Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-07-24

Come now, say you'll go-just TO
/ please us - said Ben We're going
| to try for Miss Carlisle's basket, and
the lucky fellow has TO stand treat.
! We shall not know her basket, of
course. All that is TO be kept secret
but we're going to guess. If its like
her, it will be the prsttiest one there.
| Understand p
Mark nodded, and sudden light
came into his eyes. To him Miss Car
Isle was almostan angel The thought
OF her awakened all the manhood in
his breast.
See here. boys" he said bravely,
what's the use of my pretending to
you this way You know rs well as l
do why can't go | haven't money
to buy anybody's lunch. Besides, my
clothes aren't fit
"Pshaw Lots OF the fellows will
wear just their every day clothes, and
maybe you can earn two bits between
! now and Thursday.
If | can, I'll go -
Sure p
Yes, sure. I've got two bits now,
but | wouldn't like TO go to place
| like that with less than four bits. -
Give us your hand on it,
Mark went on his way in a strange
tumult of feeling Whet did it mean,
Perhaps the boys We're not so bad at
heart as he had thought.
Now tell us what you're up toPer-
cy," said Ben, as soon "a Mark was
! out Of hearing.
What Clint said about the pump
kin make me think OF it. You know
how the boys bother Mark about Bet
ty? He's sensitive TO rIdicule, and il
you want tomake him angry, ask him
about his friend Betty. Now, | mean
TO get Betty to go and take n raw
pumpkin for her lunch, and We'll fix
it so Mark will bid it off and get her
tie"
will she do it p
'I'll make the thing work some way
You'll See
Before the boys left the bridge the
details of the plot were carefully
planned, and they parted in high glee.
As the last boy vanished from sight,
there was rustling in a thick clump
of willows that grew on the river
bank close by the bridge, ana Miss
Carlisle, with botany-case in hand
and a queer smile onher face, stepped
out from the leafy cover, and walked
quickly up the bank.
So mysterious were the prepara-
tions that went on the next week that
one would almost think Christmas was
at hand. Each lady wanted to outdo
her neighbor in the tasteful arrange
ment OF her lunch, and at the same
time keep her secret.
The boys pilot throve well. Betty,
through Clinton's skillful diplomacy,
was induced to 20 to the festival and
send a pumpkin for her lunch. y
As good luck would have it, Miss
Carlisle gave Mark an errand to do
for her in the country, for which she
paid him Il half-dollar 1t might
have been pure accident that she
paid him the money in the presence
Of Percy Drake.
Another apparent accident hap
pened. She made so elaborate a bas-
ket for her lunch that she was Obliged
to take il to the school to work on at
recess when the pupils were out.
Once, on hearing footsteps, she slip
ped it quickly in her desk without
covering it.
4 short time afterward, she sent
! Clinton McKinsey TO her desk to get
u book. He had the lid half raised
when she stepped forward 10 inter
cept him. 1t was too late! He had
seen the basket, and noted the neck
tie Of fringed white silk which lay
upon it.
1 There was no danger that Clinton
would not keep the secret. He even
went 40 far in his self-conceit as Ia
suspect that she wished that be
should know which was her lunch.
The eventfuI evening arrived. The
/ church-house was filed to its utmost
capacity. The boy conspirators sat
on front seat with their uususpect
! ing victim, Mark Grannis, IN the
midst. His eyes sparkled, and hi:
cheeks glowed with excitement, for
the four BOYS seemed bent on moth
ing else than making him have a
good time.
Such unwonted comrade eship wa
intoxicating to him. He forgot al
about darned and threadbare best
suit, especially after Miss Carlisle
came in, and smiling brightly at the
group of boys, took a seat facing
them, in the amen corner"
She wore dress OF dark blue, OF
which white silk tie showed very
plainly. There were white chrysan
themums in her belt, and her hal
glistened in the lamplight like wave
of gold-at least. so Mark thought.
He even forgot TO he annoyed wher
Ben Tyndal nudged him significantly
as Betty Morley came in. Betty wa
never abashed by a crowd, and el
bowed her way to the front, until sh