The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-06-16
THE
Forging Of the
Daisy Chain.

D.
picnic. If the truth were known, Mr..
Travers was pleased to see Miss Mid
dleton sternly packing, for of late she
had seemed to bestow too much of the
honey of her smiles upon a certain
bee Ito give him no worse title) of the
name Of Congreve; and Miss Middle
ton was rejoiced to see Mr.. Travers
pretendiug,to rinse, since she had GER
tain underlined objection to hear his
praises sung by others Of her sex-as
recently.
People entertaining such approx
mate sentiments have no business to
be separated by distance of at least
20 yards. So ct any rate Mr.. Travers
thought, for he left the meadow sweets
that sucked in the eddying stream be-
hind him, and, bearing the cleansed
plates as peace offering in his hand,
approached the lady.
Miss Middleton lifted her eyes out
of hamper, and, preceiving his
humility, smiled.
with fingers weary and worn," he
began, ''and eyelids heavy and red
as you perceive, Miss Middleton-a
man answering to the name of Travers
has been standing in midstrean-
more or less mid on an undeniable
rickety stone for half an hour-tor-
rents foaming about him-fatal plunge
imminent-an has rinsed picnic
plates till he could do no more"
During which time" she asked,
she brokeLhow many?"
'That is hardly generous" said
Mr.. Travers, gravely. ''How many
exactly 1 started with 1 don't remem-
Der. One-I admit it. came to
pieces in my hand, as tho kitchen
maids say. Another l was compelled,
morally and intellectually, to throw
at grasshopper that came mp imper-
tinently to sniff the mayonnaise. A
saucer or two. by nature amphibious,
started down stream. But what would
you? have four here as clean -"
"And 1 gave you H." said Miss
Middleton, sternly.
'It's better than picking daises, 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"
tits no relaxation cleaning things
that don't break" said Mr.. Travers,
discontentedly.
"You intend simply to be idle till
tea?" she asked, scornfully.
''If you think 1 deserve little re-
creation for cleansing all those
plates" he said.
Breaking thcml'
'Let us split the difference and say
Having them"
"You crack joke and a plate in
tho same breath, she said.
''Don't you think might take you
out in that canoe?" he persisted.
''It's rather lato," she said, doubt
fully.
"Ws might find some of the float
ing saucers," ho urged. "Thc grass
hopper got OH one and was plotting it
magnificently."
Dub tauOCo . % uuoilCs
If Miss Maltby would come with ms,
it would be steadier."
This was distinctly unkind refec-
lion on Miss Maltby, whose attrac-
tions, in the opinion of many, were
not detracted from by her weight, Mr..
Traycrs, however, saw light in the
unkindness, and willingly sacrificed a
victim.
"Without i'll any way wishing to
deny the merits of Miss Maltby," he
raid, "she would add more than a
feathcr-weight. 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 con-
structed accordingly, and only hold
two"
''Then thore would not be room for
Mr.. Congreve?" she asked.
81 fancied he was making daisy
chains," said Mr.. Travers.
Now, If Miss Middleton had been
adverse to the voyage, this foolish re-
mark would have left Mr.. Travers soli-
tary. But she was not. She suffered
herself to be constrained-not too
readily. Yet since, when once the
canoe was launched. Mr.. Travers
seemed to sink into abstraction, Miss
Middleton took up the ball. Since
this is the very simplest story, devoid
of incidents or criticism. is sufficient
to say of Miss Middleton's conduct,
''such is life" and to report her re-
marks.
you'll 10 worry careful, won't you?"
she SAIL ''I'm like cat-very
frightened q water"
"What cats avcrse to fish," quoted
Mr.. Travors. irrclevantly. ''That is
II mean-l wouldn't let q drop of
waicr touch you for-what / really
mean is, the canoes perfectly safe. It
would hold Ave- with ease"
~ thought that the Choctaws-"
limited Miss Middleton well pleased
with herself.
''Oh. yes, that's all nonsense" he
raid. distractcdly. II should say 1
am talking nonsense now. What l