The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-10-13
Miss Anastasia said, Good gracious,

1u0u befIl0, SUN OCCuplcU Will luC
formation of his foot, spoke more
briskly than he had hitherto done.
''It is a great mistake to make enc
miles," he began, as though he was de-
livering lecture, and was little
pressed for time; 1.-The greatest mistake
in the world, AnastaSia. We ought to
ask everybody; we ought to make
point of asking everybody. There is
no end of room in this house; a dozen
more people won't crowd us out, and if
I'm to stand for this side Of the county
at the next election it won't do to risk
unpopularity and that sort of thing by
want of civility. People like to be
asked, and it ought to be done.
l feel very strongly about it my
self always have done so. | should
like to know why they shouldn't be
asked, and come, too? Surely there
are plenty of old ladies in NoelcOmbe!
Poor old souls-a ball would cheer
them up a bit. You needn't laugh.
don't want them to dance-I don't
mean that-but the looking on and all
the rest of it. I'm not chatting, An;
want some more invitations sent out.
Anastasia looked perplexed and she
spoke coldly:
Thanks for indulging me with your
maiden speech, Bertie-not very ele-
giant, but emphatic. SO you will sup
port women's rights and old women's
rights in particular? Most benevolent
of you!
II want those invitations sent out,
her brother repeated.
He did not often exert himself to eX-
press a wish, but when he did so his
| family knew that, come what might,
that wish would eventually be fulfilled.
"Then you had better speak to moth
err. She is always eager to gather III
from the hedges and highways. NO
doubt she will be charmed to send
every tradesman in the village card.
This last whim of Bertie's was pre-
posterous. and the indulgence of it
| likely to prove a great trial to his re-
lations. Though that magic word pol
itics (Which surprises in himselfO
could be made to account for the pres
ence of any social curiosities at the
party, vet their entertainment-an I'M
congenial task-would devolve upon
the ladies of the house.
Anastasia was annoyed, and when
she was displeased she had knack
of making herself peculiarly disagreed
BILE to her neighbors; but it was lmpo-
| little to quarrel with her brother, so
she contented herself by turning down
the corners of her mouth, Struggling
her wide shoulders and leaving him TO
occupy the window seat alone.
He, however, did not remain where
she had left him, but, crossing the
room, seated himself by the side of his
mother, with whom he conversed Tor
some time. Lady Jones still possessed
one 10y which was unQuenched by the
nomn of her riches-the love OF her
son. her handsome, charming son, who
treated her with a gentle tenderness
and a courteous consideration such as
had strangled the dawning shadow OF
suspicion that he might be ashamed
of her, and those supreme, manifest,
but unsuccessful efforts Of hers to be
CONNIE il faut.
The conversation between them, OF
which the young man monopolized the
lions share, and to which his mother
reuAied with mods and beckS and
wreathed smiles" was Of some length
and bore the following fruit:
During the ensuing afternoon, when
Miss Milford and her niece were seat
ed in the cool, fOWer-scented little
drawing room at Carnation cottage,
the sound of ring at the front gate
mingled tremendously with the Jub1-
liant song of the canary that Miss Eliz-
abeth-who was doing in an arm
chair with her cap straying, as was its
wont. over her left column OF curlS,
and her plump brown hands clasped
on her round knees-neither stirred
nor sighed.
Helen, who was arranging some
freshly cut roses in a basket as she
hummed her favorite, "a man who
would WOO a fair maid," in subdued
notes. saw a shadow cross the lawn;
so. rose in hand, she rose and tWitched
the offending cap into place in view OF
an emergency in the shape Of visitors.
She had resumed her song and her oc-
cupation when Julia, aWed by the
stateliness of powdered footman, and
excited by the unwonted sight OF
gentleman caller, opened the door TIM
idlv. and in hushed tones announced:
LADY Jones and Mr.. JOnes!'
Then followed some embarrassing
moments. during which Miss Elizabeth
woke up in a bewildering condition;
T.adv Jones nervously and unintelligl-
bly endeavored to explain the object OF
her call. stared Helen out Of counte-
nance and broke the foreleg of the
dainty chair upon the edge OF which
she had placed herself on entering.
Strangely enough, the unusually com
posed Helen momentarily lost her self
possession, but soon regaining 1t she
found Lady Jones another and firmer
chair. helped her out with her dis
closures, and sustained the conversa-
ton until her aunt finally emerged
from the land of dreams and became
her placid and tranquil self
ut is so long time since