The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-09-28

in you, Ethel"
"You mistaken in mel" Ethels eyes
filed with tears. swell, I'm horribly
disappointed in you. You needn't
think I'd have danced with you all
through the Pageant if had dreamed
you'd act like this. I only wish Mrs.
Hackett hadn't promised to give it
again tomorrow night"
"Well, you needn't worry about that!
You won't have to dance with me again.
l won't be in the Pageant tomorrow
night-not if it spells the whole
thing
"Why, Stella Bird! Think how Mrs.
Hackett will feel!"
II can't help that!"
"Well, if you don't come, won't
either-that's ALL
"Suit yourself about that" said Stel-
la, IN most provoking way, as she
drew on her cloak and went away to
find her father.
After breakfast, next morning, Stella
Bird was walking down the street in
very unhappy frame of mind, when
Ethel passed, driving her fathers
horse. Mamie White was with her and
neither of the girls saw Stella, who
went on with bitter, sighted feelings
in her heart. She wished she had not
said she wouldn't be in the Pageant
that night, for, to her dismay, her
mother had not sympathized at all
about the quarrel with Ethel, and had
quite insisted that Mrs. Hackett should
not be disappointed in that way.
AS Stella was walking slowly back
from town, a half hour later, she saw
little Neddie Baker running toward
her as fast as his feet could go.
"a tur'ble accident, Stella!" he cried,
his eyes wide with horror, runaway
an smash-up, down here at the rail-
road crossing! Train ran into the car
rage an threw 'em out!"
"Who?" cried Stella.
"Oh, both of 'em-but she's hurt
worse! Oh, it's awful" he almost
sobbed. ".An' she was the prettiest one
of 'em all, last night"
lis it very bad?" she asked, but Ned
was rusing on.
"'Fraid so," he called back. "Blood
all over her face. Can't stop now-I'm
on an errand for the DOCTOR"
Stella gave one Mortified glance up
the street at the crowd gathering in
front of Mr.. Douglas cottage. Then
she turned with a great sob, and ran al
most as fast as Neddie had gone, down
the walk that Led to Mrs. Hackett's
house.
"Oh, Mrs. Hackett!" she cried, brust-
ing into the sunny room where that
lady sat comfortably reading her
morning paper. 'Oh, Mrs. Hackett!"
and down she went on her knees,
with her head in Mrs. Hackett's lap.
"Why, Stella, child" began Mrs.
Hackett, kindly, but her quiet man.
ner changed, as Stella tried to tell
her what had happened. "Come,
dear, comet" she cried. 'It may not be
as serious as Neddie thought. Well
go over and see."
She rose, gently lifting Stella's tear
stained face, but Stella only dropped
her head into the empty chair and
went on weeping.
II can't go!" she sobbed. "Oh, Mrs.
Hackett, you don't know-I've been so
wicked to her!"
At that instant came another rush
OF steps, another bursting open of
the door and another breathless girl
with frightened face.
"Oh, Mrs. Hackett!" began Ethel,
and there she stopped short, and stood
like statue at sight of Stella, kneel-
ing there.
But there was not much of the
statue about Stella. At first sound
of that voice she sprang to her feet.
ethel Douglas, you're alive!" she
screamed.
"Oh, Stella, I thought it was you
in that accident! Ned Baker said
sol"
And then they rushed into each
others arms and laughed and cried
and promised everything, and "took
back everything" all at once, while
Mrs. Hackett stood and wondered
what it was all about.
Before she had wondered MANY min
utes, though, Ned Bakers Oldest
brother dropped in, long enough to
tell them that it was little Lottie
Page, one of the fairy Raindrops in
the Pageant, who was injured. "But
it isn't serious" he added. '.Mr. Doug
las says she's scratched up badly, but
not in danger. You ought to have
seen Ned, poor little fellow! He
thought she was killed. and you know
his devotion to little Lottie Page is
regular neighborhood joke"
That evening everyone, except Ned
Baker. thought the Pageant even
more beautiful than the night before.
After it was all over, Ethel and
Stella sat on trunk together in the
dressing-room. Each had an immense
bouquet labeled: For the Prettiest
Girl in the Pageant" and each was
counting the roses in the bunch she
held.
"Seventy-fve," said Ethel, finally.
Nov what would eastern people
think of that?"
"Seventy-five," finished Stella at
the same instant. That's what we
get by living in the land of sun
shine" Then she added, honestly:
Il wish, Ethel, that yours had been
more or nicer, because you are the
prettiest girl in the Pageant, any
way!"
'Oh, Stella I'm not! You're the
prettiest, and the dearest, and the
"Tisn't sol" pipes small voice. so
close behind them that it made them
start. Either of you isn'tl It's