The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-10-23
OF SKILL.

strains of that curious tune "lKillaloo.' 81
! Apart from the group at the piano,
upon the ledge of an open window,
Helen's recent acquaintance, Mr.. Al
bert Jones, was seated talking, with
rather listless and condescending air,
to his youngest sister, Anastasia.
| Don't grumble, BERTHE; come and
sing" she was saying; "or, If you won't
sing, go and smoke-do something. /
/ saw Lady Lucy looking over here Just
now; it's rather uncivil of you not to
talk to her. You have been so stupid
all the evening; you bored her to death
at dinner; saw her yawning."
I 'That polished horde, formed of two
mighty tribes, "the Bores and the
Rored," he quoted, with q comprehen-
sive glance first at the musicians, then
round the room. "My dear An. 1 can't
tune myself up to concert pitch in heat
like this. Lady Lucy is all very we'll,
but .she is not invigorating; she is as
mild as buttermilk.'
His sister looked at him rather anx-
fioflsly, and knitted her eyebrows.
"She is perfectly charming, BERTHE;
we are devoted to her, and SO is papa.
They have asked lis all there on the
29th. Didn't she tell you? Hasn't she
asked you:"
"She said something about polo at
their place, and golf or tennis week
II forget which. 1t made ME hot to
think Of such violent exercises, and
said so.''
"You are too spoiled, Berthe" said
Anastasia. struggling her shoulders.
You really are. You are getting disa-
greeable."
At that moment the chorus of "Killa-
loo" rang out through the room
1--WE larn to sing it aisy, that song the
3Iarseillasy
Too long, vous long. the Continent,
we learnt at killaloo."
pretty thing that" growled the
young man, "just like White Wings
or Lady Lucy. Sort Of thing you never
get sick of-grows on you-just suits
a night like this"
He pointed through the open win
dow to where the moon traced its
pathway across the dark, heaving sen
to where the black cliffs lowered,
standing on guard upon either side of
the cleft chasm in which twinkled the
lights of the village.
Anastasia did not look at the view,
but she looked keenly at her brother.
Did Troubadour win the Norches-
ties stakes?" she inquired, with appar-
ent irrelevance.
walk over" he replied loconically.
'"Then, what's the matter, BERTHE?
When you are crusty something quite
extraordinary must have happened"
"I'm all right, my dear; there is moth
ing earthly the matter with me. sup
pose fellow needn't make fool Of
himself unless it is agreeable to him.
Lady Lucy is everything that is cor
rect, but she can't sing
"'Her voice was soft and low,
A cooling kind of voice, you know,
Except when she began to sing,
And then it was fearful thing +"
LADY Lucy sings beautifully" his
sister said rather stiftly. ''Good-by,
BERTHE. You are such dull company,
I'm off"
She had not gone more than two OF
three steps when he called her back.
Anastasia returned-no one ever
dreamed Of disputing Mr.. jones'
wishes; but she was impatient at his
demands on her time. With half q
dozen young men within hail, the best
Of brothers would seem q dull COM
panion; the grim, uncolnplaisant broth
er was an unmitigated bore.
"What do you want?"
"Well, I. wanted to hear" he spoke
slowly; he was staring hard at his
foot, as though its appearance at the
end of his trousers was an Interesting
novelty; II wanted to hear how mary
people are coming to this ball, aad
who they are, and what sort of enter
tainment it is likely to be-"
This was an engrossing and sensible
topic, into which Anastasia could en-
ter.
every one is coming" she answered
confidentially. 1--WE have been so lucky
hardly one refusal. All the right peo-
pie in the house." She ran through O
string Of noble names glibly, and in
rather raised voice; it is curious that
such names should require emphasize
ing. at ought to 60 off well. There
are plenty Of men, If they will only do
their duty in the ball room as they are
sure to do in the supper ROOM"
Mr.. Jones was still staring at his
foot, his interest in which had devel-
oped into anxiety, for he twisted it
about and craned his neck to enable
him to catch sight of the sole of his
shoe.
Have you asked any of the other
peoples" he inquired indifferently.
"Whom do you mean?"
"Why, the villagers. The parson and
the doctor and the lawyer and the old
ladies, don't you know? The people
one only sees in church."
Miss Anastasia said, "Good gracious,
no! and laughed.
Then BERTHE, still occupied with the
formation Of his foot, spoke more
briskly than he had hitherto done.
1T Is great mistake to make enc
miles," he began, as though he was de.
livering a lecture, and was q little
pressed for time; "the greatest mistake
in the world, Anastasia. We ought to
ask everybody; we ought to make q
point Of asking everybody. There ia
no end of room in this house; a dozen
more people won't crowd us out, and II
I'm to stand for this side Of the county
at the next election 1t won't do to risk
unpopularity and that sort Of thing by
want Of civility. People like to be