The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1896-11-05

at ! O'Clock to pick her up on its way
to Rivers meet. She wore. with sad
extravaganza, her very best gown, Il
thin electric cotton that matched the
color of her eyes, and clad in which
she looked her best, and knew 1t. In
her waist belt she had carefully stow
ed n whole parterre OF her aunt y
choicest carnations; her nIt-broWn love
locks We're arranged TO perfection be-
meath the broad brim of her hat.
'TOo-to-to-too-toOt!" the stirring and
lively call of q horn, the rumble Of
wheels. the sharp trOt of horses hoo1S,
the jingling of harness pr2cursed the
arrival of the Jones coach, which pres
emily, loaded with Il boisterous, laugh
Inc. happy crew. drew up alongside the
door of CarnatiOn cottage.
Neither Lady Jones nor her son was
among the party. but a girl whom
Helen afterward learned to be Patrl-
ella Jones, called out, listleSsly:
How do you do:' following the
question by the advice to Get UP as
fast as possible for the horses won't
stand"
So Helen mounted the steps precip-
itately and squeezed herself into the
small space on the third seat back,
whittier she was directed-a little
abashed at finding herself the one out
sider among a party or nunlateSTa
position seldom enviabie.
The young man whom Helen had
seen with Mr.. Jones in the boat was
driving, and by his side on the box seat
Anastasia sat. Such attention as he
could spare from the team, which re-
quired careful handling over the Devon
roads. she engrosSed.
once. and once only, Patricia ad-
dressed her silent guest:
I'm afraid you have not much room,
Miss Milford. My brother said you
would 90 in the landau with my moth
err, and she forgot all about you and
started an hour ago." Then, turning
to the man next her she went on:
BERTHE drove Lady Lucy in he dog
cart; she was more than half AFRAID,
but he insisted"
Have they settled it," he asked
with that sort of smile which Hlckers
only over n cit"
Miss Jones shrugged her high, broad
shoulders.
BERTHE is like all the rest of You,
Sir Edwin" she returned, doesn't
kaoW his own mind. The fact is he Is
an unconscious tiirt, though if L old
him so he would not believe IL"
The gentleman addressed murmurrd
some response, at which Patricia rosy
cheeks grew roster, and to which she
retorted with gratitied smiles.
Helen was an unsympathetic observ-
err of these soft passages; her lips hard
eneS a little. ''They are all making
fools of themselves-every one" she
thought, and she plumed herself on
her superiority to these weaknesses.
I'D and down the heaving country
the strong team of hill-trained horses
trotted fast. The air famed a color
into Helen's cheeks and frightened her
eyes. The chaperpn Of the party was
a little girl, little older than Helen
herself, whose husband was Helen's
neighbor, and who. before they reach
ed their destination, fell into a broken
conversation with her. When they
alighted at Rivers Meet, he elected To
constitute himself her companion, and
though he was heavy, dull, and uni
versally disconnected, she was COM
PEELED to accept his prOffered society.
as it seemed to be q choice between
him as her squire or no one. Thus
she spent the greater part of the time
with him, trying con"scientiously to
amuse and interest him, but failing
obviously. She received q careless
smile and a preoccupied greeting from
her young host. He did not speak to
her; his presence was in great demand.
A girl with n weak, inanimate face,
whom Helen heard addressed as Lady
Lucy, was always by his side, and he
seemed to beStOw some Of that super
fiuous energy of his upon the arrange
p,nnt af thn piari, fnr rhn Snry-nrt,
were flying TO and fro ut his behests.
Now this wise young man had read
'the books Of woman's looks" rather
deeply; he knew the feminine weak
ness that desires everything except
that one thing which she possesses,
that values nothing which she owns,
but eve casts a covetous eye upon
the unattainable. and so, though with
considerable reluctance, he scrupu-
lousy neglected Helen. The picnic
lousy neglected Helen. The picnic
part of the entertainment was worthy
of it's ~source-iced drinks with start
ling names; sandwiches cool, curious
and unwhOleSome; tea, coffee. Sugared
and almonded cakes, bOnbOns. and tea
table accessories beloved of women
were pressed upon the guests by a
troop of servants. No man need stir
a finger on his comrades behalf, and
therefore the men, for once in a way,
enjoyed a picnic.
After tea Helen and her squire We're
wandering lazily along the side of the
brawling river. the noise of which was
an excuse for maintaining silence-so
she automatically suggested, for she
found herself at the utmost tethcr Of
easy diScOurSe-while each was Sc
cretly wondering how soon the call Of
the horn would summon them for
their return journey. The gentleman
was grateful to Helen, first for her
face, which he admired. secondly for