The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-05-17

I
whom detested her, chiefly, it must be
admitted, because she was general
favorite with the opposite sex The
men liked her because she was so
natural in her manner, and they could
talk to her without being made aware
that they were too highly appreciated.
Proportionately with the increased adj
miration which was vouchsafed her by
her male friends her feminine acqnain-
tances were the more jealous.
What shall you wear, Minnie?" asked
Effie, presently. Are you going to
wear your white or your gray dress? l
wouldn't wear my white if were you.
l think it will rain" Inwardly she
hoped it would rain, and that Minnie
would wear her white dress, so that she
would appear to considerable disad-
vantage in her wet and bedraggled con-
dition.
Mlnnie's dresses were not numerous
When she asked her cousin if she in
tended to wear her white or her gray,
Ellie had mentioned the only two
gowns the girl had to wear. The white
one had been washed goodness knew
how many times
Il shall wear my white one and some
flowers with it." Minnie said, turning
to go.
"Oh, Minnie, you might come and
help me to choose a dress for myself"
called Ellie, as her cousin was leaving.
Certainly, Efie, with pleasure :"
And she wheeled about, and together
the girls began to inspect the ward
robe.
why, Effie," said Minnie, you have
heaps. Here is your fawn lace one
! How will that do?"
Ellie turned up her nose even higher
than it was-a feat one would have sup
posed to be almost impossible without
turning IT over her head altogether, as
she replied
mo; | never shall What, wear one
! have worn at dozen garden parties
this SUMMER Not if | know it."
"Oh, Etfie. Why you only wore it at
the Browns fete and at the bazar!'
"Well, everybody has seen il, haven't
they?"
Nonsense. 1t looks beautiful, too"
81 shan't wear it, anyhow"
AlCh lhSIS ID IlllS pdIe green.
THAT won't do, either"
The inspection went on for some
time, and finally a sweet-looking pink
muslin was decided upon. Effie thought
that surely, in this dress, she would be
able to k eep Charles attention all the
afternoon.
Two o clock arrived and the picnic
party were all present at the rendez,
vous, with the exception of Minnie
The girls voted for going straight
away, but the gentlemen were of an
other opinion and refused to proceed
without her. This settled matters, and
presently Minnie came hurrying up
wearing her old white dress, and
large straw hat trimmed with white
ribbon and natural pink roses, and
carrying pretty bunch of roses in her
belt. Flushed as she was with her
hurried walk she looked the very pic
ture of health and beauty. Jealous
eyes, even, could not refuse her the
palm.
Efie had, however by this time Sc
cured the attendance of Charlie EN-
mot, and did not notice the appearance
of Minnie at all. She was quite con-
tented with her own escort and even
the latter's added charms were power
less to make her jealous so long as his
attention was fixed upon her.
Charlie was splendid specimen of
an Englishman. He was not what
anybody would exactly call handsome.
though he could not be called plain.
He stood five feet nine inches in height,
and had a distinguished appearance
which could not fail to attract and
captivate. Moreover, he was the re-
puted possessor of a fortune in itself
sufficient to to place him above the vice
of envy. Consequently he was sa-
tiated with the fattery of anxious
mothers and avaricious maidens. Min
ME he had seen some time before, and
he had been little piqued by her
evident insensibility to his advantages
1t was new experience to him, and
one calculated to increase if she had
but known it, his growing love for her.
To-day he had determined that, come
what might, he would speak to her and
obtain an answer to an all-importanJ
question.
On arrival at Winsford Towers the
party alighted, and luncheon was
served on the lawn in front of the ruin.
After lunch boating was proposed, and
Fife took care that Charlie should be
her escort, leaving Minnie to one of the
ineligibles. By this means she thought
to secure her. own ends But woman
proposes and man disposes. u
The whole of those present then
moved off to the boats except pretty
Nellie Lansdowne and Frank Gregory,
who had long been known to be numer-
GUS fathoms deep in love with each 9TH
err. They dropped out of the line very
quickly and retired to a quiet spot in
the wood. How they spent their time
it boots not to inquire.
The afternoon was warm and sultry,
and the coolest place seemed to be on
the water. That once reached the boat
was rapidly filed. Fife had to be
helped into it by Charlie or she would
never have dared to go to the lake at
all" she said. Minnie, on the other
hand, helped herself, and was seated in
the boat before anyone had the chance
to come to her aid.