Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-11-15
An Awkward Blunder.
BY SOPHIE SWETT.

in her voice. "She has sent me an in
vitation to Il musicale at her house!'
She displayed the card with childish
simplicity. Il think some one must
have told her that love music" she
added, with a doubtful, questioning
glance at her visitors face.
For shadow had fallen upon the
honest-eyed face, as Frances under
stood, in a flash, that it would be diff
cult to explain the mistake.
Difficult! 1t was impossible, she
said to herself, as she caught a culver
of the chin that was cleft at it's peaked
tip by a childish dimple. There was a
suspicion of mistiness about the corn
fower-blue eyes. She did not suspect
the blunder. How should she?
IL want to ask you about your dis
engaged time" faltered Frances. 81
have been trying to bring my mother
here for long time"
Betty became businesslike at once
and brought her mother, who, on con-
that she should have a few days to
spare in the course of the month.
''Of course, might have given the
message about the pink waist" re-
fiected Frances, as she tiecked fly off
her fat pony's back. but was afraid
she would suspect how things were.
She was so pleased! To keep her from
knowing that it was mistake seemed
the one important thing.
The pony was forced to go at a pace
which shook his fat sides and caused
him to turn questioning and re-
proachful eye upon his young mistress,
whose views of life generally conceded
very satisfactorily with his own.
Out on Paradice road, just where the
air begins to be sweet with the locust
trees, Frances met Mildred setting out
with her brother Stanley and his
friend, Lester Wyman. Mildred sent
the young men on ahead, in obedience
to an imperative private gesture from
Frances. and then heard the story
of the dreadful blunder
1T was stupid of me-" said Mildred,
with pucker of her serene brow.
But I don't see how she could have
thought l meant to invite her! How
awkward for you to have to eXplain"
Awkward! J. simply didn't explain.
She was so pleased about the invita-
ton. She thought you must have
heard how fond she was of music.
And l don't think that good times
have ever come much in her way. 1
didn't say n word about your pink
chiffon. thought you would rather
leave it to Providence than to run the
risk of hurting her."
why of course. anything would be
better than to hurt her." said Mildred.
slowly. $50 far as the pink waist
goes, could write to her about it now.
She is perfectly presentable, but wish
it could have happened some other time.
If | had got to make such blunder.
l did want Lester Wyman, who is n
diplomats son and accustomed to the
incest people everywhere, to meet the
very cream of Old Harbor society,"
"She's the very creamiest thing in
the town, so far as looks go, and he
need never know that Il dressmaking
sign hangs out over her door, Give
the girl good time. and don't take
it so hard" said Frances. sagely, as
she touched the fat pony with the whip.
Hey, Betty Martin, tiptoe fine."
The little hard-worked mother gave her
girl playful push toward the long
mirror, and the mirror reflected the
prettiest gown that its experience had
known. 1t was of pale blue silk mus
lin over pale blue silk, and to its girl
ish simplicity was added the indetin-
able quality known as style" The
slip of girl, her blue eyes wide with
a princess-or rather as princess
ought to look and is no more likely to
look than any one else.
But as Betty turned away from the
mirror--away, also from her mothers
eyes-the delight faded suddenly. as a
candle is blown out by the wind, and
the sensitive little peaked chin quiv-
cred with a haunting reccollection of
the expression on Frances Penhallow's
face and the forced tone of ofhereongrat-
ulations. There had been II mistake
made, somehow! 1t was not likely
that Miss Brewster had meant to in
vite her.
She said that to herself mt one mo-
ment, and tried to think the next that
she had grown morbid and fanciful
by much brooding over Frances Pen
hallow's look Of surprise--a look of
surprise, that was all. She had not
known of the invitation. Betty had
not breathed hint of her suspicion
to her mother, whose delight had been
even greater than her own.
II would go, for her sake, over red
hot sharesv' Betty said to her
self. giving little kick to her beauti-
full. shimmerlng, light blue train.
That train was gracefully carried
on the night of the musicale. and so
was the small. ash-colored head only