Smyrna times., 1902-07-02

THIRTEEN
By Hon. MarSaGavendish.

Except that terrible, dreadful tea
cosy" She waved much -jeweled hand
at the offending article, and the girl
neares ito her laughed lightly.
"It's truly awful, Aunt Janet" she
replied, feelingly.
And it was. On a groundwork of
khaki satin was embroidered a re-
splendant 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 inhabitants of
some antediluvlan ark.
Lady Allenbury gave little despair
ing sigh.
''The duchess worked it herself"
she said, turning to her niece beside her.
"And none will buy it, and she'll be so
hurt. What shall we do with it,
Dorothy?"
II should rattle it, replied the girl,
rather indifferently.
She did not seem to be finding the
bazaar very amusing. She was a
pretty, fragile-lOOking girl, with a
delicate pink color, and pair of blue
eyes with dark shadows underneath
them.
Lady Allenburg heaved another
sigh, this time of relief.
"The very thing" she exclaimed.
will 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; 1 want you to be
very useful"
A good looking boy in immaculate
white hannels sauntered up lazily. He
lifted his straw hat with its gunner
ribbon to Lady Allenbury and the
girls behind the stall. Anything 1
can dO?" he asked, good humoredly.
eyes, there's a good boy, and then
/ will invite you to tea tomorrow"
Her ladyship seized the offending work
of art. "You see this CHASTITY tea-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 uninteIIigi-
bic humble that passess for an intro
duction.
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 it's delicate color, and as
mis- eyes met hers he started with
little exclamation of surprise. Lady
Allenbury observed the start, but did
not see her niece's face.
You know each other already?
that's right, she said, easily. "Now
trot of, there's good children, and
don't come back with that abomina-
tiOn. Twenty-Five shillings, remem-
Der; not penny less, or the duchess
will never forgive me-" And she turn
ed back to the stall under the happy
impression of having reunited two old
friends. Hes dear boy, George
Fraser" she observed to the two girls
who were helping her, ''and he's just
come back from the front. I didn't
know he and Dorothy had met before. 4"
She turned to persuade a stout and
Notwithstanding gentleman that the
green velvet waistcoat, embroidered in
pink silks, would be eminently becom-
ing to his person.
Both girls were looking after the re-
treating figures of Miss Seton and her
companion. Their young eyes had
observed what Lady Allenbury's had
not, that Dorothy went very unwill-
ingly.
The girl in the pink hat was wishing
that she had had Miss Seton's chance
OF spending half an hour with such an
attractive-looking 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, 'that some one
had blundered, b" and guessed that her
friend was not enjoying herself She
glanced tenderly at a diamond ring on
her own finger, aud thought of its con-
nectiOn with man in South Africa.
Perhaps this was why she could sympa-
thize with Dorothy.
George Fraser found himself en-
bracing an enormous and conspicuous
Tea cosy, and walking beside the one
grl he had not expected to meet.
Jolly thing, this" he said, nerv-
ously, clasping the tea cosy a little
closer.
Il am glad you admire it,, remark
Cd Miss Seton, loftily. She looked
straight in front of her.
1t was disconcerting. He waited for