Arizona republican., 1894-11-29
A PASSING ACQUAINTANCE.
BY M. L. B. BRANCH.

reading or light games, while cheery fire burned brightly on the hearth, for it was late in the season.
 We are just nice party now," said one young lady, looking up from her lapful of shaded silks; q hope nobody else will come!''
 Except to fill vacancies as we drop off" said a gentleman, as he laid aside his letters. You will see two vacant chairs at the table tomorrow"
 ''Very we'll, was the reply. "If 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 a 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 a fashionable seminary three years be- fore.
 ''Milicent will be the roseleat 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 come?'' the guests inquired of one another.
 As they took their seats, a man and his wife entered, in a hesitating man. nev, and were given the two chairs. Swift glances were directed at them, and side looks exchanged. They were evidently plain, hard working 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- ventional 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?" q call it an out rage, forcing such people on us." ''The plowman had better stay at home and blow" His hands took away my appetite" II hope they are not going to stay overnight
 The offending couple spent the after noon walking about to see the views, and then sat out in the piazza till SUD- per time. After supper, the criticism recommended.
 They're going to stay. Their trunk has gone up to No. IA ''What will Milicent Paul say? She will have to sit next to them.' Shell freeze them with one glance when she sees that hand reaching in front of her for the butter''
 
 the last speaker; you knew they needed the butter, and you should have passed it, seeing the waiter was not on hand''
 Hush! I'm too provoked for any thing. We were such a nice party till those folks pushed in. And when Milicent is coming too! It just spells the table,"
 Next day, while the newcomers were out, Milicent Paul arrived, amid the welcoming exclamations of her friends. She was a tall, slender girl with an animated coun tenance, fashionably dressed, carrying gold eyeglasses, and holding her head aloft in way pe- culiarly her own. She had plenty to say, said it well, and was at once the center of everyth ing.
 At dinner time she took the vacant seat, and was just receiving her plate of soup when the much-criticised consciously watchful, but Miss Paul seemed to notice nothing. She was giving vivid description of her jour ney. Suddenly she paused an instant.
 q beg your pardonr' she said, pleas antly, as her embarrassed neighbor at tempted, rather awkwardly, to reach the salt, And, placing it conveniently near, she resumed her description.
 May trou ble you for the pepper?" she asked him a little later; mot black, I prefer white. Thank you" And she spoke in exactly the same tone as when she asked handsome young MT. 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 us, he thought to himself
 A trip to the Notch was planned for the next day, to go in the morning and return at night. There were. enough to +1x,o 1varopS No