Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-01-16
CHAPTER ".

One morning, about a fortnight lister,
Madge was careering down the road to
the Rose Cottage to meet June. Almost
before her cousin came within earshot
Madge shouted out, 81 have seen him.
and when she arrived within reasonable
distance, she continued, still in a high
key:
Il have seen the lovely seraph!'
'Well," said June, in her usual voice,
land what is he like?"
81 deeply regret to say" she answered,
grudgingly, that he is good-looking, and
that he does not resemble a hair dresser's
dummy. But" refectively, 81 have al
ways from the first moment intended to
call him La-di-da, and 1 shall, whether
it's appropriate or not"
"Oh!' said June, looking rather disap-
pointed. She had quite made up her
mind not to like Mr.. Broke, because she
considered that he stood in Toms light
and was a sort of treacherous Jacob in
diverting Mrs. Ellesmere's affections from
their legitimate course.
Later in the morning, when the cousins
were engaged On a French exercise, Ag-
mes being also of the party, Madge looked
up suddenly and said:
81 say, June, / wish l was going to dine
at the Hall tonight. 1t will be awful fun,
l expect"
June rested her chin on her hand re-
lectively.
81 don't know about fun" she answered.
81 think / shall feel dreadfully nervous,
as l have never been to a real dinner
party BEFORE"
Don't you think you had better go on
with your exercises" said Agnes, acidly.
Bother EXERCISES retorted Madge,
~plunging both hands into her curly head.
"There isn't a dinner party at the Hall
every night. Juny, l wonder if La-di-da
will take you in to dinner? Tom can't, of
course"
81 suppose" remarked Agnes, looking at
June with what Madge called her croco-
die smile, "Tom will be cast off like an
old glove now"
"Why?" asked June, looking her cousin
full in the face.
"Oh," returned Agnes, people who are
so fond of excitement and fresh faces
generally treat old friends like old gloves"
A fash came into June's eyes and a
slight tremor to her voice, always a sure
sign with her of rising temper.
81 think that is a very poor smile at the
BEST" she said. people generally dis
card old gloves when they have done with
them. / never heard it was a virtue to go
on wearing them after they were torn or
dirty"
"Yes," echoed Madge, land Tom isn't
likely to get old, or torn, or dirty"
"And," continued June, now that her
blood was up, II think a person must have
a very small heart or mind who can only
like or be amused by one friend or one
set of IDEAS"
"As this is supposed to be lesson time
said Agnes, coldly, II think it would be
more conscientious to work than to ar
gue."
The evening arrived, and June, equip
ped for her first dinner party, was await
ing with nervous impotence the advent
Of her uncle's carriage. She was to 20
with Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan Ellesmere and
Agnes, her mother having declined the
invitation on the score of her health.
How June's heart beat as she entered
the drawing room with Agnes in the wake
Of the elder pair, and how Toms face
beamed with pride and delight ut the
sight of his dear love looking more beauti
full than he had ever seen her look! Not
even the transient disappointment Of re.
marking that she did not wear his gift
could mar his joy at sight of her.
True TO the part she had laid down fol
herself, June smiled at Tom, and looked
in his face with so kind an expression
that he was in a seventh heaven. Some OF
the guests, seeing this, said to themselve,
there was no doubt how matters stood be
tween the young people; and June, VIII