Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-05


SPELL" she went on. How she did wish she
knew what to do next! To tell the truth.
she had never been to party In all her life.
II don't fink thith party it'll much fun"
hsped little Fan, after the girls had been
sitting in awkward silence for a few mo-
ments.
The party hasn't begun yet" answered
Hubby Ann. nearly distracted between her
desire that her friends should have a jolly
! time and her fear lest they should be espied
by Aunt James sharp eyes. Then she
laughed in relief as she caught sight Of the
| hired man driving out of the barn with a
great hay rick. She jumped up and swung
her sunbonnet. "Joel!' she called I'VE
want to goI Come along, girls" she added
to her companions. 1.-The partys going to
begin"
Joel good-naturedly waited for the chill
dren and tossed them into the big wagon
as though they had been so many bundles
| OF feathers. He climbed in last Of all and
cracked the whip, and away they went. the
rick humping and humping over hum
| mocks and stray stones, while the little
folks laughed and shouted with delight.
Such fun they had when the hay field was
reached, rolling in the hay. jumping into
hay-cocks. and once in while making be-
lleye work by raking a winrow.
Its Just lovely party." the village chill
[ oren declared, when. warm AMI tired. they
! sat down to rest in the shadow of the stone
wall.
Il s'pose there'll be 'freshments when we
get back to the house," said Kate Foster.
- . SpoSe SldInmeTeQ Ann.
But I've got some luncheon here" she
hastened to say, producing tin pail which
she had managed to smuggle into the
wagon from some secret hiding place. ut
amt MUCH she apologiZed. raising the lid
and displaying half a dozen cookies with
nicked edges few pieces Of cake and gin
gerbread and sorry-looking quarter of a
pie. AS Hubby Ann had been saving up this
spread from her lunches of the past week
it could not be expected to have a very
fresh appearance. But the party was
too hungry to be over-particular, and soon
there wasn't a crumb left.
THE next thing on the po-gram." an
nounced Hubby Ann "is to go up Chapman
Lane an pick blackberries. L know where
they're thickern spatters.'
The visitors seemed to be little doubtful
about this expedition. There might be
snakes" objected Hattie.
why. go up there most every day, an
never saw snake there in all my life"
declared Hubby Ann, who wasn't one of the
timid kind.
The promise Of feast Of berries was
tempting. SO finally the little company
climbed over the wall, and crossing the
main road wandered into the shady lane. 1t
must be owned that they didn't have a very
good time here. Perhaps it was because
they were tired-or possibly. they were the
least bit hungry, in spite of the luncheon;
besides. the blackberries were not as plen-
tiful as the brambles. Kate tore her dress
on blackberry BUSH and a bad-tempered
bee stung Hubby Ann. But what troubled
-
growing late in the afternoon, the party
showed no signs of peacefully disbanding.
She began to have dreadful misgivings that
it-or they-would insist on going home
with her.
Sure enough. before long the Foster girls
began to wonder if there would be ice
cream for support Then Hattie inquired.
Don't you think it's time were getting
back to the house? TIN be dark pretty
soon"
Hubby Ann dreaded the dark But still
more she dreaded the sight of Aunt Jane.
"Oh. l don't know" she said. Il guess
'tisnt SO very late.
While she was speaking. big drop of
rain fell plump on her nose. and a low peal
of thunder rumbled in the distance.
Dear me. I'm scared to death Of thun-
der!' cried Hattie. turning pale.
ever killed by thunder
But a sharp flash Of lightning and fast
falling raindrops proved too much even for
Hubby AIMS courage, and she scampered
down the hill with the other children, al
most running against covered wagon and
an old white horse that stood at the foot
of the lane.
Why. Joel. is that your" cried the little
girl.
wall. guess It's" answered Joel your
aunt sent me to fetch you home. We
kinder thought you'd be up in the lane"
The shower was soon over but Hubby
Ann was very thoughtful all the way home.
When the farmhouse was in sight, she put
her mouth close to Joels ear and whisper
ed: Does Aunt Jane know there's any
body with me?'
"Certain!" answered Joe, his eyes twin
king. The Larkin girls and the Fos-
ter girls ma both came over to take EN-
home from the party
Anyway, she can't moren kill me-"
thought Hubby Ann.
But when they drove up to the door there
stood Aunt Jane looking real pleasant. And
when they got into the big, cool kitchen,
with it's yellow painted floor and vine-cov-
cred windows. there was the supper table
spread with cold meat, hot biscuit, cake
pie. preserves, cheese, pickles and dear
knows how many other indigestible
goodies.
Nobody thought of ice cream. and every
body enjoyed the feast, cepting-perhaps
Hubby Ann; her conscience was troubling
her. She felt very proud, though when
Aunt Jane set before her big, frosted
cake with eleven pink peppermints on top,
and told her to cut the birthday cake.
1t was a very quiet little girl that stood
beside her aunt an hour later, watching
the visitors out of sight. "Aunt Jane" she
said shyly. as they turned to go into the
house. you're awful good I'm sorry 1
acted so'
Aunt Jane Dursed up her lips in a queer
smile. Never mind" she said, "only the
next time you think of givn' a party, 1
guess you'd better let me know before
hand"
'Yesm." said Hubby Ann meekly.