Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1902-12-24

I WAS lust before the Christmas of
! 1879 HAT four little Alabama girls
1 were as busy as four little girls
Lily Langhorne Lucy Waller. Mat
tic liarwOod and Lizzie ELLA Manning
could bc. They We're to have dolls
party on the Monday after Christmas.
and they could talk of nothing else.
Hal Stanley discovered that the girls
had Il project on hand. The whisper
ing behind desk lids and around the
stove, and the long conferences during
recess. tCld the secret. although the
sirctcSt silence about their plans was
maintained in the presence of the boys.
Lily often let slip an unguardcd re-
mark about the coming fcStivity. and
then clupped her hands over her.
mouth IL She SAW Hal Stanley near,
fer Lizzie Ella had said oven and ovcr
again. Whatever you do. Lily Lang
horne. don't YOU tell Hal Stanley 1
don't want him to know one word
about it until it is all over!'
Il say 50. tool" exclaimed Matte
Harwood why. aren't you going to
lei him come to the party" asked Lily.
in - pathetic voicc
ale; rim comcr' said Lizzie Ella.
"im a*iouiShod M you Lily Lang
horne. ron't you know Hal STANLEY
wei! enough to know We don't want
him ~ cur party? What are YOU thinks
ing ahoui'
~ thought maybe you'd let him
come. a!tcr we had finished iix:n' our
things" said Lily.
We'll, you thought wrong-h2 shan't
come amy time If have anything to
do with it," asserted Lizzie Ella.
He lets me ride on his pony some
times. and leads him all around the
front YARD, said Lily. mcckly
Yes. and pincEcs YOU when he takes
you OF the pony, doesn't hc:' rctortcd
Lizzie Ella
''EIc don't pinch me hard" insisted
Lily.
We'll Lily Langhornc. you are a
strange -irl. declare | should think
you wouidn't want him nj the party"
answered Lizzie Ella, with Il toss of
her head.
"Oh, | don't want him. if YOU don't.
Lizzie Ella. Only he said he was
comm, anyhow" said Lily.
~ cry we'll" said Lizzie Ella. still
provoked. none of the boys shall come
If Hal Stanley is TO come. If he comes
snail not come, and my sister shall
not make the dolls dresses. and
won't Law my hand to thing. l did
think we could have some boys and
have dance. but Wen have girls
enough 20 make set"
1T would be nice to have some
boys. said Matte Harwood. Ed.
Waller can dance"
We'll. we can't have Them. NV
mother says we cannot invite the other
boys and not invite Hal Stanley. and
will have-Ilal Stanley nj our
dolls party. Now. you've got it," said
Lizzie Ella deliantly. rs She walked
away irom The group of girls
And 50 it was settled that tho dolls
party should he enjoyed without the
presence of boys. and the preparations
for the event began. The Saturday
before The cvcntful Monday thr table
was alrcndy decorated with frosted
cakes and fruits aud candies. The
dolls in all t!sig iinery were i'm their
seats.
The table was beautiful. The bright
colorcd candles and the gay dresses of
the COILS Shone among bouquets and
gariandS and bowers. Everything had
neeh arranged 10 perfection, and tho
door OF the room was closed. After
the dance The girls We're TO enter tho
room and stand around the table be-
hind tho dolls. Each girl was to have
match. and at given signal each
was 10 light jhr three candles i'm front
or the doll behind which she stood
They had practiced the marching and
standing until they could do il withour
mistake. All We're to light the can
dies at once, 80 that an illumination
should burst over the table like n fash
BY / o'clock Monday afternoon the
girls had arrived in full dress They
talked and played games. and every,
thing was delightful. The moment ar
rived when the procession was to
march to the table where the fine for
eign ladies in national costumes await
ed them. The music on the piano
struck up and the girls started. On
they went. keeping step to the march
until they reached the table and each
girl stood in her place. Not n mistake
had been made; the girls We're radiant
with happiness. The signal was given
and suddenly the table was II blaze of
light. 7 he pyramid OF snowy cakcs
and the sparkling candies and brilliant
fruits and tiny bowers and wrcaths