The morning call., 1891-10-03
A JULY JOKE.

n the Art Department of one OF the
treat downtown dry-goods stores. She
and three other girls boarded with Miss
Viyienne Beeche Maida's aunt, Miss
Devil, a wise and gentle little woman,
whose husband had died the previous year
and whose loss she mouIned most deeply,
boarded there also.
So did the mother OF one Of the other
sirls 1t was distnctively wOman's
clearinghouse, aud a very pleasant one 1t
was indeed. The meals, if not elaborate,
we're temptngly cooked and daintily served;
he beds were snowily draped and comfort
able as the most fastdious could wish, and
the little landlady herself was the embodl-
ment of kindness and courtesy. Altog 'ther
it was quite an ideal place-fOr 81 a week.
But sometimes Mazda could not help wish
inR they would not all take so much inter-
est in her affairs as at present. The day
was the Fourth of July. With the consent
f Mrs. Devil she had promised to go up
tile lake to witness e certain celebration.
Harland Brownlee, the gentleman with
whom she was to 90, had for some time oe-
cupied quite an exalted position IN the store
wherein she worked. And his admiration
had been made frankly evident II the
other girls were a tribe jealous they were
700 proud or too well-bred to manifest the
fact. He was to call for her at 2 80. 1t was
row exactly five minutes past, and she was
ready.
You do really look very nice, my deal,
asserted her aunt, with a deliberation which
gave weight AMI value to her precise words
''Nicel That's no word for it!'
''ReaI styltsug'
Elegant"
So criticised tile girls.
Her dress was Of a silyery summer silk,
which was draped in softly picturesque
ODDS The lace ichu was fastened with a
.pfn Of learls that had be n her mothers.
The little gypsy hat If shining gray straw
vas lined with black velvet and enclrcled
Jy a wreath Of tiny pink blossoms. She
wore black silk mltts, and carried pardSol
covered with black lace. II l add that she
possessed the short, delicate features one
lten observes among girls OF her class
when one has vaiuly sought the type III
:alt!er circes-a clear brunette skin, with
lust little ross color IN tie cheeks, bronze
odd hair. large hazel eyes under the black
81 Of UrOwS and lashes, and sensitive lips
{ scaTlet-yuu Will understand why her
friends gave her such embarrassing praise.
There Is the 'bUs!' some one cried.
Then the others, who were all going out
10 hear the band at Lincoln Park, called out
20 her a gay guOd-Dy and Eurrle oil.
len minutes past ,. Fifteen!
MAZDA" said Mrs. Devil, suddenly,
did your cousin call at the store 10 see you
A quick fash Of anger lit the hazel eyes.
Yes Aud | hope he will never come
gain. | don't like him. His manner IS too
Tree and easy. He IS not gentleman, Aunt
LrttiCe'
Nv dear" protested Mrs. Devil feebIy.
Gle is not. a gentleman would not press
MS attentions when he saw they were uu-
weltumt-as Elias BascOmbe does. lie
asked me to 20 10 the Auditorium recital,
the opera last night, the matinee to-day. |
-hall 20 nowhere Win hlm-nuWAeTe. Ols
IN intense disgust, There lie is nOw!'
And there he was indeed drawing up his
pair uf fine horses Just outside the door Of
The modest little boarding hOuse. He leapel
down, made all secure, ran IN the steps aud
rang the bell. A few moments more and
Deua showed him into the room where were
Mrs. Devil and Mazda.
He was a large, stout man, wearing clothes
of most pronounced pattern, huge fob
chain and yellow kid gloves He was
slightly bald, his eyes were tShy, and he
putfrd a good deal after his attempt at
youthful alacrlty.
"How do, Aunt Lettice? All, MAZDA!
All dressed and waiting for me, l see"
with an elephantine effort at being quiZzical.
Come for spin on the bOulevards, my
dear You are looking charming"
MAZDA sent her aunt one indignant glance
which plainly said: Il told you So" Then
she answered him coolly.
Thank you, no. have an engage
ment."
Size had never seen him before the previous
week. And even if he were her fathers
second cousin, that was no reason why she
should endure his society when she found it
dstasteful.
"Witl that state-street dude. Harland
Brownleey"
She found 1t hard to repre8s her rising
anger:
with Mr.. BrOwnee-yes.
ION, that's all rightw iovialy. 81 met
aim half an hour ago-yOu know you intro
,uced him here the other eyening-and he
told me TO make mis- apologies to you. Had
20 60 to ST. Louis at once. His father is
very i'll. So come along"
Had Mr.. BTOWnlee actually made this
bOUr his emissary? MAZDA took step for
ward. Her cheeks were beginning to burn
holly
- do not think he would send his ex-
cuses by-you," with a noticeable emphasis
On the prOnoun; "and | shall not drive
IN any case. So do not let me detain YOU"
MI. Ba>cOmbe regarded her curiously. He
was not accustomed to dealing with this
kind of a woman. He sat down.
"Pll wait" he declared. Its lovely
day. Maybe you'll feel more like driving
alter awhile"
Mazda glanced at the clock.
twenty-five minutes alter z
She turned to the window, looked out. II
was one OF the most enhancing and inYt-
ing of summer days. There was an IN
usual blueness and brilliance about the
world without; and it was not too warm
Tor comfort Half-past 81 Twenty to 81
Still the lively team paved away at the
curb; and still Harland BroWnlee did not
cone.
Threel
Better not wait any longer" adv ised
Mr.. Bascombe, with short laugh that was
half sheer.
break down crying. Atall events, she need
not remain in the pariOr. She would 60 to
her room.
She had just reached the door when the
DELL rang. She drew back. An instant
later Della responded to the bell and then,
tall, fair. brown-eyed. clad in a cool gray
suit, and hat in hand, Harland BroWnlee
walked into the room.
Miss Merrill" he began, "On considera-
zion do not think you would break your
appointment so unceremoniously, and so
thought it better to come and learn the
truth Of the affair from your own lips-if l
were in time"
Bascombe dropped the photographed
bum, at which he had been pretending to
look, and burst into roar of laughter.
''Such joker he beloved. "When I
met him he told me he was going TO take
you, Mazda, to the celebration, and | said
you had sent ME to tell him you could not
20, as you preferred driving with me; that
= was on my way to deliver the message. A
line joke, ehP A capital joke, wasn't it2
Thought I'd have some fun fooling you both.
Great joker And lie burst into another
coarse laugh.
MAZDA looked at Brownee.
''He told me-" she said, you were leav-
ing town"
Then she turned to Bascombe with fash
ing eyes.
There was no joke at all about itp' she
cried. 'It was just the rude act OF an I'M
gentlemanly man. Don't ever dare call to
see me-or speak to me againl l am ready,
Mr. Brownlee."
But Mr.. Brownlee was not quite ready
He went up to Bascombe, who lost some OF
his ford color under the steady glance OF
the man confronting him.
eff you fail to respect Miss MerrilPs COM
mand," Brownlee said, very quietly, ''you
shall answer to meW
Then he and MAZDA left the house.
They were barely in time to catch their
boat. MAZDA was in the gayest of spirits
The knowledge that Harland Brownlee was