New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-17
AN EARLY BIRD.

.,o,ber the fellow" / muttered savagely
.,ns, wnen I'd screwed up my nerves almost
- ,ne point OF putting the question. and so
,,g my fate one way or the other. here he
-,s, come and upset everything with his con-
..,,6ed our dance, Miss BelliLger, l believe!
nsuce take the man. and his dance. too!'
Nv gaze followed the pair as they passed be-
.ueen the dyuble row Of palms toward the ball
lam For a moment the music swelled higher
.,d mnglinC with ii in my ears came the sill
cary ripple Of jeans laughter. Confusion seize
A.. cIown,-he seemed to have the knack OF
amusing her If nothing else. Then the door OF
N. conservatory swung to behind them.
rose from the settee, frowned witherinsly
=, big hydrangea bloom, and thought things
mt 10 be found in the category Of polite prov
.rbs From this genial mood | was reused by
the frou-frou Of a wCinans dress and trippine
football which caused me TO slarce round quick
~ haf-expectantly. But ii was merely my sis
fer Bertha.
whats am.ss Tom" asked she merry
You don't look eXtravagantly aniablc to
night"
apon't l. indeed? Well. feel even less cheer
full than l look"
you couldn't. Tom. dear" Bertha protested
nlppantly Come now. wh&; is il? Anxiety
about Aunt James health"
"Oh, hans Aunt Janer'
.Tom-Ton" and Bertha's hands went up in
simulated horror Your own blood relation
TOO, How utterly depraved Of YOU
Asa matter Of confession, / never could bring
myself 10 a due state Of honest sympathy where
Aun, James neurotic ailments were concerned
True. they were the only relaxations the poor
old soul allowed herself, but then she ever and
,nexorably worked them for all they were worth
Among other instances. whenever she felt one OF
her attacks" coming on. nothing would do bu,
that she must have her favorite niece 10 wait
upon her hand and foot. from morning till
night 1t was precious hard lines on Bertha
maybe yet it is the penalty a girl has 70 pay
for being gentler nurse than sister.
"Not Aunt Jane" Bertha went on. after a
pause Then it must be Joan That was she
saw just now with Captain Moston, wasn't il?
Have you and she been falling out. or WHAT
Quit the contrary. We were getting on
famousy together until that conceited Jacka-
rapes thrust himself forward and carried her
off,"
why. what can you complain of in that?
supIoss he simply claimed the waltz she had
promise hi1.. What parties and dances
for?
The only rational use Of them is to keep peo-
pie out Of the way Of those who don't want 70
dance. Otherwise they're nothing but stupid
trcuses in my opinion"
Tom you're grumpy bear-a downright
morose irritable. surly. rude person'-and I'm
sorry uncle ever invited you down here a; all.
You've scarcely been twCnty-four hours in the
house yet. and already you show temper
that-that--- There. Joan must be an angel
10 have tolerated you for FIVE minutes
did not feel called uron TO find fault with
the classification Ny quarrel was not with
Mss Bcl.nger-nOr yet with Bertha
We'll" saii quickly. this swashbuckler fel-
low-this army bounder--Who is he. anyway
Captain MJeton IS nothing more than d gen
teman' ratortcd Bertha with what she con-
sdered al air II delicate irony. He isn't one Of
your sort at all Tom"
'Whoeyer he may he. ne needs a lesson in
manners" iejolned holy. The way in which
te has be- hanging round Miss Bellinger ever
since I've been here is absolutely insufferable
OF course yol haven't noticed it; you've been
upstairs with Aunt Jane all the time But
have: ard uy Joyei tLereH be ruc,ions soon
f.
oh now ! begin to understand" interposed
NY sister amusedly. That's how the wind
blows, is it? You're Jealous. Tom. Gracious
me- It's clear you don't know Captain Moston
since you wonder AZ that Just wait until you
see him Airtre with me. You forget you
haven't hal AL opportunity OF witnessing that
yet"
4 don't care twopence whom he nirts with,