The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-17


permission We shall annex IL, without
your gracious permission we shall do
ditto Seef We're three 10 one"
Three what2" asked the girl
Officers" said WyllsOn.
I thought officers were gentlemen. 8"
said the girl
Certainly. to ladies'" said Wynson. I'M
abashed by the rebuke; but plain, home
~, friendly sort Of chaps to pretty girls
like you"
We'll. after all, you can't have the
basket. I'm very sorry-it's engaged said
the girl Pray let me pass"
This IS no time for useless polite
ness" said Wyllson; there are three fam
ishlng subaiterns, and Wen buy the bas-
ket, If you'll sell; if you won't, we must
He placed a hand on the basket, but
Stamford stepped forward and restrained
him. Not unless the girl says yes" he
remarked, quietly.
girl, quickly. You may have It, so long
as you make it all right with the rector,
and-the other person"
THAT settles it, said Saule. Pray al
low me-" He relieved the girl of the
basket, and he and WILSON reseated them
selves under the hedge and began opera
Stamford looked doubtfuIy on, and cast
longing glanceS at the disappearing vi
ands.
You'd better hurry up, old man." said
Saule, "or you'n have TO gnaw the bas-
ket. The grubs going like smoke"
You really might as we'll" said the girl.
chin. He was not yet certain that all
was right, and he did not accept the in
vitation.
Saule was falling to royalty, but be-
tween his fresh mouthfuls he managed to
make sundry jerlSy observations. Wyll-
son also Joined in.
it's contraband of war" said Saule. 1t
was no good your Directing, my dear
young lady. You'll have to explain to
your master that according to interna-
w u
to the enemy. You see, you We're carry
ing food to them, and that's the very
thing Of all others We couldn't allow"
Never mind my dear, who it was for"
interrupted Saule, with great anabnityi
"the point is, We've got it, and when we've
done with the contents and sampled them,
so to speak, you can take the basket on to
the chap it was meant for. Hen look ra-
"its only right to tell you that the bas-
ket contained luncheon from the Rector
my dear" said Wyllson. who was help
ing himself freely TO the wing of a chick
en-, scorning. the use of a knife and fork
don't mention names. The time for that's
gone past. If it's from the Rector it's
from a right quarter, and yon can ask
him to offer grace for what we've receiv-
ed. He'd prepared a royal meal for some
one, bless his generous heart-its come in
quite handy for three famishing young
Heres a jolly bottle Of port" said saule
delightedly, pulling forth a bottle from a
cosy corner. "And here's the sweetest lit
tie glass imaginable. My dear young LADY,
he rose for a moment as he said this
"Ill go through a little conjuring trick for
you. i fill the glass, so; l turn my back for
a moment-pray pardon me for doing it
so; 1 right about turn, and 10, the glass is
empty. Puzzle find the port"
mot bad, not bad" laughed the girl, de-
7.Look here" said saule "slaveys don't
have that accent as rule IN speaking
French" He looked hard and distrustfully
"Oh, really" said the girl. with feigned
great haughtiness, land mayn't the maid
be as good as the mistress2'
She's a laundering lot better as rule ~
said WyllsOn. That's my experience. But
l say, Stamford, you've eaten nothing and
drunk nothing. Have a sandwich-all the
chickens fnlshed-Saule and L haYe done
the business for it; and have this soda
we've also polished off the port. l should
have preferred a whiskey, but beggars
'"Thievesr' said the girl "Oh, I beg your
pardon-I didn't mean it, really. The word
slipped out Won't you help to finish the
"Stamford's my name" said the senior
junior, 'and since you're so pressing, 1
win have just a bite. Positively I'm fam
Stamford desperately attacked a sand
Wich and ate 1t. The soda, which was
conveniently fiat, he drank from the bot
tie. All the while he looked so keenly and
curiOusly at the girl that she cOlored and
turned away. feigning to pluck brambles
from the hedge.
asked Wyllson, who was beginning TO feel
satisfied.
Pm not aware that ever mentioned
it," said the girl, without looking up.
"Oh, dear" said WyllsOn, chow genteel
we are-how perfectly proper! We're more
polite and freezing than our masters and
mistresses. I'll give a guess at what you
Observation-Disclosures
No" laughed the girl; guess again."
Nursery governess, suggested Saule.
"Ladys maid" hazarded Wyllson.
The girl shook her head. You're all sad
ly off It," she said.
poor relation of the rector's family?" said
Wyllson, feeling uneasy just for a mo-
ment. But this uneasiness died away from
the merry laugh that negatively answered
'That would have been jolly awkward"
Saule put in. 1T would really, you know"
"Of course we should have to explain
that we didn't mean to be rude to a lady
however poor she might be-" added Wyll-
son. But I see that Stamford's finished
and we shall have to leave you. Shall we
gather up the fragments and put them in
the basket for you, or will you do it?'
suppose you're more used to it than we
"'TEank you, I shall probably do better
than YOU" said the girl, still mecrily
you're sure you've quite finished" She
asked beginning to replace the fragments
THANK you, quite" said WyTlsoa. Il
say you're d brick of a creature You
know, If only you had the advantage Of
being vel born and educated you lnignr
stand a chance OF marrying we'll"
"Ycure too complimentary" sal the
mot bit of it," ebimed in saule, en-
Enthusiastically. by Jove, you've got he
carriage Of a marchioness. You don't
ioek nrch Ike slavey upon my word
The sri laughed once more and sail,
Il must be going. ] shall have to ex-
plain. to he old Juggins, as you call him.
what's na3I ned"
You mustn't 80 without letting US LAY
toll" said WILSON. Here's a sovereign
for you. It's the biggest tip you've had
yet. / dare say"
Thank you. I have not quite come to
that yet" said the girl. with a statell-
ness that took even Wyllson's breath
away.
Wyllson looked sheepish, and sauIe and
Stamford shuhied uneasily.
"Putshis foot in it this time" muttered
Saule.
1.-The mark Of the beast" thought STAN
ford. He was thinking of the pedigrees.
IF you viii allow me to pass gentle
men, l shall be most Obliged to YOU"
said the girl, preparing to move off. Il
really cannot If you stand in that way,