The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1895-02-07
"A PASSING ACQUAINTANCE
W. GIL 4 zsl N N ,stsa w
By n. l. .. BRANCH.

~ n. L b. BRANCH. H. VI,
aE esta ~ I. nh. ---- 49, - flysaGggt s G3
In mountain hotel = gay group Of
boarders were seated about In hall
and parlor. engaged in fancYwork,
reading or light games, while : cheery
fire burned brightly on the hearth. for
it was late in the season.
"We are just a nice party now" said
one Young lady, looking up from her
lapful Of shaded silks; II hope nobody
else will GOMEZ .*.,l. 5sS.
Except to I'LL vacancies as we drop
off, said a gentleman, as he laid aside
his letters. lyon will see two vacant
chairs at the table tomorrow.
Every 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's
telegram had been received from Miss
Miliccnt Paul, bespeaking u room.
There was shout of delight on read
ing the telegram. Milicent Paul was
known to some of the party, and two
of them had been her schoolmutes at a
fashi enable seminary three years be-
fore. ..l
sMilicent will be the roseleaf on our
cup of happiness" said one; land 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 inquired
of one another.
As they took their seats, u man and
his wife entered. in hesitating man
new, and were given the two chairs.
Swift chances were directed at them,
and side looks exchanged. They were
evidently plain, hard working people,
entirely unaccustolned 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, be fore
the rest OF the company had reached
their nuts and raisins.
did you ever?' II call it an out
rage, forcing such people on US"
s'The plowman had better stay at
home and plow." ellis hands took
away my appetite" II hope they are
not going to stay overnight r.
The offending couple spent the after
noon walking about to see the views,
and then sat out in the piazza till sup->
per time. After supper, the criticism
recommended. .a.A Z r ..a.rs.+ p Sg.t
:. They re going to stay. Their . trunk
has gone up to No. u. What 5a".NW 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" -lEa%
ooh, come now!' said the brother of
the last speaker; you knew they
needed the butter, and you should have
passed it, seeing the waiter was not on
hand -.
Flush! I'm too provoked for any
thing. We were such a nice party till
those folks pushed in. And when
Milicent is coming too! 1t just spoils
the table,"
Next day, while the newcomers were
out, Milicent Paul arrived, amid the
welcoming exclama tons of her friends.
She was tall, slender girl with an
animated coun tenance, fashionably
dressed, carrying gold eyeglasses, and
holding her head aloft in a way pc
culiarly her own. She had plenty to
say, said it we'll, 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
couple came in. The guests were all
watchful, but Miss Paul
seemed to notice nothing. She was
giving vivid description of her jour
ney. Suddenly she paused an instant
II beg your pardon!'' 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 Bile you for the pepper?'
she asked him a little later; mot
black, 1 prefer white. Thank you"
And she spoke in exactly the same tone
as when she asked handsome young
Mr.. w airing across the table if he knew
when the mail went'out. He admired
her none the less for 1t. ..ta..,
"She has broader outlook than the
rest of u.s." he thought to himself.
A trip to the Notch was planned for
the next day, to 60 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. .a :,
Don't mention it, or Mr.. Wilbur
IL -