River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-06-05
MI vi Der
THTR 7 ZEN
By Hon. Mary Cavendish

fully weIl,' remarked Lady AL
Ienbury, gazing around her stall co,n-
placentIy. Except that terrible,
dreadful tea-cosy." She waved a
much-jeweled hand at the offending
article, and the girl nearest to her
laughed lightly.
Its truly awful, Aunt Janet" she
replied, feelingly.
And it was. On a groundwork
of khaki satin was embroidered a
resplendant union-jack, underneath
was a group, chiefly in scarlet, OF
Soldiers of the King" At least SO
ran the legend underneath the odd
little figures. Otherwise they might
have been confused with the inhaDl-
tants of some antediluvian ark.
Lady Allenbury gave little de-
spairing sigh.
"The duchess worked it herself"
she said, turning to her niece beside
her. "And none will buy it, and she Ii
be so hurt. What shall we do with
it, Dorothy"
Il should rattle it," replied the girl,
rather indifferently.
She did not seem to be finding the
bazaar very amusing. She was
pretty, fragile-looking girl, with
delicate pink color, and a pair of blue
eyes with dark shadows underneath
them.
Lady Allenbury heaved another
sigh, this time of relief.
"The very thing" she exclaimed.
''Wi1l you take it round, darling? Let
me see, you must have some one to
go with you to bother the people.
Oh, there's George Fraser, the very
person. George, come here; L want
you to be very useful"
A good-looking boy in immaculate
white fannels sauntered up lazily.
lie lifted his straw hat with its gun
ner ribbon to Lady Allenbury and the
girls behind the stall. Anything l
can do?" he asked, good-humoredly.
Eyes, there's good boy, and then
! will invite you to tea tomorrow"
Her ladyship seized the offending
work of art. you see this CHASTITY
fea-cosy? We can't sell it, so Dorothy
suggests it should be ratified. You
and she can take it round. You know
my niece, don't you? Mr.. Fraser,
Miss Seton" the last words in the
usual unintelligible humble that
passes for an introduction.
For the first time the boy looked
at the girl who had been standing
behind her aunt's ample form. Her
face had lost little of its delicate
color, and as his eyes met hers he
10 oofi of
surprise. Lady Allenbury observed
the start, but did not see her niece's
fase.
"You know each other already?
that's right" she said, easily. Now
trot off, there's good children, and
don't come back with that abomina-
ton. Twenty-Five shillings, remem-
Der; not penny less, or the duch-
ess will never forgive me-" And she
turned back to the stall under the
happy impression of having reunited
two old friends. He's a dear boy,
George Fraser" she observed to the
two girls who were helping her,
'and he's just come back from the
front. / didn't know he and Dor
othy had met before" She turned
to persuade a stout and apopIectic
looking gentleman that the green
velvet waistcoat, embroidered in pink
silks, would be eminently becoming
to his person.
Both girls were looking after the
retreating figures of Miss Seton and
her companion. Their quick young
ewes had observed what Lady Allen
bury's had not, that Dorothy went
very unwillingly.
The girl in the pink hat was wish
ing that she had had Miss Seton's
chance of spending half an hour with
such an misunderstanding boy. She
would willingly have changed places
with the reluctant Dorothy. The
other girl who knew Dorothy better
was feeling sorry for her. She saw,
without in the least understanding,
s'that some one had blundered," and
guessed that her friend was not en-
loving herself She glanced tender
lv at diamond ring ON her own fin
ger. and thought of its connection
with a man in South Africa. Perhaps
this was why she could sympathize
with Dorothy.
George Fraser found himself en-
braeing an enormous and conspicu-
Gus tea cosy, and walking beside the
one girl he had not expected to meet.
Jolly thing, this" he said, nerv-
ously, clasping the tea cosy little
closer.
1T am glad you admire it," re-
marked Miss Seton, loftily. She
looked straight in front of her.
1t was diseoncerting. He waited
for her to speak next, but when she
cid it was little disappointing.
perhaps we had better invite some
one to take a rattle ticket she sug-
gested. III l,siet, Indifferent tones.
Eyes. Let's try this old lady" His
voice matched hers to perfection in
Its careless indifference. He did not
guess how it hurt her.
They waylaid an elderly lady, who
proved favorable, pronounced the tea
COSY ''too sweet and patriotic for
words" and took three tickets, with
the fervent hope that she might
prove the lucky winner.
"You'ie sure to-" assured George,