Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-04-01

their after dinner game.
Of the reception. There were to be only
ladies' at the reception. There was no
reason why Major Porter should re-
main at home for it, and his enthusi-
asm for the circus had shown no change,
no abatement.
In the presence of his mistaken deyo-
ton Pearl could not endure to confess
even to her mother that her heart was
torn at the thought Of her new fringed
sash, the gift of her aunt, and how now
she could not wear it at the reception
or walk around with the ladies. She
had the dignifed delicacy of many hon
orable little girls, and she felt that it
would be disloyalty to her grandfather
to acknowledge that she was no longer
interested in the circus.
Her aunt said she had cried because
| the heat made her nervous.
"She doesn't look to me able to go
toting off to that hot circus, father"
She said, coming up to the window.
"I'm afraid so" said Mr.. Porter, fol-
lowing her. "Do you care SO much
about it, darling"
PEARLS eyes filled again at this.
"Oh, Shocks III be all right for the
circus" said Major Porter, with hasty,
blind consolation, as Pearls mother
started into the house with her to battle
her eyes. 1t was his fixed belief that
the circus was the most ecstatic pleas
ure of every child and any alternative
/ ~, o11f,,o uan,1s Observation-Disclosures
"Neyer mind If you are not all right,
pet" said Mrs. Burden, with inspired
dullness. "Here's Butter. He isn't go
| ing and doesn't want to so. He wants
to see Mrs. Hendricks. And, Butter
Mrs. Hendricks has some little boys OF
her own-r,rcl, nice, polite little boys.
wish you could know them"
Butter looked submissive as Mrs.
Burdens benevolent, unperceiving eyes
We're impressiyely fixed upon him.
"Why isn't Butter going to the cir
cus| inquired Major Porter. Butter
made no reply.
Gather too busy, guess" pursued
the major. "That it?''
"Butter is going to see Mrs. Ken
bricks this afternoon" replied Mrs
Burden. "He is going to open the doc
for the ladies'"
Major Porter whistled. He looket
suspiciously at Buffers red eyelids.
"Well, how would it be to have But
ter come along with the circus part.
this afternoon and let Mrs. Kendrick
!, open the door for the ladies herself?
He gave Butter nudge under til
table at this last abominably weak jest
, Butter could not refrain from smil
!, Of hope.
We'll all get ready right away,
continued the major. You can &c
! your hat. 1 can black my shoes. Sal
can hitch up the horses. Pearl Gu
q have B. and S. or something, an
= then we'll go"
, "Father," murmured Mrs. Burden
Important haste, Mrs. Atkinson got
: new suit for him especially for thi
> Don't think"-
n "Well, Butter, l guess I'll have to s
s oyer and get your mother to let yc
t open the door at the evening receptio
i. That's the way We'll fix it up wit
her"
:. Meanwhile Mrs. Porter had by l.
n splration OWNED the cause of b.
/ daughters distress. She came back |
s the major was starting off.
r 81 think Pearl would better ste
!. with us, father" she said. 81 real
> believe she wishes to assist in recei
ing. am going to let her pass aroul
> the crackers"
~ 1t would seem that Providence h
d arranged for a variety of tastes in Il
n world, for on that afternoon Pea
l. foated airily and elegantly amol
= groups of gloved ladies, and under t
d bullying, billowing tent, amid the ode
Il of sawdust and the cries Of lemona
.r men, sat Butter: between Major Port
~ and Sam, throwing peanut shells |
d tween the open board benches, his ha
"a py eyes absorbed in the passing
is RATES. and ponies.
Major Porter was not looking at t
= ponies and CRATES. but he was We
n happy. He was watching Butter.