Passaic City record., 1894-10-20
A Passing Acquaintance.
BY NJ. L. B. BRANCH.

and parlor, engaged in fancywork,
reading or light games, while CHEEKY
fire burned brightly on the hearth,
for it was late in the season.
1--WE are just a nice party now,
said one young lady, looking up from
her lapful of shaded silks; hope no.
body else will comel"
Except to fill vacancies as we drop
off," said gentleman, as he laid aside
his letters. "You will see two vacant
chairs at the table. tomorrow.
every WE'LL" was the reply. "lf
you must go, we will spread ourselves
and keep the table full. If we can't
have Mrs. Bruce and you we don't
want any one.
The next morning the home-bound
travellers left on the early stage, and
at the last moment another guest de-
cided to accompany them.
The party remaining went out, some
to ramble in the pine woods, some to
the concert in the casino. Returning
toward dinner time, they found that a
telegram had been received from Miss
Milicent Paul, bespeaking room.
There was a shout of delight on'read-
ing the telegram. Milicent Paul was
known to some of the party, and two
of them had been her schoolmates at
fashionable seminary three years be-
FORE
ssMilicent will be the roseleaf on
our cup of happiness" said one; ''and
how fortunate that there is room for
her at our table,"
The dinner bell rang, and the
merry group betook themselves to
the dining room. Two chairs were
turned down at the table.
"Who has Gomez" the guests in
quired of one another.
As they took their seats, a man and
his wife entered, in hesitating man
ner, and were given the two chairs.
Swift glances were directed at them,
and side looks exchanged. They were
evidently plain, Woodworking people,
entirely unaccustomed to travelling
and to hotel life. In an instant the
original party became clique. They
hardly concealed their dislike of the
newcomers, who had brought among
them personality that Jared on all
their sense of what was stylish, con-
gentional and agreeable. The two
strangers ate heartily, helped them
selves to what they wanted, finished
their meal and left the table, before
the rest of the company had reached
their nuts and raisins.
"Did you ever?" "I call it an out
rage, forcing such people on us. y
''The plowman had better stay at
home and plow." ellis hands took
away my appetite. 81 hope they
are not going to stay over night"
The offending couple spent the af-
ternoon walking about to see the
views, and then sat out in the piazza
till supper time. After supper, the
criticism recommended.
''They're going to stay. Their trunk
has gone up to No. a." ''What viii
Milicent Paul say? She will have tc
sit next to them" ''She'll freeze
them with one glance when she seel
that hand reaching in front of her TO.
the butter"
"Oh, come now!" said the brothe
of the last speaker; ''you knew the,
needed the butter, and you shoulc
have passed it, seeing the waiter wa
oot on hand"
''Hush! I'm too provoked for any
thing. We were such nice party til
those folks pushed in. Aud whe1
Milicent is coming too! It just spoil
the table"
Next day, while the newcomers wer
out, Milicent Paul arrived, amid tn
welcoming ordinations of her friends
She was tall, slender girl with a
animated countenance, fashionabl
dressed, carrying gold eyeglasses, an
holding her head aloft in way pecr
L. 4