The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-04-17
and the family laughed loud and long,
Dorothy most heartily of all.

and the family laughed loud and long.
Dorothy most heartily of all.
"Oh, do invite him, father, %'entreat-
ed sister Lucia. I'm just dying to
meet him. Everyone is talking about
bis pictures in the Argus. Judge
Whitman told me he thought they
were the funniest, most original
things he ever saw. And after we
have become acquainted with him,
don't you think it would be nice to
give q small company of our most
distinguished friends to meet him?"
ooh, wouldn't that be lovely? Do.
father" exclaimed Mary, quite en-
chanted with the idea of introducing
this new star into the literary world.
And so it was agreed that Mr..
Henry Page Esmond should be in
vited the coming week Wednesday
for dinner. Mr.. Winters wrote him
an invitation to meet him at his Of
fee on that date, in response to
which the young man-everyone
seemed to take it for granted that
he was young-sent a very polite
note Of acceptance.
There was considerable excite
ment on this eventful day in the
Winters family. Dorothy had been
reminded to see that an exceptional.
ly tempting little dinner should be
prepared, and Mrs. Winters went out
into the dining room herself to be
sure that nothing had been forgot
ten. Judge and Mrs. Whitman had
been invited also, and sister Mary
wa to wear her new tailor-made,
while sister Lucia had her book,
which had just come out, lying care
lessly On the parlor table, where Mr..
Esmond could not fail to see it.
The days business was over, and
Mr.. Winters sat in his office await
ing the arrival of the young artist.
He was just saying 10 himself that
Mr.. Esmond was going to be late
when the Office boy brought in a
card bearing, in the familiar hand
writing of that gentleman, his name.
"Show him in at once" said Mr..
Winters in his most abrupt and edi-
torial tones.
When he heard footsteps in the
outer room he arose to his feet and
made haste to arrange his features
in their most cordial and engaging
expression. The door flew open in
a theatrical manner under the hand
of the Office boy, who announced, in
q somewhat mufled tone, "Mr. Es-
mond," and in walked-Dorothy!
Mr.. Winters countenance was in
deed a study to gaze upon. He
looked at his daughter with eyes as
round as moons, and opened his
mouth several times without making
a sound. In short, he was completely
~bewildcred until Dorothy, her sweet
face all flushed and q%uivering, half
laughing, half sobbing, rushed into
his arms, exclaiming:
"Oh. papa dear, don't you under
stand? I am MI. Henry Page Es-
mond!':
When her father had got her home
at last, and they had managed to ex-
plain matters to the assembled com
pany, the commotion which arose was
wonderful to experience. Dolly was
laughed over. cried over and passed
around to be kissed until she was
quite ~breathless, while the parlor
fairly bristled with ordinations,
Clarence whirled her around and
around in a wild dance, and her
mother could not stop asking ques.
tions. Lucia looked at her rather
rep%roachfully as she slyly tucked her
book out of sight; but Judge Whit,
man made her a most courtly and
ceremonious bow, saying: Il con.
graduate you, my dear"
At last the heroine of this ovation
escaped to her room to adjust her
hair and gown, which had become
sadly rulmpled with embraces, leav.
ing her friends to chatter and ex.
claim, and talk at the top of their
voices all together. 1t was the
proudest moment of her life. Matur-
er years brought other triumphs,
but never one so glorious as this.
And thus it happened that Dorothy,
while she by no e ceased to be
domestic, did become an artist, and
carved out for herself u career which
had its beginning in the aqueer
cows."-Ladies' World, New York.
An,,liad nou3-