River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-06-29

Babel of noise about her. What was
Sc? Had everybody gone mad? Then
her wits began TO wake up She re-
membered that 1t was Fourth of July.
The worst noise of all-why, that must
be Jacks pistol, which he had been
saving up money 20 buy all winter
and all summer And that other sound
that must be torpedoes; and there
was the old dog. Hero, barking at
them. and no wonder; il was enough TO
make any respectable dog bark
Firecrackers, Ugh, Wasn't the pis-
tol bad enonZh without all these side
shows? just then Jack called out from
the yard below:
"Conni Comm"
The girls name was Constantia Rich
mond; but she was too slight and bon
called her Conn.
She shook back her fair, soft curls.
as golden as a baby'S now, though Conn
was fourteen. and putting little shawl
over her shoulders, peeped out of the
open window, a. pretty a little slip of a
girl as you would care To see, and looked
down on the face. half-bOyish, half
manly, which was upturned to her II
Jack had been her brother. perhaps she
would have scolded him; for Conn loved
her morning nap. and the general din
had discOmpOsed her. no doubt But
Jack was only her cousin. and her sec
ond cousin at that: and it's curious
what a difference that does make
Your brothers your brother all the
DAYS of his life; but your cousin is an
other affair, and far less certain So
Conn said. quite gently:
What is IL? Can I do anything?
But I'm sure don't want to help you
make any more noise. This has been
on. really dreadful"
She spoke with a droIl. little fine-iady
air. and put her pretty little fingers to
her pretty little ears. and Jack laughed.
He had not begun To think of her vet
as 3 charming girl-she was just Cousin
Conn.
What. he cried. Not like noise on
Fourth Of July? Why, you don't deserve
60 hive . country"
I'm sure wish I hadn't said Conn,
with little dash of spirit
Are you dressed?'' cried the boy six
teen years old. but all boy still
Ne
well. Just hurry. then, and come
down I'm of in half an hour with the
Brighton Blues. and | want you 10 see
first how this pistol works"
high honor this, that she. a girl.
should be invited 20 inspect the won
dsrful pistol
Conn began to dress hurriedly What
should she put on? Her white dress
hung in the clOsst-Such a white dress
ss girls were then. for II was many
years ago-all delicate ruffles, and with
q blus ribbon sash. as dainty-fine as pos
sible. She knew that was meant for
afternoon. when Aunt Sarah would
have company. But might she not put il
on now Perhaps Jack wouldn't be here
then. and she could be careful. So she
slipped into the dainty gown. and fast
ensd hooks and buttors in nervous
haste. and then looked in the glass, as
every other girl that ever lived would
have done In her place
Il was a bright, fair face that she
saw there-an pink and white, and
with those violet eyes over which the
long golden lsshes dropped, and that
soft bright golden hair that lay in little
rings and ripples round her white fore
head. and hung = wavy mass down to
the slender waist which the blue ribbon
girded Conn was pleased. no ioubt.
with the sight she saw in the mirror
how could she help being? She tripped
downstairs, and out OF the door. Jack
whistled when he saw her.
''whst, all your fineries on at this
time OF day? What do you think Moth
er Sarah will say 70 that2''
The pretty pink flush deepened in
the girls cheeks. and she answered
him almost as though she had done
something wrong:
III be so careful. Jack won't
spoil II. BY and BY you'll be gone, aud
wanted 20 look nice when saw the
new pistO.-
This seemed extremely natural to
Jack The pistol was 20 him a matter
Of such moment that no amount of
demonstration in its honor would have
seemed too great. Viewed in this light,
Il really appeared quite a meritOrious
act that Conn should have put on the
white dress. and he looked her over
with that air OF half patronizing APP
proval with which boys are apt to re-
gard the good looks of their sisters and
their cousins
Then he exhibited the pistol II had
--as 4 boys knife. or gun. or boat a.
ways has-distinguishing aud in
dividual merits of its own. No other
pistol, though it were run in the same