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


too stupid or too old to learn.
Dinner was Oyer-an excellent dinner
it had been, such as leaves those who
have been happy enough to discuss it
in the best humors. If the wit was
weak among the party at Newton the
laughter was strong, and there was
plenty of it, and the music of laughter
is pleasant to hear in world where 1t
does not always oyerabound.
A group of men and girls were gath
cred around the piano, which, with an
accompaniment of banjo, bones, the
vigorous voices, was degrading it's mel
lifluous tones by leading the popular
strains of that curious tune "KillaloO."
Apart from the group at the piano,
upon the ledge of an open window,
Helen's receAt acquaintance, Mr.. Al
bert Jones, was seated talking, with
rather a 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; l saw her yawning."
THAT polished horde, formed of two
mighty tribes, 1.-The Bores and the
Bored" he quoted, with comprehen-
sive glance first at the musicians, then
round the room. my dear An, l can't
tune myself up to concert pitch in heat
like this. Lady Lucy is all very well,
but she is not invigorat ting; she is as
mild as buttermilk."
His sister looked at him rather anX-
iously, and knitted her eyebrows.
'She is perfectly charming, BERTHE;
we are devoted to her, and so is papa.
They have asked us 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
I forget which. 1t made me hot to
think of such violent exercises, and l
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
eve larn to sing it aisy, that song the
Marseillasy
Too long, vous long, the Continent,
we learnt at 1<illalOO."
''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 it's
pathway across the dark, heaving sea
to where the black cliffs lowered,
standing on guard upon either side or
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 a fellow needn't make a 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 a fearful thing
LADY Lucy sings beautifully" his
sister said rather stiftly. "Good-by,
BERTHE. You are such dull company,
I'm of"
She had not gone more than two or
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
dozen young men within hail, the best
of brothers would seem a dull COM
panion; the grim, uncomplaisant broth
er was an unmitigated bore.
''What do you want?'
"WeIl, / 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; Il wanted to hear how many
people are coming to this ball, and
who they IRE, and what sort of enter
tainment it is likely to be-"
This was an engroSSing and sensible
topic. into which Anastasia could en-
ter.
"Eyery one is coming" she answered
1--WE have been so lucky
hardly one refusal. All the right peo-
nile i'm the house" She ran through a
string of noble names glibly, and in
rather a raised voice; it is curious that
such names should require emphasiz-
ing. at ought to go off well. There
are plenty of men, If they will only do
their duty in the ball room as they are
sure to do ia 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 c1aned his neck to enable
him to catch sight of the sole of his