The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-02-14

hfaih. lie wouldn't have let me hear
from Ned In year II had written II. =
u was not in girl nature not To do her
best IN the second answer; certainly II
was not In Robcrta's nature. The note
was charming; there was little adj
vance on tho formality 81 tho first. and
without abating ono jot Of her maiden
~ dignity and reserve, she gave IL GER
tain breezy friendlincss that made Mr..
Lancaster think Ned strangely unap-
prcciative brother
You don't mean TO say the fellows
had the impotence 70 write again."
cried Roberta, few days after. seeing
her school-mato advancing with an air
Of injured innocence.
"Ycs and will tell yon what. Ro-
bcrta, I'm getting tired Of this sort OF
thing III lose tho medal for good con
duct II Miss Cook gets any more letters
for me from Washington. You must tell
him not TO write any more"
''Tcll him 50 yoursclfr' answered Ro-
borta, angrily II wash my hands Of
your whole correspondence"
"Oh, very we'll. :" retortcd Emily. with
the cunning not uncommon in dull pco-
pie. Il shall own up that didn't write
the other notes and that will put stop
TO the whole thing"
But now Roberta felt guilty unwil-
lingnsss 70 have il known tor Emily
had kept her authorship Of the notes a
profound secret that she had been writ
ing incog. TO strange gentleman. and 50
the correspondence was kept up briskly
for several weeks.
About this time there was great fut-
ter in Underwood Seminary; twenty Of
its inmates were going TO party at the
country homo Of Mary Gatcwood, one Of
the scholars. 1t was 20 last--or at least
the girls were to stay at Upton-from
Friday afternoon until Monday morning.
Was ever any thing 50 delicious?
II have to pinch myself. said Emily
Kent, as the great coach. containing
half the party, turned into Upton lawn,
ITO be sure that this is Emily. and not
Cinderella or some fairy Princess rid
ing along here"
Take care that you don't pinch me
by mistake" said Roberta. who was her
next ncighbor. "You know" she added.
mystcriously. we've been little mixed
up lately as to who was which,"
For several hours after their arrival at
Upton the Underwood girls devoted
themselves TO the arduous task Of
"primping;' and even with the assist
ance OF several dusky and smiling maids
il seemed doubtful whether all tho
curls and pulls and ornaments would be
in place by eight o'clock. Roberta.
-. ~ ~.
had an eccentric taste for simplicity in
dress, which was sharply resented by
all her lady friends, while il was much
admired BY the other sex.
'Vhy can't all girls be like Miss
Roberta was the injudicious question
put BY ono Of her admirers 10 group Of
other girls. "She never keeps fellow
waiting. she's always ready. and sho
always looks nicc.'
Mice. indccd,' was the smiling an
swcr THAT girl would go TO church in
wasn't watched"
Its easy enough for Roberta to dress
in hurry" complained another, "her
hair curls naturally"
But almost in the time we have
taken up in gossiping about her,
and before her companions had fair
ly begun their cngrossing occupa-
ton. Roberta had unbound her wavy
lengths OF hair and quickly re-knotted
them into soft coil at the back OF her
head, had slipped into fleecy white
her waist, and donned her ono ornament,
white japonica, chosen from great
bowlful sent from Upton greenhouse
for the girls adjoining.
..I'll take myself out Of the way OF you
bellies" she said. catching last peep Of
herself in the mirror; and she stole
down the slippery staircase in search Of
the drawing-room. She missed her
way. but found tho coy library with
its blazing hickory fire, and delghtedly
ensconccd herself in the bay window.
Tho snow had begun 70 fall In that
gentle. MINDLESS way 50 particularly en-
chanting. and the twilight lent addi-
tional .weirdncss and beauty to the scene.
After many minutes OF silent enjoy
mcnt Roberta began to sing softly TO
herself an old ballad about Lady Hide
gard and her absent knight playing
soundless accompaniment on the win
dow-pane. As she finished the last
stanza she was startled 10 see black
figure advancing from the other bay
window; but. being sclf-controllcd
girl, she quickly remembered that the
house was full Of guests, and turned
her eyes to the white out-of-doors.
II beg your pardon" said pleasant
voice. at which she turned her eyes back
again; II did not mean TO play caves
droppcr, but hope you will not be an
cry with my awkwardness in letting you
suppose yourself alone"
Now, Roberta had been trained in the
formal school OF manners, whore a young
lady must never speak to gentleman
till he Is duly presented. She therefore
remained silent, though. as second
glance showed her that the gentleman
was much older than herself, she bowed
slightly, and he spoke again:
AS we are guests In the same house.
and therefore destined to become ac-
quainted, perhaps you will let me be
master OF ceremonies and introduce my
self. am Hobart Lancaster, and, II
am not mistaken, have the honor to
al. Il