrs.
Smith.
"Why, Harold's, to be surc!' they re-
sponded.
'l'ut Harold isn't going to be mar
ricd," said Mrs Smith. clio isn't even
engaged! Good gracious! What can
have put such thing into peoples
hcads?"
Its tho telegram" said Miss Pa
mela.
81 don't know what You are talking
about" said Mrs. Smith in despair.
"Well if you won't believe mo, you
will, perhaps, believe your own eyes"
said Miss Bctsey Blythe, with dignity, as
She drew the telegram from her pocket,
and, carefully strengthening out it's
creases. held it up before Mrs. Smiths
spectacle glasses.
dear me!'' cried Mrs Smith, at last
comprchending a little of this curious
network Of cross-purposes, Its Bella
Smiths big dolll''
WHAT shrielcd Miss Arethusa,
Miss Pamela and Miss Betsy in chorus.
WHAT moro wildly echoed tho rest
OF tho assemblage, crowding eagerly
around.
"Mrs. Helena Smiths little daughter,
across tho street," explained Mrs
Smith. SITS her birth-night party, and
an immense doll, dressed as bride,
was forwarded by express this after
noon! 1 saw it mysclf-a perfect
beauty, with vail and wreath, white
satin boots, buttoned by knobs of pearl,
and long wristed white kid gloves, en-
tirely complete! And you thought
you really imagined that my Harold
was going to be married secretly and
had telegraphcd to New York for his
BRIDE"
The old lady broke out into fit of
soft, understanding laughter, which
shook her as if she had been IL mold of
jelly. Everybody else laughed, too, OK
cept the three Misses Blythe. They
only looked blank.
"But now that you're here" added
hospitable Mrs. Smith, you'll stay to
tea. all of you? But you must! The
down train doesn't leave until ten and
you'll be half starved, now that there is
no wedding feast for you. Obi l insist
upon your staying to tea"
Tho biggest tca-kettle in the house
was put over to boil at once; seven
pounds of coffee were put into the not.
and the maids ran, one to the mufI1e
and trumpet store and cake bakery, the
other to the oyster stand, which, luck
lily. was not yet shut up for tho night.
And kind Mrs. Smith entertained her
unexpected guests with gracious polite
ness.
But there was no wedding and NC
prlue, except nttle Molly Smiths wax
bride across the street, and tho three
Misses Blythe went back to New York
sadder and wiser women.
And what was perhaps the most de-
sirablc result, they resolved to adhere,
thenceforth, to the eleventh command
ment.-Amy Randolph, in N. Y. Ledger.
New Idea in Rallronding.
Under the English "staff SYSTEM
IN bo oil tnd h.