The Elbert County tribune., 1899-11-16

ed. preparations began for the outing
Saturday, July l, was an ideal day.
Gathered in the union station in the
early morning. only Emily Hastings
and her escort were missing. Five
minutes before train time Edward Aus
tin, breathless, came up to the anxious
group with the news that Miss Hast
ings was i'll and could not go.
Nothing serious" he assured
them. Miss Hastings sends a thou
sand regrets and asks that we fill the
program without her.
1t was a gay party in spite OF the
disappointing fact that Mr.. Austin
was a bit of overplus. community prop
erty. The swift. laundering train;
the jaunty picnic wagon. trailing its
cloud OF dust; the silence Of the wood
ed banks OF the Notwithstanding
was lost to the senses OF the group.
left at last to themselves. while the
wagon numbered back to Riverside,
FIVE miles away.
Don't forget TO come for US in
time for the o'clock train," young
Austin had impressed on the driver.
and with his disappearance hammocks
were swung for the lazy ones. while
the naturalists, in pairs. wandered at
will.
Basket opening at 1 o'clock was to
be a feature of the outing. Under a
spreading elm grassy spot was
cleared.
who has the linen?" called Eva
Best. who. In the absence OF Emily
Hastings, took the lead.
Here" and Anna Hunt opened the
hamper In which pile of snowy nap
cry lay banked. Nothing else was
there. With the opening of the one.
others turned to their baskets unsus-
pectIngly. 1t was surprise. in fact.
One basket had only knives. forks,
spoons. pepper. salt. and the etceteras
Of the ordinary table. Another had
only dishes. On down the list the
baskets were opened upon only table
paraphernalia--on until Blanche Field
ings hamper yielded the first edible
things in the party-plckles, mustard,
Worcestershire sauce. and one full
quart of vinegar.
But there are lots OF pickles." said
Blanche, breaking the long, breathless
silence that fell on the party. Some
body burst into shrek of laughter,
the keynote of the spirit in which all
day long the members of the party
tasted, save as their teeth were put on
edge by pickles.
Never speak of 1t to Miss Hastings
mind" was Blanch Fielding's parting
Injunction. as. tired and hungry, they
separated at the Union station that
night. "And really, we have had q
lovely time"
Not every one assented to this. but
1t was noticeable that Herbert Wins
low did SO emphatically. Less than
week ago this emphasis had a new
meaning for the members OF the group
who marked it. 1t was brought about
from the results of a tete-a-tete in
the Fielding's front parlor, during
which Herbert Winslow had turned
nervously back and forth on the piano
stool.
did you know" he said huskily.
I've been thinking a good deal OF
that picnic OF late"
Il hope you don't let that bother
you," she replied evenly, as IL she
did not know what was coming.
Worry mel" he repeated. You
don't understand-that was the happi-
est day Of my life. I've been wonder
ing ever since why-as we could be SO
happy for one day on pickle and mus
tard diet-why we couldn't be happy
always in home that had better and
more varied bill of fare?"
She was thrusting the golden point
OF scarf pin into the brocaded sur
face OF settee. regardless of the dam
age that she was doing.
Blanche" he said. appealingly.
She looked up and let him read the
answer in her eyes.