Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-12-18

200, Tor whom wish 20 order luncheon
at the counter in that room. He can
get a good meal and be comfortable
there, ! suppose?"
"a travelling party Of nine:' thought
March. apparently intent upon the
depths OF his soup tureen. s'With this
girl as courier. yet she mentioned two
men,
The family flied In while he specu-
lated. Twin-boys OF twelve or thirteen,
dressed exactly alike in gray jackets
and knickerbockers, except that the
red-haifed one wore blue neck-tie and
Che brown-haired scarlet; pretty,
blue-eyed gir2 Of eight, and toddler of
two, led by a sweet-faced mother, with
tair hair and faintlytinted complexion
OF the china sheperdess school. The
''courier," assisted by the waiter, seated
them all without hustle, before ad-
dressing an tndivid ual, who had fol-
lowed az . respectful distance, and now
hung sloof, chewing the brim of bran
new straw hat.
"Homer.' said che young lady, gently
and distinctly, as she might direct .
child. efou will get your dinner in the
next room. Gomez
BY shifting his position slightly.
March could see her point the man 60 q
stool and give orders for his refresh
ment. He was understood, lean and
sandy-haired, small of feature and 1out-
ish in carriage. His eyes had red rims.
| and blinked necessarily, asy if eXces-
sively weak or purblind. When he be-
gan operations upon coffee and sand.
wiches, he gobbled voraciously, gnaw.
ing off mouthfuls like a greedy dog
His clothes were so distressingly ready-
made, and accentuated his uncouthness
SO numerically as 60 leave no doubt
that the wearing of coat and vest was .
novelty and an equivocal boon.
AN odd fsh!'' commented March,
mentally. sWhy should civilized fam.
lily haul him after them like badly
made kite-tail? And they are not vul-
garianS, either!''
His eyes strayed discreetly back to the
table set for seven. The mistress of GER
emOnies sat at the head, and was study
ing the printed menu. 1t lay fiat on the
cloth that the crippled girl at her right
might read it with her. Their heads
| were close together, and the gravity
upon the countenance of the elder was
reelected by the shrewd elfin face. Pres
emily they began to whisper, the bare,
thin finger of the younger of the two
tracing the lines to the extreme right of
the carte. IT was plainly a question of
comparative expense. March perceived
with pang of his kind heart. For he
had been a boy himself, and the chill
dren were hungry.
Hurry up-won't you, Hetty," called
the red-headed twin, impatiently.
''Give US the first thing you come to so
long as it isn't corned beef, pork and
beans, or rice pudding. I'm starced!'
ME, too!' echoed his fellow.
i 'sYou needn't make mince-meat of
your English on that account!'' piped the
crippled sister. tartly. ''It is no little
matter 90 order just the right things for
such. a host. Mamma, you must have a
cup of tea, I suppose?"
The young lady interposed, writing
while she talked:
"Of course. And all of US will be the
better for some good, hot soup. This is
luncheon, not dinner, recollect We
only need something to stay our appe-
titles until six o'clock" she added. put
ting the paper in the walters hand.
She did not look like one who did
things for effect, yet there was meaning
in her manner of saying it. If she
was obliged to cut her coat according to
her cloth she would just now make the
scantiness of the pattern seem matter
of choice and carry out the seeming gal
lantly.
"How much further have we to go?''
queried eight-year.old, somewhat rue
fully.
Six o'clock was to her apprehension q
long time ahead
! I'VE are within half an horr of home.