The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-20
She was glad she had come. dear

1--WE want to be entertained" she cried. "It's too
hot to do anything. Can't you tell an interesting
story, Mr. ToWsley? Something about your dis
tinguished ancestors. Didn't they flourish about the
time of tile Revolution? That would be SO appro-
pirate for today. you know"
I'm afraid my ancestors plain men," said
Jack. with nothing but their honesty to recommend
them, and far too humble to have their deeds record
ed ia the pages of either history romance"
That sounds very nice and modest, but in these
days Of d. "a RS and S. A. RS and Colonial Danes.
and goodness knows what. some Of us must have
come from somebody. l know of my ancestors
was carried off by the Indians and married In
dian chief-no-of course it couldn't have been
an ancestor but anyway it was the sister of one OF
my great aunts. 1 think it quite unpatriotic and
disgracefu that we haven't a single society in town
made up of anybody's descendants"
"We might organize a branch of the Daughters
of the American Revolution, suggested Laura, until
somebody asks us to become Colonial Danes
Eyes. Why not do it today?' said Susie French.
Lets all agree to join if eligible. / know
I'm all right, for I had some kind Of ancestor VINO
officer in the Revolutionary I'll look
him up. 1 suppose you can find a colonial governor
or something among the Van Nesses, Laura YOU
and Miss StinsOn can take high degrees, and OF
course Sally Stemple comes of fine old Southern
family all SOutherners do, you know and Susie
French ratified reckessy. suggesting possibilities
in the way of ancestors till all of the party
little Jimmy Walker, declared privileged to
wear a badge a button.
81 really believe in blood you know" Eentured one
of the young men, when Susie stopped for breath.
noblesse obge' and all that sort Of thing AL men
are born free and equal but man wouldn't exactly
want to marry the daughter even granddaughter
of a 1aborer' or anything of that sort, you
know" ,'
Elmira with a flushed face, had for several
ments been trying to speak. Miss French spoke
about the Van Nesses just now she said "They
weren't Laura's and my own ancestors. Our grand
father only adopted. His name was Dobson.
He was real poor bOy-the son Of a miller" "Why
Elmira, you sure? II never heard of that"
stammered Laura ooh, yes-there amt any mis-
take Ma told me oil about It, and how Mr.. Van
Ness hadn't any son of his own, he had grandpa
take his name. Ma says I'm dreadful like granpa"
There was awkward silence for moment
broken only by shrieks of merriment from Sally Stem
pie and her admirers. The game Of mumblety peg
was ended and Sally was condemned to root the peg.
Jack did not look at Laura Susie French did
with a smile not entirely free from satisfaction
"Well, perhaps the Dobsons, did you say tie name
Dobson? turning to Elmra, perhaps the Dob
sons fought for their independence, won't
drop you from our list yet will we Mr.. Towsley?"
will investigate the Dobsons WE'LL if you will
allow me Miss Van Ness. We across a snag
very early in genealogical researches, for my
grandfather was blacksmith and he had a char
acter any man might be proud Of see reason for
being ashamed Of his occupation
He spoke quietly, but there was almost a defiant
ring his voice he turned to Susie French, pre-
pared they all felt not only to fight his battles,
but Lauras"
Allie Johnson nice little girl and Lauras de-
voted friend, threw herself nobly into the breach.
81 think of my Observation-Disclosures kept shop.
1 mean a little bit of a shop in New York once OF
course, we Americans have all kinds of ancestors.
That's what makes nice" Laura and she ex-
changed affectionate glances and Emira, who sat
next her. squeezed her hand
Susie French drew a long breath. ''This is de
veloping into genuine experience meeting" she ex-
claimed. 'Does anyone else feel moved to rise and
confess the shortcomings Of his ancestors?
you and Laura seem to be in the same boat, Mr..
Towsley, and" jumping up speaking of boats, is 1t
too hot for row? We've sat here till I'm tired to
death. For goodness sake. let's do something"
She had made mistake. and she knew it Jack
Towsley would not like Laura any the less because
he had come forward her champion
Yet he seemed to avoid Laura after this. He
Joined Sally Stemple, and easily beguiled into
walking with her through the woods to point ro-
mantically called Lovers Seat" rough stone
seat on the summit of knoll gave beautiful view
of lake below and of the gently undulating
try beyond. l,
You would have called it a to soothe the
nerves and make one forget ones cares. Yet Jack
felt nervous restless. and irritable to the last
degree. He felt that he had shown his hand, and
made a fool of himself quite unnecessarily.
"From several things she has said believe all
this time she has been thinking of fine family
and she cares much for that" he thought to him
self as Sally Stempe babbled about her interest
ing experience with young man who had such no
mantle eyes.
"a fellow has q certain advantage when a girl
thinks he is Indifferent thought Jack, but to betray
how much l cared for Laura, and the fact that
was the grandson of a blacksmith at the time
was the act of a consummate Yet couldn't SIT
still and see her suffer- poor little thing how help
less and distressed she looked. Strange that ever
thought Susie French nice girl. She's mean and
spiteful beyond mans comprehension
q beg your pardon, what were you saying?' as
Sally came to a pause evidently expecting him tC
reply
Never mind what was sayin'. 1 don't believe
you've been listeniE' to a word I've said. l expec
was right this mernin about Miss Van Ness's re
fusin YOU You look just like a young man 1 know