Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-08-21

las. III. Baxter.
packed Betty's simple white dresses
and had promised to take good care of
grandfather. and, with kiss, Betty
had started away in the old surrey.
Upon her arrival at the wharf she had
sent Calvin, the driver, home at once,
that he might wait on the colOnels
guests. Hence it happened that Pink
Johnson was the only person to bid
Miss Betty Marshall of the Hall
goodby when she started on her first
trip from Old Bay.
To the man and woman, passengers
from a famous watering place down
the bay, who leaned over the rail lazily
watching the loading and unloading Of
freight, the Martha Washington ap-
peared merely an old tub of boat but
in Betty's eyes it was glorified.
Betty knew every one on board from
Captain Warfeld to the stewardess,
for, while Captain Warfield was a
Maryland man and the Marshalls were
Virginians, still the captains mother
had married Colonel Marshalls third
cousin, and if that does not constitute
kinship nothing does, at least in the
opinion of these clannish and warm
hearted sOutherners. AS for the stew
ardess, she talked Of Dilsey and Cal
vim in a tone which bespoke familiari-
ty. while the unqualified respect with
which she sked after Colonel Marshall
showed the marks of certain pickanin-
ny days, when the colonel was ''Marse
Bob"
twas supper time before Betty fin
ished exploring the boat. Betty had a
place Of honor near the captain, and
she answered his questions and told
him tile news of her little community
in the charming fashion and uncon
seriousness IF self which are the inner
itance Of the we'll born child Of the
south.
The princess watched the eager.
sweet face from the other side of the
table. She was not really princess,
but that was the name Betty had Civ
en- her when first she came on deck.
She was tall and fair. and there was
something about her gown which was
different from anything Betty had
ever seen. 1t was straight and plain
| and dark but there was a dash Of
| bright color in her silk blouse, and
Betty thought it beautiful.
The gentleman with her Betty
called the prince He was very hand
some, but he looked tired. at least his
eyes did The princess looked tired.
! too. or perhaps bored would be better
word but Betty had not yet added to
her vocabulary some words which the
dreary experiences of maturer life
make necessary.
When they all went upstairs and out
on deck, it was growing dark, and the
| captain left Betty to her own devices;
SO she went aft and leaned over the
rail, watching the flashes of phospho-
rescence in the foaming wake of the
| steamer, which seemed reflections of
| the stars above. Betty called them the
mermaids' lamps. She was hanging
GREATNESS over the rail, her curls damp
with the spray and forgetful of the
chilliness of the evening-fOr was not
| Wavaletta walking through the halls
| beneath the waves, carrying high
above her head the lamp which was to
light her lover, the Knight of the
Foamy Crest, to the cavern OF that
monster. the Crab of the Deep?-when
she felt a soft wrap folded about her
and the pressure of arms that were
withdrawn reluctantly.
'Oh, thank your said Betty. "But
would you mind waiting just minute
until l finish with Wavaletta?'
Presently she turned to the princess
and told her all about it and that she
was sure the knight would conquer
the Crab Of the Deep.
"And then what will happen?" asked
the princess.
'"Then the knight will marry Wava-
letta"
"And then?"
ooh, they will live happy forever
ufterward," said little Betty.
| All Of which goes to show that Betty
was not worldly wise little woman
and that she still believed in love and
many other things which it pleases the
world to call old fashioned, while many
a woman with an ache in her heart
wishes that the old fashion might be-
come new fashion and that she might
have some of the sweetness Of the ro-
nance and roses of her grandmother.
| Now, the princess was wiser than lit
tie Betty, and she knew that in the
great world there are other things than
love and that to have money Is very
great thing and to haye name and fame