The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1894-03-30

prove, the whole party smoking Gig.
arettea She was greatly annoyed. but
she wisely hid her feelings and began
1T once playing the part of the smiling.
courteous hostess Ignoring the un-
combed heads. the unbrushed shoes,
| the soiled linen, and not overclean
hands and faces, she got out the photo
graphs that her Uncle George had sent
her from Germany and Italy. and be-
fore she knew it had entered upon a
very interesting lecture about cathe-
drals, bridges, towers, sruins. etc.
Then came her album of famous men
and women, and the boys listened and
looked till dull eyes frightened, and
heavy brows took on new look OF gem
tleness and intelligence. The cigarettes
disappeared one by one. hats and caps
were DOTTED. and many shame-faced
glance was cast on hands and feet I'M
fit for the Surroundings and for the
young lady's company.
When the ent ertainment was over
the boys showed very plainly. though
somewhat uncouthly. their pleasure
and gratitude. Then a bright idea
flashed through Polly's brain.
How would you like to form your
selves into a club and meet here once a
week. for the present, at least?'
THAT would be jollyr' was the sense
of the meeting.
Jim Albright remarked, his face get
ting red as he spoke, that 1T would be
"a good deal of trouble for Miss Polly"
But 1 wish you to pay me-" she re-
piled.
Polly ran up to her room and brought
down her little writing-desk. She sat
down and wrote out rapidly an anti
cigarette pledge; then she called the
boys around her.
81 wish you to pay me by signing
this pledge" she said. George will
sign tirst;' and she rose. giving her seat
to her brother.
AS George had not formed the smok-
ing habit. and was already ashamed
that his sister had seen him with a
cigarette in his mouth, he readily
wrote his name. His example as leader
was powerful with the others, and of
the four, all signed except AL Carter.
who didn't feel sure that he wished Ito
be led by the nose by girl"
When Polly found herself alone she
sat down to reflect.
81 must have help" she thought Il
wonder ii Clara and Maud wouldn't
like to come over and assist me in re-
ceiving when the club meets? And we
might have chocolate and some simple
cakes; and there ought to be books for
the boys to take home. | will go out
collecting this very afternoon. know
of a dozen families who have plenty of
books that would help these boys, ly-
ing in the corners of their bookcases
and of no use to anybody"
Polly dressed himself in her new blue
gown and jacket, put jaunty little
hat atop of the bronze braids without
looking too long in the mirror, and
started out to find her girl friends. She
had not walked far before she met
them face to face.
"Good!" called out Clara. 1--WE were
just on our way to your house. We are
going over to Johnstown tomorrow,
on the nine o'clock train, and we want
you to go with u.s. We will have
luncheon together, and no end of fun
in the afternoon, and get home by sup
per time. You know Tom House is
clerk in Mann s. Malley's. Well call
on him, and he will treat us to lobster
salad and things if he can get otf-and
he generally can"
The blood rushed to Polly's cheeks.
Clara meant innocently enough, and
| Polly herself would not, perhaps, a
week ago, have hesitated overmuch at
the proposal; but her anxiety for
George and her plans for him and his
friends had already worked change
She knew instantly that higher self
had awakened in her, antagonistic to
such an outing as that planned for the
morrow; bat she uttered no criticism,
only told the girls. as they walked
along, of the new club. and of her need
of their help.
81 think" she said, that if you will
come, prettily dressed, and chat with
the boys, and one of you pour the
chocolate, it will be just splendld!''
Then she went on to tell about the
books that she hoped to get. and ended
by saying:
''How jolly it would be if we could
subscribe for two or three papers and
magazines just for the club"
Why" said Maud, ''our trip to-mor.
row, ii we take it. will cost us a dollar
and half apiece; that would make, in
Guiding Polly, foar dollars and fifty
cents! Clara, let's give it up and sub
scribe dollar and Il half apiece to the
literature fund" So it was decided;
and all three went rummaging
through the book collections at Clara's
and Maud's for spare volumes that
could be devoted to the. service Of the
boys
That Erst club meeting was an event
full occasion. No unblacLed shoes mol
uncombed hair, no soilcd hands nor un
cared for nails. appeared. There were
some honest blushes-always a good
sign-whcn the members" were pre-
sented to the young ladies who hai
come to help entertain them. and more
than one resolution II ado to work hare