The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-05
Rebellion of Lucinda Bowers.
BY JOHN WALKER HARRINGTON.


, did she consider il Of any use TO tell her
guests that the arrangement of tables
under the old cherry tree was suggested
by the young woman I'm the blue organdie
The fame Of those refreshments,
which were served on the night on which
Mrs James Jerome Benson sprang into
social prominence. sull lives. The angel
food. -" a species of sponge cake. was real
" the best which had ever been served in
Valley City. Even 20 the present Gay The
matrons OF that town are won't 10 say
ia like TO entertain, too, IL / could max,
such angel food as Mrs Benson had az
her lawn party" Mrs. Benson has never
explained that Lucinda made the am
brosial confection which was served at
her tables on that memorable night.
The divinity who brought order out OF
the chaos of ice cream freezers ana cake
stands. was arrayed in blue organdie.
Lucinda Bowers principally because she
was not aware OF the fact was positively
pretty that night. Her checks were flush
ed her eye sparkling She directed the
band OF white clad young girls who car
ried about the ice cream laden saucers
ana handed the tiny coffee cups 20 the
guests.
The attention OF those who were there
on that evening was divided between the
angel food" and a literary lion from
New York. lie had not been much of
lion when ne went away from Valley City
many years before. The Widow Simpkins
remembered him as a red-headed, bare
footed boy who trudged over the hills
with his bucket of blackberries TO sell.
Since those days. however William Dor
rance had traded bags OF wool and sides
OF bacon for a college education. Subse-
quenty he had wandered TO strange lands.
and In one of his pilgrmages had UNI
earthed a long buried city.
1t was not the city which was OF so
much importance. but a pavement, in a
wonderful state of preservation, which
showed that civilization was at least two
thousand years older than any previous
history revealed. So William DOrrance
returning from the dusty plains Of the
remote East, had written a book which
caused oil previous chronologists 20 hang
their heads Valley City cared little for
antiquity, but here was man who had
not only written a book. but was talked
about in the daily papers as a great AS
syriologist and explorer.
William Dorranoe seemed TO have no
very definite idea why he had come back
10 the little village. lie had made him
self believe that he wished to photograph
some Of the old places which he had
known in his boyhood. lie had gone
with his camera to the old mill. to the
little house where he was born. and 10
the cabin on the outskirts Of the village
which marks the spot where the first
white man made his home in Bottole
county. Yet William Dorsince was not
satisfied. 1t seemed to him that he had
missed something which he had uncon-
sciously come TO seek.
Mrs. Benson" ne asked, who is tina,
young woman over there, in the blue
gown
'YOu seem to have been exploring
among the layer cakes" replied Mrs.
Benson. THAT is Miss Bowers. young
lady who has kindly consented to as
sist me this evening BY the way. Pro
lessor. have you met the Misses Fletcher?
They're charming girls"
And the girl Ia blue?" persisted the
explorer.
Nobody knew exactly what happened,
but a few minutes later another young
woman was dispensing ''angel food" and
! others directed the ice cream lingade
Well, 1 never" calculated the Widow
Smpkins.
How little taste" remarked Margaret
Elton. these men OF science have. stu.
that blue organdie isn't 80 bad considering