River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-05-22

as she rubbed she sang TuuHluS rag
time tunes and other airs together
in tumble that would have set Wag-
ner-worshiper wild.
kitty ely has a heart
Warns a cup Of tea,
Big as any sweet potato
Down in Tennessee"
She sang so loud that she did not
hear the gate slam nor the knock at
the door, so the gentleman outside
had a good look at her as she perched
there in the fame-cOlOred negl1gee
with it's foamy ruffles, and her blonde
hair waved fluffy above her brow.
One little foot was on a step of the
ladder, but the other swung over the
side and kept a sort of pendulum time
to the song she sang. The one at rest
was decOrously clad in hose and slip
per, but this other wilful vagrant was
covered only with it's stocking, having
kicked off the scarlet slipper in its
efforts to keep up with the changes
of tune and time. The dropped slip
per lay on the carpet at the foot of
the ladder On the whole she made
perfectly fascinating picture, and the
man outside did not scruple to look
his fill for the door was wide open
and the bookcase not dozen feet away
across the hall.
Scan she make cherry pie, Billy-boy,
Blly-boy?"
She was beginning again, putting in
an extra trill for pure wantonness of
sound; and so he piled the knocker
once more, this time with his muscle
in evidence. She heard and turned,
I and the notes died instantly and a look
of horror came into her face. Then
with an agile leap she reached the floor
and sped up the stairs like an eXer-
cised spirit of song, leaving the man
staring after her in disappointed sur
prise. A minute later a servant came
down the hall and on the silver tray
the man laid card bearing the name
''Perry Rainier"
els Miss Ewing at home?"
"Walk in and / will see, sir"
''He waited impatiently, anxious to
see how Miss Ewing would comport
herself after the ladder episode; but
the servant, returning, said:
mot in, sir"
For moment he was conscious of
a keen disappointment, then smiled
pleasantly under his mustache, telling
himself that confused mOdesty held
her back. What girl of right feeling
would care to face an entire stranger
Immediately after such an undigni-
fed exhibition of her powers as a
sprinter? But he had his small re-
venge, for, following the maid to the
door, he stopped and, surreptitiously
picking up the little red slipper, thrust
it into his pocket.
He was on his way to the west on
matter of vital Importance for one of
his clients and he had stopped off for
day at this little Tennessee city to
meet Helen Ewing. Bob Bradley had
arranged it, for it had long been Bob's
pet scheme to make a match between
Rainer and his cousin Helen.
After his call Rainier returned to his
hotel and waited for circumstances to
shape his course. He had never felt
any special interest in Helen before
despite Bob's eulogiums; but a mer-
ry-hearted girl like that golden-headed
IAN hour later he received a note.
Dear Mr.. Rainer-I am sorry to have
missed you this afternoon. Your visit was
a great surprise. Unfortunately I am en-
gagged for a dinner, but some of our young
bachelors are giving dance afterwards a.
the club house. Be sure and come; shall
save you several dances. Sincerely yours,
HELEN EWING"
With the note was a card to the
dance, so Rainier went. But he looked
in vain for the blonde girl who had
made such an Offering of song to the
lamented Shakespeare. Instead, there
came to meet him tall, dark girl with,
a rather eNpressionless face She
asked many questions of Bob, made
polite inquiry as to his journey west,
danced with him and introduced him
to several pretty girls. On the whole
the evening passed very pleasantly,
though Rainier felt none of the heart
STRINGS that Bob had foretold. Just
before parting he asked casually:
What young lady in your house,
Miss Ewing, sings popular songs with
the abandonment of professionals"
Il really do not know. The house
is full of girls and all of them sing.
l do wish you would join our party
for few days; we would do our ut
most for your pleasure
He thought of the red slipper in his
room, of the airy trills and runs of
song, of the round white arms left
bare by the flowing sleeves, and moth
ing but the urgency of his errand
forced him TO decline the invitation.
III the early fall Bob met him with