Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1902-07-24

| Elizabeth. carved N old Engll-h
across the top Of the lid, and all those
adorable little compartments, az
the drawers stocked with tinted wrIt-
ing paper with my monogram on Il.
Why, only this very morning ! had
written nine letters, just to Try the
new wax, and pens and blotter, and
what fun to get the pens out Of that
beautiful, unhandy little stamp box
Jack gave me.
When we got home, Jack said:
well, you nearly did for yourself
this time. Lucky thing was so near
when YOU started TO tell all YOU didn't
know about Nye. You were a calm
one, though, and it's the only thing
that saved YOU
But. Jack" l asked, IF folk; vill
persist in inquiring what ! think
about this, that and the other, I've
got TO tell them. And why on earth
DO they ask me so many terrible
Questions?'
Il don't know, sis, I'm sure he
replied. Its your misfortune to
possess an awfully clever face, and
BY George, you are all right when
/ It comes to a tight pinch, but 90 slow,
Bees. or you'll come TO grief
Jack saws ought to study French;
/ that every society girl who amounts
TO anything must know something of
7 that tongue. But somehow | never
was good at languages, thought can
understand a few phrases now and
then. At the Gibson ball, the other
evening. | was almost cornered, Jack
being of duty in another part Of the
room. Mr.. Darling and | were sit
ting out a dance in the conservatory,
when IN came those awfully bralny
Prescott girls just bristling with
French, which they let fly al their
partners in a truly horrifying man
ner.
"Parlez yous francais, aussi, made
moise,le:" said Mr.. Darling to me.
! knew that Martha Prescott was
listening, with a superior smile on her
face. She rather enyied me for
dancing 80 often with a rising young
author ike Mr.. Darling Therefore
| rose and. making a most sweeping
bow TO my partner, said sweetly:,
"Oh. non, m'sieu! Ney-air in re
presence Of him who, one day, will
make re beautiful Eeng-leesh Ian
guage 10 be honOred far above so poor
a tongue as re Frinch Is eet not?'
That shrug was perfect" declared
Jack, when | rehearsed this scene
/ for his benefit later, in our own IL
brary. "and you always were great
on those minuet-like curtsies. What
did Darling say"
Well, he didn't say much Of any
thing, only that he didn't deserve
any sort Of tribute as writer, but
he looked awfully pleased" ! an
swered, "and Miss Prescott spoke
nothing but the plainest English as
long a. we were there
II was ordained that the very next
week | should blunder into brillian-
cy, and this, without Jacks assist
ance, and wholly without any inten-
ton on my own part. Again ] found
myself going in to dinner with Mr.
Philbrook Darling, the occasion
being that Of the Leicester dinner
ball. There was a lull in the con-
yersation on our side Of the table,
which enabled me 20 catch phrase
or two from the other eide. The
word boxer" came to my ear. Turn
ing 10 Mr.. Darling, | said in low
tone:
Don't YOU think it extremely poor
taste to discuss prize fight at such
a timer"
'Prize fight" said he; prize
fght?"
Then it came to me suddenly that
the boxers had something to do in
the Chinese trouble, but exactly what
/ did not know.
eyes, prize fight" said / boldly.
"Only in this case neither the boxers
nor any Of the others concerned in the
fray seem to be getting the prize"
Mr.. Darling found this joke more
than enough to enjoy alone, SO he
must needs call upon the others to
share it with him, and it soon reached
Jacks ears, for | saw him look up from
his plate and give me that peculiar
smile which only / myself under
stood.
| If tboro uac any suhiact updar h a