The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-02-20

were a lot of mummies, the way we
have vegetated here this winter. There
hasn't been thing excepting that New
Years party at the Forsythe's, and you
know what a dismal affair that was
Miss Payne WINGED slightly. She GER
tainly did know what dismal affair
the Forsythe party had been-for her,
more than for anyone else. She was
quite, quite sure that Tom didn't care
at all, and that he was glad that their
little misunderstanding had occurred
and freed him from an engagement
that was disagreeable to him. But she
didn't speak of this to Mrs. Haskins,
although she knew that little person
was fully aware of the late unpleas-
antness, and was taking a fiendish de-
light in making delicate reference to
subjects calculated to remind her friend
OF it. Miss Payne only assented, with
a little nod and half-articulate muir
muir, and Mrs. Haskins went on:
"Now, let's not sit and talk about
it, merely, but let's do something. Of
course, we can't celebrate Washington s
Birthday without a costume affair.
Suppose we have sleighing party, to
wind up at The Hills with supper
and dance, with everyone in revolution
airy costume. And, OH" the malicious
little wretch went on, enthusiastically,
you and Mr.. Enright shall be Martha
and George, and lead the minuet-a
regula~ 18th century minuet.'
"N-no, I'd rather not" interrupted
Miss Payne, in a half-stified voice. 81
don't-really, I'd rather not take such
prominent part"
Nonsense, child" chirped Mrs. Has
kins, cheerfully. you'll make a per-
fectly lovely Martha, and Tom Enright
can be so stately and dignified when
he chooses-and, besides, he's one of
the very few men in town who can af-
ford to be seen in short trousers"
And the little woman went on to out
line her plans for the celebration, ig-
noring Gladys all-too-apparent misery,
and the poor girls efforts to decline
the unwelcome honor she proposed to
thrust upon her.
81 won't! l can't" Gladys declared
to herself, passionately, as she hurried
down the graveled pathway of the
Haskins' place. I'D rather die, indeed
I would, and still couldn't explain it
to her, even if she does know already
the spiteful wretch! hope he'll man
age to decline, though"
But Mr.. Enright did nothing of the
kind. In fact, he had felt for some
time as though he would give anything
on earth for an opportunity to speak
10 Gladys and tell her how sorry he was
for the way he had acted over her
dancing with Neville three times at
the Forsythe party-the fact being,
however, that he really had just cause
for being jealous and indignant, and
that Gladys was the one from whom
the apology was due. So, when Mrs
Haskins preached her plans to him,
she was rather taken aback at the
alacrity with which he consented to
impersonate the Fathero His Country,
for she had anticipated her usual keen
enjoyment in probing anothcr's
wound.
"The Hills" was little summer ho-
tel situated in a pleasant valley about
ten miles from Millston, and, although
closed to the general public through
the winter. was the scene of occasional
festivities inaugurated by Millston
people. 1t had a delightful ballroom,
and, better yet, the couple who had
charge of the premises from season to
season were phenomenal caterers.
The pod of February came, and
the morning ushered in delight
full weather, which, together with
a recent snowfall, combined to
make it an ideal day for sleighing.
Most of the merrymakers gathered at
Mrs. Haskins' house in The afternoon.