The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-08
Daisy-Chains.


ant 10 look upon at picnic. II the
| truth were known. Mr.. Travers was
! pleased TO see Miss Middleton sternly
| packing, for of late she had seemed to
bestow toe much OF the honey of her
smiles upon a certain bee Ito give him
no worse title), of the name of Con-
| grove, and Miss Middleton was rejeiced
| to see Mr.. Travers pretending to rinse
| since she had a certain underlined objec-
| ton to hear his praises sung by others of
| her sex-as recently
People entertaining such approximate
| sentiments have no business to be sepa-
rated by distance Of at least twenty
yards. So. at any rate, Mr.. Travers
| thought, for he left the meadow sweets
hind him, and, bearing the cleaned
| plates as a peace offerings IN his hand,
| approached the lady.
| Miss Middleton lifted her eyes out of
| a hamper. and, perceiying his humility
smiled.
With fingers weary and worn he be-
! gan, and eyelids heavy and red-as you
| perceive, Miss Middleton-a man answer
| ing to the name of Travers has been
| standing in mid-streafn-more or less mid
| ON an undeniably rickety stone for half
| an hour-torrents foaming about him
fatal plunge imminent-and has rinsed
picnic plates till he could no more"
During which time ashe asked, "he
| broke-how many?''
That is hardly generous" said Mr.
Travers, gravely. How many exactly
l started with I disremember. One-I ad-
NIT it-'came to pieces in my hand as
the kitchen maids say. Another I was
compelled, morally and Intellectually, to
throw at grasshopper that came up i'm
pertinently to sniff the mayonnaise. 4
saucer or two, by nature amphibious,
| started down stream. But what would
you? 1 have four hear as Clean
And 1 gave you eleven" said Miss
Middleton. sternly.
IT'S better than picking daisies, like
Congreve,' said Mr.. Travers. slyly.
Would you like to clean some
knives?' she asked, willing TO change
the subject They don't break so easily,
and we shall want some for tea
Its no relaxation cleaning things that
don't break" said Mr.. Travers, discon-
tentedly.
You intend simply to be idle toll tea?'
she asked, scornfully.
IF you think 1 deserve a little recre-
alton for cleaning al those plates" he
said.
Breaking themr'
Split the difference and say LAYING
them"
You crack a joke and plate in the
same BREATH she said
Don't you think l might take you out
in that cancer" he persisted.
ITS rather late she said, doubtfully.
1--WE might find some of the floating
saucers,'' be urged. The grasshoppers
got on one and was plotting it magnifi-
Gently
cut canoes are SO unsafe. Perhaps. If
Miss Maltby would come with US, it
would be steadier.''
This was distinctly unkind reflection
on Miss Maltby, whose attractions, in the
opinion of many, were not detracted from
by her weight. Mr.. Travers, however,
saw light in the unkindness, and willing
ly sacrificed victim.
without in any way wishing to deny
the merits of Miss Maltby," he said, "she
would add more than a feather weight.
Besides, in adopting an invention like
canoes, from the Choctaws, one must
conform to their custom"
which is?" asked Miss Middleton.
BIASED on the tribal motto-'Two's
company The canoes were constructed
accordingly, and only hold two"
Then, there would not be room for
Mr.. Congreve?" she asked.
II fancied he was making daisy
chains" said Mr.. Travers.
Now, if Miss Middleton had been averse
to the voyage this foolish remark would
have left Mr.. Travers solitary. But she
was not. She suffered herself to be con-
strained-not too readily. Yet since, when
once the canoe was launched, Mr.. Trav-
ers seemed to sink into, abstraction, Miss
Middleton took up the ball. Since this is
the very simplest story, devoid Of Incl
dent or criticism, it is sufficient to say
of Miss Mfddleton's conduct. such is
life," and to report her remarks.
You'll be careful won't your" she
said. I'm like a cat-very frightened Of
water"
What cats averse to fish, quoted
Mr.. Travers, irrelevantly. That isl
meant wouldn't let a drop of water
touch you for-what I really mean is,
the canoes perfectly safe. 1t would hold
five with ease"
Il thought that the Choctaws-"
limited Miss Middleton. well pleased with
herself.
"Oh, yes, that's all nonsense" he said,
distractedly. Il should say I'm talking
nonsense now. What l meant was that
if five people were in it, it couldn't be
safer
1T does sound rather nonsense" said
Miss Middleton, numerically.
1t is not clear why maidens at these
critical times are so much more apt TO
keep their heads than are men. Mr..
Tavers thought it a hard dispensation OF
nature, and sought refuge from his dis
traction by jogging the canoe.
Aren't we shaking terribly" asked
Miss Middleton.
Not at ALL" he answered.
Canoes seem so frail." she explained
"A girl l knew" said Mr.. Travers
thoughtfully, used to tell me that she
was quite nervous until she had tried q
canoe, but in the end she thought them
otherwise. She even wanted to get engag-
ed in \ canoe|'
Did you crafty her wish?" asked Miss
Middleton with rush Of dignity.
The girl was my mother, you know
said Mr.. Travers, seeming a mistake.
1T was a reminiscence of hers. She was
wondering how 1 should some day
yes. yes-don't you think we ought to
be going back" asked Miss Middleton.
7 should ike 70 know your opinion
of a boat as a popping placer" ne per
sisted.
But you would not approve Of a ca
noe?" he asked.
TT would rock SO terribly" she said.
why should It rock?"
Suppose. sch said. "the man wanted
TO 90 down on his knees-just % emphs-
size his wishes-that would set It rolling
20 begin with"
Mr.. Travers was willing 10 entertain
that StIpDositiOn.
Then. suppose the girl said 'No?'"
M Travers preferred not u suppose
anything unpleasant.
.-stil. Il she did" said Mss Middleton.
"the man would start I'D n a very bad
temper ard BEGIN stamping about
Mr.. Travers vas positive that no man
would be guilty % sucn conduct Mise
Middleton failed 20 see row Nj Travers
could answer for rnea fl genera Nr
TrAvers admitted THAI he wss thinking
Of q particular case, which caused Miss
Middleton 10 20 on hastily:
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