Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-03-27
DAISY-CHAlNS.

UAIOI-JnAllNO.
Mr. Travers. pretending to rinse plates
in the River Thames, looked perDetually
toward Miss Daisy Middleton-indus-
1riously engaged in packing dishes. Over
the meadow the rest of the picnic party
was dotted, mainly in pairs, as is pleas
ant to 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 too much of the honey of her
smiles upon a certain bee Ito give bin no
worse title) of the name of C0ngreye; and
Miss Middleton was rejoiced 20 see Mr..
IraVerS pretending to rinse, since she
had a certain underlined objection to hear
his praises sung by others of her seX-as
recently.
People entertaining such approximate
sentiments nave no business to be separ-
ated by distance of at least twenty
yards. SO, at any rate, Mr.. Travers
thought, for he left the meadow sweets
that sucked in the eddying stream be-
hind him, and, bearing the cleaned plates
as a peace offering in his hand, APP
preached the lady.
Miss Middleton lifted her eyes out Of q
hamper, and, perceiving his humility,
smiled.
with fingers weary and worm" he
began, land eyelids neayy and red-as
you perceive, Miss Middleton-a man
answering to the name of TraverS has
been standing in midstream-more or
less mld-on an undeniably rickety stone
for half an hOur-tOrrentS foaming about
hlm-fata1 plunge imminent-and has
rinsed picnic plates till he could no
more
During which time" she asked, she
broke-how many!'
That is hardly generous" said Mr.
Travers, gravely. How many exactly I
started with | misremember. One-I ad-
nit lt-'came to pieces in my hand as
the kitchen maids say. Another l was
compelled, morally and intellectually, to
throw at a grasshopper that came up i'm
pertinently to sniff the mayonnaise. A
saucer or two, by nature amphibious,
started downstream. But what would
you? | have four here as clean"
And [ 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
knivesF' 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 till tea %
sue asked, ScOFul
IF you think L deserve a little recrea-
ton for cleaning all those plates" he
said.
Breaking them?''
'Split the difference and say Having
them"
you crack joke and a plate in the
same BREATH" she said.
Don't you think might take you out
in that canoe?" he persisted.
Its rather late" she said, doubtfully
1--WE might find some Of the floating
saucers,' he urged "The grasshoppeI
got on one and was plotting it magnif
Gently"
But canoes are so unsafe. Perhaps
IL Miss Maltby would come with us, il
would be steadier."
This was a distinctly unkind reflection
on Miss Maltby, whose attractions, in the
opinion OF many We're not detracted from
by her weight. Mr. .Trayers, however, saw
light in the unkindness, and willingly
sacrificed a victim.
without in any way wishing to deny
the merits of Miss Maltby," he said, ''she
would add more than a featherweight
Besides, in adopting an invention like
canoes, from the ChoctaWs, one must
conform to their custom"
(which iS?" asked Miss Middleton.
BASED on the tribal motto-Two'S
company The canoes were constructed
accordingly, and only hold two
linen there would not De TOOu lOl
Mr.. Congreye?" she asked.
Il fancied he was making daisy
chains said Mr. Trayers.
Now, if Miss Middleton had beer
averse to the voyage this foolish remark
would have left Mr.. Travers solitary
But she was not. She suffered herself
to be constraned-not too readily. YET
since, when once. the canoe was launched
Mr.. Travers seemed to sink into abstrac
ton, Miss Middleton took up the ball
Since this is the very simplest story, de
void of incident or criticism, it is sufficen
to say of Miss Middleton's conduct
Such is life," and to report her remarks
You'll be careful won't your she
said. I'm like cat-very frightened Of
wafer"
"What cats averse to fish" quoted Mr.
Trayers. irrelevantly. That isl NEAR
4 wouldn't let d drop of water touch
you for-what / really mean is, the
caroe's perfectly safe. 1t would hold
five with ease"
Il thought that the Ckoctaws -
limited Miss Middleton, well pleased will
herself
ION, yes that's all nonsense" ne said
diStractedly. Il should say I'm talking
nonsense now. What | meant was tina
If i've people were in it, it couldn't bt
safer
cit does sound rather nonsense, sale
Miss Middleton, numerically.
1t is not clear why maidens at these
critical times are SO much more apt t.
keep their heads than are men. Mr.
Travers thought it hard dispensatior
OF nature and sought refuge from hi:
distraction by jogging the canoe.
Aren't we shaking terribly| asked
Miss Middleton
Not at ALL" he answered.
Canoes seem SO very frail, she eX
planned.
"A girl I knew said Mr.. Travers
thoughtfully, used to tell me that sh'
was quite nervous until she had tried ;
canoe, but in the end she thought then
otherwise. She even wanted to get en-
gagged in a canoe
did you CRAFTY her wish?' asked
Miss Middleton, with rush of dignity