Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-02-01

The replies to this benefcent state
ment tumbled over each other.
you're all invited to party" said
the colonel, seating himself slowly in
the shock bottom chair a negro girl
placed for him i'll front of the rest of the
party. The excitement of the ladies,
young and old, rose to dramatic heights,
and even the young men could not pre-.
vent their countenances Frightening. A
pretty, crinkly headed, brown hued girl,
all ribbons and bangles, fell upon the
colonel bodily.
Jaw, paw" she cried again, tell
us, is it over at the Alpine House?'
"More likely it'sdown at thecollege,
said another lady.
"Tell us, colonel" said one of the
young men, with an effort at insouci-
ance.
"Charley," said the colonel to his
daughter, who, despite her failure to be
a boy, had been named for himself, get
away from my lame shoulder Sit down,
and I'll tell you all about it. Ireckon
none Of you d guess in a month.
The suspense intensified and in several
minds became Swallowed with doubt as
to whether anything so inconCeivable
could be desirable.
Art Harkins has a girl who is going
to get married Wednesday night. He's
going to give her a big wedding and
invites everybody in the house to-
Tho cplp,,1 f,nt f,,rthor A rI,,,fl1
vocal storm broke over his head and he
tilted his chair back against wooden
pillar and waited for it to subside.
All his audience were sufficiently in
terested and informed in the affairs Of
the mine to know that just now an in
vitation from Art Harkins resembled in
one way a similar attention from royal
ty. 1t had the force of a command. Art
Harkins was a mountaineer who could
not read nor write, but who, by astute-
ness, energy, and, as was generally be-
lieyed, cunning unsCrupulOusnoss, had
actually contrived to get rich, rich not
merely for a mountaineer, but rich even
III the opinion Of the impressive, imagi-
native and influential banhrupts who
formed the majority Of the mining COM
pany. HarRins was member of the
company and large stock owner, and
all the women III the hotel knew that for
weeks their various masculine relatives
had been hanging in midair in some il
comprehensive but terribly real bust
ness uncertainty, from which only Art
Harliins could deliver them. And now
this homespun diplomat invited them to
avoiding party! The group on the gal
lery grew so vocal that feminine re-en-
forcements hurried out of the house to
sec what was the matter. Under the cir
cumstanCes, after little bewildered
wavering, it was soon agreed that moth
ing could be more amusing, more fun,
more novel and generally delightful
than to go to Dade Harkins' wedding.
"And then," said Mrs. Peytee, mo
one but ourselves, no one that matters,
mean, need know anything about it.
'Tisn't as if we were over at the Alpine
House and had to explain things some
way to half the gulf states"
Mrs Peytee was a round little bru-
nette widow who was often called Every
taking" She was a cousin of Charley
Overman's, through Charley's mothers
side of the house, and in a very easy 60
ing way, which was all the way they
knew, she was chaperoning the girl. So
cially she shone the more for her con.
nection with the Overmans.
The colonel was considered an impor-
.tant man throughout the state, and,
moreover, he was counted charming. "a
fine conversational and good speak
er. In her heart of hearts Mrs Peytee
had come to the conclusion that it was
most desirable that he should marry q
good wife, have somebody better than a
giddy slip of girl to take care of him
and let somebody get the good of the
distinguished position awaiting his
wife. Mrs Peytee had faith in the fu-
ture of the mines, and she liked the colo
mel.
Several ladies among the summer col
onists at Overtonia OWNED the exist.
ence Of these views in Mrs. Peytee's
mind-by the power of kindred sympa-
thies perhaps-although she had never
confded in them. Charley, however,
was unsuspicious. Just now she was de-
voting ali the thought she gave the sub
jects of love and marriage to their more
important aspects as connected with
herself. She was in love with one of
the young men on the gallery, and he
was in love with her.
His name was Harry Williams, and
he was the son of another member of
the mining company. TWAS desirable
and suitable thing that these two should
marry, and as nobody had the least OBJ
lection or threw the slightest obstacle
in the way of their courtship, but, on
the contrary, as every one about did
If there is any Democratic Moses