Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-09-14

q dressmaker n the house lately.
I'VE always do our own sewing"
said Mrs. Mordaunt. "Jessie can ut q
dress as well as Madam Mondini her
SELF"
"But for such very, very important
occasion as this" smirked Miss Are
thusa.
1--WE never have any important occa-
sions," laughed Jessie. Look, Miss
Blythe; do you think my pansy Is as
deep purple as the originate
And when the three old maids had ut
last taken their departure, Jessie
looked at her mother In amazement,
mingled with mirth.
Mamma" said she, "what do those
old women meanw
II think, DEAR" said Mrs. Mordaunt,
'that they are the least bit unsettled
In their minds-just little crazy, you
know"
And the Misses Blythe went away,
exchanging mysterious glances and
whispering to each other
"They cannot deceive u.s."
The Misses Blythe told everybody
they could think of-ayways In strict
confidence, Of course. Everybody re-
peated 1t to everybody else, and by Fri
day evening the train to Walkley Sta
ton was full.
To Miss Betsey Blythe's infinite dis
appointment, the Smith house, pref
ty. old-fashioned mansion with pillar
ed front, garden full Of clipped box
monstrosities, was not lighted up after
any extraordinary fashion. Mrs. Smith,
Harold's mother, dimpled old lady in
a white lace cap and cleaning gold
spectacle-glasses, was knitting, half
asleep, when the three Misses Blythe
were ushered in, followed by a crowd
of other acquaintance.
"Oh," said she, rubbing her eyes to
make sure that 1t was not a dream,
this is a surprise party, is it? I'm
sure I'm delighted to see you! Only
it's pity Harry isn't at homer
my good SOUL" said Miss Arethusa
Blythe, shaking her finger, ''it's no use
trying to deceive us. We know all
about it!'
"All about what?" said Mrs. Smith.
about the weddingv' cried out the
company in chorus.
Whose wedding?' demanded Mrs.
Smith.
"Why, Harold's, to be surev they re-
sponded.
But Harold isn't going to be mar
ried," said Mrs. Smith. "He isn't even
engaged! Good gracious! What can
have put such thing into peoples
heads?"
Its the telegram" said Miss Pane.
Ia.
II don't know what you are talking
about" said Mrs. Smith, in despair.
well, If you won't believe me, you
will, perhaps, believe your own eyes,"
said Miss Betsey Blythe with dignity
as she drew the telegram from her
pocket, and carefully Strengthening out
its creases, held it up before Mrs.
Smiths spectacle glasses.
Dear mew cried Mrs. Smith, ut last
comprehending little of this curious
network Of cross-purposes. Its Bella
Smiths big dollw
what" cried Miss Arethusa, Miss
Pamela, and Miss Betsey, in chorus.
"Whatw more wildly echoed the rest
of the assemblage, crowding eagerly
around.
"Mrs. Helena Smiths little daughter,
across the street." explained Mrs.
Smith. Its her birth-night party, and
an immense doll dressed as a bride was
forwarded by express this afternoon.
saw 1t myself-a perfect beauty, with
veil and wreath, white satin boots, but
toned by knobs of pearl and long wrist
ed white kid gloves, entirely complete!
And you thought--you really imagined
that my Harold was going to be mar
ried secretly. and had telegraphed to
New York for his BRIDE"
The old lady broke out into a fit of
soft, understanding laughter, which
shook her as if she had been a mould
of jelly. Everybody else laughed. ex-
cept the three Misses Blythe. They
only looked blank.
But, now that you're here" added
hospitable Mrs. Smith, you'll stay to
tea, all of you? But you must! The
down train don't leave until ten, and
you'll he half starved now that there is
no wedding feast for you. Oh, insist
upon your staying to tea"
The biggest teakettle in the house
was put over to boil, at once; seven
pounds of coffee were put into the pot,
and the maids ran, one to the muffin
and-crumpet store and cake bakery,
the other to the oyster stand, which,
luckily, was not vet shut up for the
night. And kind Mrs. Smith enter
tanned her guests with fracious polite
ness.
But there was no wedding and no
bride, except little Nelly Smiths wax
bride across the street; and the three
Misses Blythe went back to New York,
sadder and wiser women.
And that was. perhaps. the most de-
sirable result; they resolved to adhere
thenceforth, to the eleventh command
ment.
A sleep-WaIking Recruits Danger
Gus Freak.