Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-11-21


Ill tell you what do want" The girl
hesitated and searched Constance's face
snxiously with tn, keen black eyes that
were contradiction to the heaviness Of
her face. II thought of 1t just as SOON as
saw the letters on that watch and knew
twas yours. You've been here two or
three summers hain't you? know what
your name Is and I've watched you; l
watch all the girls that are just about as
old as me and cont do nothing but have
good times. You're goin' to have q lunch
party tomorrow, amt you?'
Constance nodded assent. with trace
of surprise IN her face.
"A pink lunch with everything trimmed
up with wild roses"
Constance nodded again, the surprise
deepening in her face.
tits for that girl with the yellow hair
just about as old as you and rue that's
stoppin' over to the East End'-orful
rich folks from New York. Well" as
Constance assented again-"what want
is for you to let me come to the party!
Give me regular invite that has wrote
on 1t how you want the pleasure of my
company. want to be like folks for
once. want to be inside o the winder
when the good time is goin' on"
Constance felt the color rushing to her
face. What should she say? 1t was
absurd that she shOrld find 1t difficult to
refuse tie girls almost impertinent re-
quest. Aud yet-her face was SO wistful;
it looked pale with eagerness in the light
of the lamps. If the party had been for
anyone but D.rOthea Tarlt0n she almost
thought she would have let her come.
Dorothea was used to Newport and
thought the Harbor ways were queer at
the best. 1t would be talked about and
laughed at everywhere. Her mother gave
her the largest liberty in her little social
affair, but she would not be likely to APP
prove of that.
"l-I-it's just for our own set. Pm
afraid there would not be ROOM" she
stammered.
The eager light vanished from the girls
face as candle blown out by the wind
She turned away without word, but q
weakly defiant murmur came back to
Constance through the dusk:
Il guess I'm as good as you be!'
A sob was mingled with it, and Con-
stance tried in vain to repeat her urgent
offer of the money; something chOked the
words in hur throat. Under the electric
light on the sidewalk she saw the sturdy
little figure shifting the heavy baby from
one arm to another and marching of the
desultOlY and reluctant ThOde with q
ruthless grasp upon his collar. She
thought she would tell the story of the
girls ridiculous request to the gay little
group upon the piazza; It would amuse
them; but she didn't; there was queer
little pang in the region of her heart that
restrained her.
The pink luncheon failed OF being a
complete success the next day, because
COnstance's brother Jack and half dozen
other boys of the same set had gone off
deep-sea fishing, in reckless disdain of
girl society. Corny Tarlt0n had engaged
the Midget, Capt. 10 Dilsey, and invited
them all. But the affair was most
elegant and exclusive and there was
nothing that could possibly shock DOr0-
thea Tarlton, who was picture in her
pink elk gown and wide plumed hat.
Constance had told Dolly Erskine of the
girls request and Dolly had cried en-
Enthusiastically, ''Oh. why didn't you
have her? She would have been such an
effective eoveltyw But Dolly took easy,
artistic views of society; the question was
what would Dorothea Tarltcn have
thought? AS the luncheon guests were
dispensing they noticed that the sky had
1
| that had boen lurking for q week OF
''Shal0o," as the old fisherman called Bay
Chaleur, but sudden squall, mighty
rushing wind, that tore up the earth and
trees and churned the black expanse OF
water into white foam. There was a
weird light over everything; familiar
Paradise street looked like an unknown
land aud the Hedgehog islands stood out
like square granite monuments against the
yellow, brassy horizon. There was a
strange sullen roar that grew constantly
| louder.
.Oh. those boys!" cried Constance In
dismay and the other girls echoed the
exclamation. their faces pale with fright
| It was an anxious afternoon: the harbol
was full of vessels, small and great.
whose navigatOrs had seen the danger in
time to reach the place of safety; but
night fell and there was no trace of the
| little Midget. A steam launch was sent
out and innumerable small boats went In
search Of the missing party, while the
BOYS, distracted friends formed a patrol on
shore straining their eyes with heart
sickening dread for what the sea might
give up. It was not until the next morn.
Ing that the Midget came into harbor,
towed by the United States survey
steamer, whose officers were loud IL
praise of the skill and bravery Of the
sengers' lives. J0 Dilsey was the hero Of
4 the hour.
Dorothea Tarlton came over to Paradise
street In the afternoon, her face looking
like 4 May rosebush after shower.
1.-THE very queerest, most delightful
thing has happened" she said breath
4 fnasIv. To the grOup OF girls that had