The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1893-03-02

- image of shocked
dismay and profound Indignation as,
coming to the library for book which
he wanted to show to his friend Dusen-
bury, he found the very young lady for
whom they had already waited dinner
fully three quarters of an hour, doing
comfortably in his study.chair, and not
even dressed for dinner yet. 1t was some
moments before he could articulate for
amazement.
"Upon-my-word, really, upon
my-word," he managed to say at last.
She started up at the sound of his
voice, her dimpled cheeks pink with
slumber, her dark fringed eyes bright as
newly risen suns, and her soft black curls
in pretty disorder.
"Why, papa, is that you2" she said,
yawhing behind rosy-tipped fingers, and
lazily dropping her white lids again, as
though disinc!ined to be reused from her
nap just yet.
"Mlss-St. Maur."
He never called her St. Maur except
on very extraordinary occasions, and she
reused little at the words.
"Are you aware that dinner has been
waiting for you full three-quarters of
an hour?"
''Has it9 well, I'm very sorry you
waited, papa" without opening her
eyes.
Mr.. st. Maur grew slightly red in the
face.
"Disobedient and contumacious girl!
Are you aware, Ruby st. Maur, that your
affianced husband is waiting in the parlor
to see you?"
"Affianced who?" Ruby exclaimed,
suddenly sitting up very straight, and
opening her bright eyes to their utmost
dimensions.
"Mr. Dusenbury, the gentleman l ex-
pect you to marry, awaits you in the par
lor. Repair at once to your dressing
room, and join us in the shortest possible
space of time.
Mr.. St. Maur spoke in his sternest,
most unanswerable tones, and left the
apartment in such state of indignation
that he forgot the book he came after,
and returning for it, found that con-
tumacious girl still lingering there. On
seeing him, she asked, very coolly
Papa, who is Mr., Dusenbury, any
how?"
"Mr. Dusenbury is the man you are to
marry, and that is enough for you. OH
with you"
"Presently. I can dress enough for
Mr.. Dusenbury in ten minutes. It's the
same old hunks that disowned his son
because he couldn't make just such
dusty old skeleton of him as he is HIM
self. Isn't it, papaf
Papa's brows lowered ominously.
"Miss St. Maur, desire you to repair
instantly to your dressing room. DO you
hear?"
Gallons, papa"
She kissed her fingers to him, balanc'
ing herself archly on the threshold OF
the door, and still lingering in rogulsh
defiance.
"Do you know what color the old
parchment bundle in there particularly
abominatess"
- on q be sure TO wear lIi ohF 1"''
st. Maur said, boiling over with wrath
II desire that you attire yourself with
your usual care. I'll put you on diet
of bread and water, miss; see II l don't
Dinner has been waiting an hour, tell
you, and I'm literally in starving con-
dition."
She danced back into the room
"Dear papa, let me bring you a iunch
while you're waiting"
He lifted his cane IN mock threaten
ing. .,
"Off with you, witoh Will you go|
She laughed, made great aifectation
of dodging the uplifted cane, ana van
ished.
Ten minutes after, true to her boast
she dashed into the parlor, a gorgeous
enough little beauty to have turned nan
"a dozen such heads as that OF the anu
quated specimen of the genus homo VINO
sat conversing with Mr.. st. Maur' anu
taking monstrous pinches OF snun oe-
tween the words.
That must have been the reason they
called her Ruby: she was such gorge
Gus little creature in herself, all sparkle
and flash, and with an almost paIpafic