The Winslow mail., 1898-12-03

an we are going to give her hint she
can't help takin'. Squire Larl1in's sis
ter, Jane Best, has stepson a-comin'
here to visit the squire; an the squire's
wife bein' but poorly, she wants we
an the girls to get up party for him.
l don't know whether you've ever
heard Mis- Larkin speak O. DR.. Sum
merton. He comes from out west, an
this is his first visit. They say he Is
doin' real we'll out west. Bette an
Evvie are goin' to give big dance fer
him in their pas new barn Thanksgivin'
night. Ali the young peoples to get
invites tomorrow; but l just told the
girls to leave out Miss Becky, an they
done So"
Il guess Miss Becky's pretty apt to
tex hint. Becky amt been much of
a fool ez l kin see This time it was
the owner of the musical scissors who
spoke. well, good land alive! if there
amt Miss Becky herself a-comin' right
in; an she's got strange man await
in fer her at the gate. Wonder who
it can be!'
And then Miss Rebecca Blythe came
in, looking happy and rosy, and not q
day over 25. She wore trim winter
coat, and two bright yellow wings
were sticking straight up in the little
iaunty felt hat that perched defiantly
above the wind-blown waves of Miss
Rebecca's shining black hair.
81 can't stay to-day" she announced.
II am sorry, for l know how much
there is to be done; and mother was
not we'll enough to come. But, you
know, Squire Larkin has nephew just
come to town to spend the holidays.
We did not know him; but it seems he
met brother Tom out west, and so he
came to see US as soon as he had seen
his uncle and aunt. Nothing would do
but that I must take him around this
afternoon to see his old friends"
Mrs Parkinson's face was a study.
She said nothing; but Miss Flint had a
what air We goin' to do, Becky, on
Thanksgiving"
''It is our turn to go to Sister Mar
tha's this year. Well take the train in
the morning, you know, and come back
the next day"
Then Miss Rebecca laughed merrily,
as she added: "Oh, just let me tell you.
Brother Tom actually made that man
promise to spend Thanksgiving with
Sister Martha to taste her cake. You
know what u famous cake-maker Mar
tha always has been. But l must hurry
away. You all look SO coy in here, and
so Industrious; it makes me feel quite
good for nothing"
Miss Blythe left; and hush fell up
on the assembly.
Then there was a rush for the win
dow. Various mplimentary remarks
were made about the personal appear
ance Of the doctor from the west, and
few uncomplimentary things said
about the deep-laid scheme of his de-
signing companion. These last did
Miss Rebecca great injustice; for she
had never even heard of the existence
of the doctor from the west, until his
unceremonious entrance into her
fathers house an hour before.
Mrs. Parkinson and the meeklook-
ing lady scorned to put themselves
out" by going to the window for peep
at Miss Blythe's gallant escort. The
announcement regarding the disposi-
ton of the village guest on Thanks
giving had so broken into the plans of
the good president that amazement
and indignation stilled her voice; but
there was a heightened color in her
cd Of
her needle told its own story.
The meeting adjourned at an earlier
hour than usual, much to the relief of
he ladies. On the whole, the afternoon
had been an uncomfartab one.
But Mrs. Parkinson did not acknowl-
edge defeat. Early the following morn
ing she ran in" to consult with Mrs.
Tracy, one OF her stanch supporters.
As a result of this conference the
Thanksgiving dance was postponed for
several days, and the doctor received
an invitation, which. however, he did
not accept. The young people on their
way to the party saw him walking
with rapid strides in the direction of
Deacon Blythe's; and it was known
that Miss Rebecca had new silk waist
and large knot of pink ribbon for her
hair.
That was only the beginning. All eff
forts to entice the young man from
the dangerous Miss Rebecca proved un
availing. Indeed, he appeared to spend
far more time at the Blythe home than
he did with his good uncie and aunt.
He had even been seen out snow|ball-
ing with Miss Rebecca's two young
nephews. For once the hold plans of
Mrs. Parkinson failed.
Her principal coadjutor had the
hardihood to advocate a change in the
line of operations. This lady's daugh-
ters sent out Invita- tions for the big
Christmast sleighride, ard for the first
time in weeks, Miss Rebecca received
card.
"They want you so much they are
willing to take me, too," she said, with
one of her merriest peals of laughter
laughter in which DR.. Summerton
Joined heartily, when he noticed the
date on the invitation.
"The very day of our wedding, dear"
he said. "Why, we shall be on the way
to our new home by that time
Beef a la Daube.