Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-09-30
BOB'S SPECIAL FRIEND.

10, S;llu MISS CdTuueE, stopping III
writing suddenly and looking up I'M
patiently.
She was making out invitations to Il
tea which she intended to give, and
looked hot and :ross. Bob drew 4
tiny piece of paper from his pocket.
approached his sister cautiously, hand
ed her the paper, and retreated to his
armchair. Once more seated he re-
sumed his cigar, and in half amused.
half curious way watched his sister
attentively. She scuffed her feet Il
great deal and screwed her mouth
into all possible shapes, as she read
the names to herself, thereby atfordins
Bob the greatest delight; for he liked
to tease his sister because she got
angry so quickly.
Miss Shepard!' she exclaimed sud
denly, turning and glaring ut Bob.
"Why, Bob" she went on impaticntly,
Il thought you hated Miss Shepard!
You are always as rude to her as you
can possibly be; you would rather do
anything than dance with her at n
party; you say horrid things about her.
and here you've put her down on your
list. | had left her off mine because l
thought you hated her So
Miss Gardner paused to give her
DIOlutI IL CllttuNc w Stl III a. WIN, -
thing she seldom did, it seemed to
him.
WELL" he said helplessly, 81 thought
she ought to come 1t strikes me that
it is rather hasty Of you to leave her
out on my account. Isn't she friend
of yours
May Shepard is an awfully nice
girl, Il thing which you may have
heard me say about q thousand times
before.' exclaimed Helen, throwing
down her pen and getting ready for
fight Bob Gardner, you are the
most utterly inconsistent creature.
There doesn't seem to be the slightest
use in talking to you" Bob tried ut
this point to say NO" but his sister
had the floor. What do you want her
here now for? Just to be as disagree
able to her as you can? | don't be-
lieve she'd come, anyway, because she
must want to keep out of the way of
such rude, sublimcly conceited'--
Then don't invite her, dearest, but
forbear Safeguarding me, because 1
don't want to go to the next Assem-
bly, very badly as it is, and the least
thing
don't treat her deccntly you'll wish
ask her to pour out as l should have
in the first palce, if it hadn't been for
YOU
Hadn't been for-who?'
Helen sat down to write the address
es on her list. Bob smoked his cigar
In silence, with a satisfied smile on his
face, as though he had attained sue
cess in some cherished project; then
put on his hat and coat and started
out. Helen wanted to tell him that it
was time for lunch, but did not, under
the circr instances, think it best to
lower h fself to do SO. SO Bob proba-
bly, didp t get any.
A Week later came the tea-one of
the ghastliest ordeals imaginable for
Bob. A word with everybody, sen.
tence with nobody; bewildering sea
of black coats, on the shores of which
We're several excited girls serving sher-
bet, chocolate and tea, and all the
time smiling, talking, laughing, frown-
ing, at the solid wall of human beings
around them. BY great eXertions Bob
managed to pierce his way to table
more crowded than the others, where
slight, pretty girl, with blue eyes and
light brown hair, was serving choco-
late.
DO you need anything, Miss Shcp-
ard?' he asked in low tone, bending
down over her.
NO, thanks; one of the other wait
crs is getting things for me-" she said
loudly.
Bob wisely ignored the compliment
nearly cracked his cheeks trying to
smile, and finding chair near the
wall, drew it up and began talking to
Miss Shepard, who seemed to pay
very little attention to him.
Aren't you tired of pouring out?
he asked at length, after he had seen
several quarts disappear. Helen said
| she would send some one to relieve you
| soon"
Yes, l wish she would; need re
| lief replied Miss Shepard.
This looked encouraging, but Boil
was more or less used to it. Beside
rs his sister limited, he was conceited
so that Miss Shepard's last Remark
had no perceptible effect on him. A
minute later another girl was brought
by Miss Gardner to attend to the choc
olate, and Bob walked away witt
Miss Shepard. They passed through
the dining-room slowly and into thu
conservatory, which was just now va
cant, and lighted very dimly by tn,
sunset, but the hum from the Other
room filled the air.
"Well?' said Miss Shepard, sitting
down hard in the chair he gave her.
Bob tried to say something ant
couldn't
Nice weather we're having, Mr.
Gardner" she said, half derisively
This observation does not always xii
conversation, for ON this occasion i