The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1894-11-22

say, SAID 1t we'll, and was at once the
centre of everything.
At dinner time she took the vacant
seat, and was just receiving her plate
of soup, when the much criticised
couple came in. The guests were all
consciously watchful, but Miss Paul
seemed to notice nothing. She was
giving a vivid description of her jour
ney. Suddenly she paused an instant.
II beg your pardon!" she said,
pleasantly, as her embarrassed neigh
Dor attempted, rather awkwardly, to
reach the salt, and, placing it conven-
ientIy near, she resumed her descrip-
ton.
"May 1 trouble you for the pep
per?' she asked him little later;
''not black, L prefer white. Thank
you" And she spoke in exactly the
same tone as when she asked hand
some young Mr.. Waring across the
table if he knew when the mail went
out. He admired her none the less
for it.
"She has broader outlook than
the rest of u.s." he thought to him
self.
A trip to the Notch was planned for
the next day, to go in the morning
and return at night. There were
enough to fill two mountain wagons
No, not quite enough. Those who
counted found there would be room
for two more.
"Don't mention it, or Mr. Wilbur
and his wife may offer to CO." said
one lady, with touch of irritation in
her voice.
ooh! we can't have them" said
one of the girls who had been Miss
Paul's schoolmate, ''can we Mill
cent?"
"Why not?" asked Miss Paul.
ooh why, because-you know-no
doubt they are excellent people, but
how they would look along with us!'
"My dear Hetty," said Miss Paul,
''why be narrow? Why voluntarily
live in a groove? / have found the
most interesting people in the most
unexpected places. Don't turn your
back upon your fellow-creatures. "
Mr.. Waring stepped into the hall
where the Wilburs stood difidently
examining last years register.
"Would you like to take the trip to
the Notch tomorrow, with the rest of
the party?" he asked, cordially.
"We would like it very much, said
the man.
Every much indeed!" echoed his
wife.
''The expense is three dollars for
each seat"
"That's all right" said the man.
"And now which of us will have to
sit next them?" murmured the girls in
the parlor.
But when the teams we're ready the
next morning, it was Miss Paul who
gracefully and unconcernedly climbed
over the wheel and sat by the Will
burs. 1t was not that she preferred
the seat, except MS she felt instinct
lively that they were at little dis
advantage with the others, and 1t was,
perhaps, one secret OF her perfect
bearing in social circles that her prl-
vate rule of politeness was the little
old-fashioned couplet:
'Politeness is to do and say
The kindest thing in the kindest way"
The party was merry one; they
sang songs and waved the hotel col
ors as they drove along, each wagon
drawn by four splendid white horses
They stopped at the lake to enjoy
boating and to hear the echo. While
they foated on the water Miss Paul
sang two or three Venetian boat songs,
to the great delight of the party.
"I learned those of our dark-eyed
gondolier," she said.
The Notch was at its grandest that
day, and the mountain ranges stood
high and clear against the cloudless
sky. There were other parties OUT
a tally-ho coachful, and several teams
coming from different directions; but
noontime found them all either dining
at the nearest hotel or lunchinG IN the
woods close by.
A party of Southerners, driving up
in surrey, espied Milicent Paul, and
hailed her enthusiastically. She
{ho,, 4c bor own Marty under