The southern argus., 1891-12-31

Il distinctly saw him put her scissors int
Q his pocket But she dared not protest
While thus distracted, she heard he
mother in the kitchen burst into a mer
~ laugh She ran hastily out to se
, what had come over her.
, Mrs. Wyman was in the pantry, hold
! ing corner Of her apron over he
mouth, as If to smother her amuse
ment
There sat the six Indians on the
! floor, with hats drawn surlily owe,
their faces, and with blankets shrugged
about their shoulders
Mother, what is it?" was Lillian:
whispered inquiry.
Mrs. Wyman pointed silently at the
ludicrous row of savages, and covered
her lips again with her apron.
Lillian could not help laughing, too.
New Years callers, after ALL" she
said, to herself
Mrs. Wyman had made the circle of
waiting braves move somewhat away
from the stove, SO that she could cook
ham and warm potatoes Lillian re-
turned to her table-setting. She placed
a spoon-holder on the cloth, full of
bright teaspoons
The inquisitive chief gave a genuine
whoop of delight at sight of them.
He sprang to her side and openly be-
gan putting them in his pocket.
This was too much. Lillian flew at
him and tried to snatch them away
from him. He scowled fercely, and
Jabbered at her in excited gutturals.
AT once she heard great scuffifng of
feet in the kitchen. The other Indians,
attracted by the sound, were coming to
his rescue
In they fled in formidable line. s'He
shan't have them," cried Lillian, strug-
Cling to prevent the last installment
going into his pocket. ''He has nv
thimble and scissors alrea dy Here"
to the others, ''your chief is stealing.
But he can't have my spoons. YOU
catching hold of the nearest one
"Jack, Ben, Harry" (for as soon as she
got one good look at the faces of her
callers she knew them) Jack, Ben,
Harry, hold him. He's just a common
thief"
A roar of laughter followed.
Good for you, Lillian" cried Jack,
hlnging off his hat and blanket, and
leaplng on the offenders shoulders to |
plnion his arms. "He shan't have your
spoons, Lillian. But allow me to pre-. |
sent to you our cousin, Harold Wyman,
just arrived from Wyoming. We found
him at Uncle Abner's, come to spend
New Years with U.S."
Lillian, who had captured part of the
spoons, blushed and dropped them on
the floor.
"1t's real mean of you to scare me
so'" she stammered Mother, did you
know it was the boys?'
Not until jamie winked at me from
The floor, and then it was all so ridicu-
ously clear could not help laughing
aloud. l saw you were we'll over your
lrst fright. so l thought I'd let the
boys carry out their fun"
MY, but I'm hot!' calculated Ben. I
Sis has good grit, hasn't she, Harold?" &
Yes, cried Jack, land she kept her
promise about the rosebud china. Let's
lave dinner. ALI we lac,. W is the
Office, Lillian I
When the new cousin and Uncle Alb G
ler's boys and the four teasing brothers r
we're seated about the table, Lillian
sked: g
Where did you get your toggery,
ack?" ,
"Oh, Uncle Abner's garret is full of n
IL sorts of Indian traps. This morn fl
lg when you were crying for callers Il
: especially Indians - the thought c.
truck us it would be lots of fun to
i've you your wish. We found Cousin
arold at Uncle Abner's, and he helped
S out. He's been on a ranch for years.
Ie knew you wouldn't recognize him. =
he rest of us kept in the background. 60
IF you hadn't been so scared, Lillian. m
'u would have known the ponies" ba
i'd jamie.
When they had nearly finished dinner,
ilian said
IN write it all to the Deerfeld 49,.
rls. L don't believe they've had half ao
jolly time as we have. Their calls -,
Ill be just the polxy polite ones But ur
Inc are genuine wild west. Mrs. ~,
ara Doty Bates, in Golden Days