Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-09-18

seen to exchange glances, for 1t was
quite well known in the village that the
eldest son OF the Widow jenkins had
been refused by Miss Rebecca the week
before he married Marindy Flint.
BY this time, although no vote had
been taken, il was plainly demonstrat-
ed that Miss Rebecca Ely was I be
summarily relegated to the ranks OF
the elderly unmarried ladies Of PIN
lico.
The presidents heroic face fairly
beamed. Despite the readiness with
which the sisters Of the sewing society
always responded TO her calls, she had
counted on some opposition. Miss
Blythe was popular young woman.
well" she said with self-satisfied
smile, Mrs. Tracy an me talked IL
all over some days ago, an we decided
then that Miss Becky has been behav-
in like a -. in her teens long enough,
an we are going to give her a hint she
can't help takin'. Squire Larkin's sis
ter, Jane Best, has a stepson a-comin'
here to visit the squire: an the squire's
wife bein' but poorly, she wants we
an the girls TO get up party for him.
| don't know whether you've ever
heard Mis- Larkin speak o DR.. Sum
merton. He comes from out west, an
"a. 10 .fg9t fThats ha l..
doin' real well out west. Bette an
Evvie are goin' to give a big dance fer
him In theirpa's new barn Thanksgiyln'
night. Ali the young peoples to get
invites tomorrow; but just told the
girls TO leave out Miss Becky, an they
done So"
IL guess Miss Becky's pretty apt to
tex a hint. Becky amt been much OF
a fool ez ! kin see" This time II was
the owner OF the musical scissors who
spoke. "Well, good land alive! II there
amt Miss Becky herself a-comin' right
in; an she's got a strange man await
in fer her at the gate. Wonder who
II can bel"
And then Miss Rebecca Blythe came
in, looking happy and rosy, and not a
day over 25. She wore trim winter
coat, and two bright yellow wings
were sticking straight up in the little
jaunty felt hat that perched dehantly
above the wind-blown waves Of Miss
Rebecca's shining black hair.
81 can't stay to-day" she announced.
~ am sorry, for | know how much
there is TO be done; and mother was
not well enough to come. But. you
know, Squire Larkin has nephew just
come to town to spend the holidays.
We did not know him; but II seems he
met brother Tom out west, and so he
came to see us as soon as he had seen
his uncle and aunt. Nothing would do
but that must take him around this
afternoon to see his old friends"
Mrs. Parkinson's face was a study.
She said nothing; but Miss Flint had
malicious light in her eye as she asked;
"What air ye goin' to do. Becky, on
Thanksgiyin'?"
at is our turn to go to Sister Mar
tha'S this year. Wen take the train in
the morning you know, and come back
the next day"
Then Miss Rebecca laughed merrily,
as she added: "Oh, just let me tell you
Brother Tom actually made that man
promise TO spend Thanksgiving with
Sister Martha to taste her cake. You
know what a famous cake-maker Mar
tina always has been. But must hurry
away. You all look SO coy in here, and
so Industrious; II makes me feel quite
good for nothing"
Miss Blythe left; and hush fell up
on the assembly
Then there was rush for the win
dow. Various complimentary remarks
were made about the personal appear
ance OF the doctor from the west, and
few uncomplimentary things said
about the deep-laid scheme Of his de-
signing companion. These last did
Miss Rebecca great injustice; for she
had never even heard Of the existence
OF the doctor from the west, until his
entrance into her
fathers house an hour before.
Mrs. Parkinson and the meek-look-
ing lady scorncd TO put themselves
out" by going to the window for peep
at Miss Dlythe's gallant escort The
announcement regarding the diSposi-
tion Of the village guest on Thanks
giving had so broken into the plans Of
the good president that ama1emert
and indignation stilled her voice; but
there was heightened color in her
cheeks, and the accelerated speed OF
her needle told It's own story.
The meeting adjourned at an earlier
hour than usual, much TO the relief OF
he ladies. On the whole, the afternoon
had been an uncomfortable one.
But Mrs. Parkinson did not acknowl-
edge defeat Early the following morn
ing she ran in" to consult with Mrs
Tracy one OF her stanch supporters
As result Of this conference the
Thanksgiving dance aspostponed for
several days. and the doctor received
an invitation, which, however, he did
not accept. The young people on their
way to the party saw him walking
with rapid strides in the direction OF
Deacon Wythe's; and II was known
that Miss Rebecca had new silk waist
and a large knot otpink ribbon for her
hair.
That was only the beginning. Alet-
forts TO entice the young man from