The Coconino sun., 1901-07-20

a disappointed pout. "Goodness! benzie, thought you'd do better by the commit tee tan that"
 Farmer Robins waltzed his wife twice around the room before he answered; then he said, gravely: "The Fourth of July speech for Smithville is a secret as deep as the foundations of freedom, but" strik- ing an attitude, "it will reveal itself about two o'clock p. m. on that day, and don't you forget it."
 "N-o," she said, brightening and hesi- tating. She was puzzled at the triumph written all over her husbands face in great, sunshiny capitals. But once more satis- fled with Benzie's planning, though she could not say why, she turned away and left him writing to beat everything.
 The Fourth of July dawned up the east ern rim, and flashed to the zenith for Smithville, as usual, but it was not des- tined to go a-westering quite so "usual' as heretofore.
 The two anvils and the one little brass cannon, a relic of the sixties and a rib of the majors oration, had done their duty in jubilating and were left to the silence of the deserted streets, while the crowds had disappeared in the direction of the grove, as the weather was flair"
 The subcommittees had worked faithfully, and the picnic grounds were spic and span with new seats, stands and a score of con veniences, not dreamed of hitherto. The most noticeable of these was the speakers stand, profusely draped in bunting and guarded well at the corners by the stars and stripes. There was plenty of room for the Smithville band, and the head commit tee back of the speakers chair, which was draped in the American colors.
 But busy and jolly as everybody seemed to be, they remarked the fact that Benzie Robins did not appear. Had the commit tee Quarreled? Had the two sleek grocers snubbed the big-hearted farmer? No one could tell, unless it was the committee, and it was as reticent and solemn as an oyster.
 About noon, however, it leaked out that Farmer Robins had high-toned company from the city, and could not be present until afternoon; then he was coming to the speech, bringing his company with him.
 A little before two o'clock, and when the band had disposed itself on the platform, and was beginning a series of little mu- sical toots to call the people together, Ben zie Robins and his aristocratic company came out to the grounds.
 My cousin and my cousins husband" he observed, with high-born flourish, intro ducing the strangers to the committee. The splinter new rustling silk of Mrs. Rob- ins and the shimmering satin of the cousin augured anything but a hayseed addition to the elite of Smithville. Then there was no other way than to invite the third member of the committee and his party up on the platform.
 Mrs. Robins reddened visibly under the ordeal of being thrust before the public, but the visitors took their respective places with an ease of manner to be coveted.
 But Benzie, the man of plan, fairly outdid himself in his new tailor-made suit and soft, foppish hat as he strutted around on the honorcd boards, very affable and very con- descending. somehow, for Benzie.
 The committee could not quite make it out. Perhaps he was ashamed of having "funked," and now meant to make up for lost time. Small matter, however; they had had their way to a dot, and Mai. Dow ling was safely seated in the speakers chair. It was everything to them to have bossed the job, and Benzie was welcome to strut, if he chose.
 After the prayer had been offered by the chaplain and wonderful solo rendered by the singer of Smithville, the chairman of the committee arose and said "the speaker hardly needed an introduction, but was here, and would now favor the people with an address,"
 The major came to the front and begged to differ with the honorable committee" and then introduced Hon. A. P. Bishop, of Andover college, as speaker of the day."
 The committee stared with open-mouthed astonishment at the sudden collapse of their programme. "How in thun-? What in the ma? Who in the dev-?" and their ex- cited vision focused on the third mem. Der. But he was listening intently to the major, who would "add another word be- fore he sat down. I am glad," he said, in a concentrated way, "that God has so