The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1896-10-22

no! II laughed.
Then BERTHE, still occupied with the
formation of his foot, spoke more
briskly than he had hitherto done.
1T is a great mistake to make enc
miles, he began, as though he was de-
livering a lecture, and was Il niue
pressed for time; the greatest mistake
in the world, Anastasia. We ought TO
ask everybody; we ought to make a
point OF asking everybody. There Is
no end of 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 ii won't do to risk
unpopularity and that sort of thing by
want of civility. People like 70 be
asked, and it ought to be done.
| feel very strongly about it my
self always have done so. should
like 10 know why they shouldn't be
asked, and come, too? Surely there
are plenty Of oil. ladies in Noelcombe:
EOor old souls-a ball would cheer
them up a bit. You needn't laugh. |
don't want them to dance 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
A%nastasia looked perpleXed and she
spoke coldly:
Thanks for INDUCING me with your
maiden speech, Bertie-not very Gle
CANT, but emphatic. SO you will sup
port women's rights and old women's
rights in particular? Most benevolent
of you!'
81 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
er. She is always eager to gather IN
from the hedges and highways. NO
doubt she will be charmed TO send
every tradesman in the village a card
This last within Of Berries was pre-
pO%sterous, and the indulgence OF 1t
likely to prove a great trial to his re-
lations. Though that magic word pol
itics (Which surprises in himself)
could be made to account for the pres
ence Of any social curioSities at the
party. yet 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 a knack
of making herself peculiarly disagreed
bic to her neighbOrS; but it was impo-
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 for
time. Lady Jones still possessed
one JOY which was unquenched by the
pomp of her riches-the love of her
son, her handsome, charming on. who
treated her with a gentle tenderness
and a courteous consideration such as
had strangled the dawning shadow Of
a suspicion that he might be ashamed
of her, and those supreme, manifest,
but unsuccessful efforts OF hers to be
II faut.
The conversation between them, OF
which the young man m~onopolized the
lions share. and to which his mother
replied with mods and becks and
wreathed smiles" was of some length
and pore the following fruit:
During the ensuing afternoon, when
Miss Milford and her niece We're seat
ed in the cool, fiower-scented little
drawing room at Carnation cottage,
the sound of a ring at the front gate
tinkled through the open window and
mingled tremendously with the jubi-
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 |
cut roses in a basket as she
hummed her %fayorIte. "A man who
would WOO a fair maid" in subdued
notes, saw q shadow cross the lawn;
rose in hand, h rose and twitched |
the offending cap into place IN view of
an emergency in the shape Of visitors.
She had resumed her ong and her Oc-
cupation when Julia, awed by the
Of a powdered footman, and
by the unwonted sight Of a
caller, opened the door tim
idly, 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;
Jones nervously and unintelligi-
bly, endeavored to explain the object Of
her call, stared Helen out of counte-
nance and broke the foreleG of the
chair upon the edge Of which
she had placed herself on entering.
Strangely enough. the unusually com
posed Helen momentarily lost her self
but 500 regaining it she
found Lady Jones another and firEler
chair. helped her out with her dis
closures. and sustained the CONVERSE
ton until her aunt finally emerged
from the land of dreams and became
her placid and tranquil self.
1T is so long a time since
[ had the extreme pleasure of
.p9YSG gu :lI 81 oUu |