The Republican journal., 1901-10-31
HELEN DUNN's M1cRoBE PARTY.
PART 1,

past three O'Clock"
The Pussy Willow Club was made up
of dozen girls, all cronies in Miss
Anderson's school. They met once
week to read history. For each meet
ing the girl who had charge of the pro-
gram selected her own reading matter
It might be English, French, Roman or
even Chinese history; a chapter from
book or clippings from newspaper.
That was what made it so delightful,
Mabel King said. Every meeting was
surprise.
Parents and teachers shook their
heads over this sad onglomeration, and
advised the girls to tie themselves down
to something, though it were nothing
more than the history of Plainfeld.
Miss Green, the English literature
teacher, even prepared special lecture
for the girls on systematic reading.
Everyone knew that it was aimed at the
of no avail.
l have not told you the best part Of
the Pussy Willow Club. Once month
during the entire year each member was
required to give little afternoon COM
pany, to which only the members of the
club were invited, and the entertain
ment must be something novel every
time
Great was the planning for these par
ties, of which the form of entertain
ment must be kept secret The mammaS,
auntieS, and cousins were anXiOuSly
consulted but not often the brothers;
for it is sad to relate that Bertha Will
lis brother Ned once confided to Anna
Davis brother Will Bertha's secret. Of
course the girls tried their best to ap-
pear surprised when the Necklace Party
came off, but quick-witted Bertha could
not be deceived.
Will Davis did not give Ned Willis
away, and so the affair bade fair to
break up the club, until Ned had the
measles and confessed TO Bertha the
day he broke out and felt he might die.
Since then brothers have been gingerly
treated in the way of consultation.
"a Microbe Party'' said Will Davis
to Anna, when he had read the invita-
ton. Helen has got the best of you
girls this time. Wonder which she in
tends to send you home with, chicken
pox or scarlet fever?"
Anna did not pay any attention to
him. She put on her hat and went across
the street to Gertrude Pillsbury's, to
see what she had made out of Helen's
invitation.
Gertrude was as puzzled as Anna;
and so she, too, put on her hat, and they
both walked up the hill to Betty Rice's.
Betty had never heard of Microbe
Party, and if Betty had not there was
no use of asking any one else, for
Betty's cousins in New York kept her
informed of all the latest fangles.
''It is not very elegant name for a
party" said Betty, twisting the rings
on her slim little fingers, "but then it is
quite like Helen.''
''It is quite like Helen to have some
thing bright and unusual" replied Ger
trude Pillsbury, tartly. Professor
Preble says she has the best head of
any girl in school,
''She needs it, said Betty airily, "a
girl in Helen's position
Gertrude's eyes snapped and sharp
retort rose to her lips; but there, what
was the use? Betty would only look
shocked at such i'll manners and twist
her rings little more.
Gertrude and Anna walked home to-
gether. puzzling over Betty's strange
attitude toward Helen, and wondering
why Betty was so cranky" nowadays.
they had dreamed that ever since Helen
came to live with Mrs Haskell, two
years before, she had been the Mordecai
at Betty Rice's gate.
Betty lived all alone with her grand
mother Mrs. Bruce, in the great old
fashioned mansion on Bruce's Hill.
The house was set in the midst of
beautiful grounds, where there were
lovely walks and drives and lake with
swans. There were all sorts of rustic
summer houses, a tennis court, and
croquet grounds, and Betty could have
had golf links of her very own if she
had so desired. No wonder that the
girls loved to go to Betty's.
Betty was a pretty, sweet-tempered
girl, always ready for good time, and
always with box of chocolate almonds
on hand. Betty reigned queen of Miss
Anderson's girls.
But one day slim, dark-eyed girl
with long braids of dusky hair and
straight and 1.-the as an Indian maiden,
appeared in the seat in front of Anna
Davis; and that was the beginning of
the end of Betty's reign.
All the girls thought she must be
new girl from the city. She had such a
distinguished air, and her simple blue
serge suit had quite a Partisan fit.
Betty treated Helen-for that was the
SiAi w CiiOCOldtC dlHOiIOo a.
recess, and drew from her the strange
information that she had come to live
with old Mrs. Haskell, whose small
white cottage stood just across the
street from the entrance of Betty's
grandmothers grounds.
After school Betty thought she would
walk home with Helen, who was already
surrounded by four other girls, who had
declared their intention of walking with
her. Helen told the girls about Califor-
MIA, where she had lived for some time,
and Betty listened as eagerly as the
others; for she did not then know what
the future had in store for her.
In few days the girls knew Helen's
history. Miss Anderson told Gertrude
Pillsbury's mother that Mrs. Haskell's
sister had found Helen taking care of
her sick mother in a small boarding
house in San Francisco. Before Mrs.
HaskelPs sister left San Francisco the
sick mother died
Helen had no one to go to and was
left almost penniless. Her sweetness
and strong character had so endeared
her to Mrs. HaskelPs sister that she
brought her East with her, and found
her home with Mrs. Haskell
Helen was anxious to give music les
sons to children to help pay for her tut
tion at Miss Anderson's school.
hn Of ho