Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-12-08
THE
INITIATION
By BELLE MANIATES
Copyright, 1901, by Daily Story Pub. Col

III Ellen WHITE, most becomingly
II gowned, came into the music room
alter dinner, shaded the lights, turned
on the gas logs and arranged the music
on the piano
Nell, see you are making elaborate
preparations to receive callers" said her
brother Fred, banteringly. 81 am sorry
TO convey to you the disappointing intel
ligence that there is no prospect OF your
receiving a call to-night-that is, from
a. man. All the men you know are other
wise engaged
Helen's face fell perceptibly
'Oh, Fred, what is going on?'
= Cant tell you"
"Stag?"
Nell" he laughed, putting on his
outer coat and taking a cap from his
pocket, you always ask too many ques-
tions. Would it give you ray of COM
fort if told you it was purely stag?'
But Helen swept from the room with
out condescending to speak further on
the subject. Fred was surely the most
provoking of brothers. He was so mean
Wendell Lane, who was a friend OF
Fred's. He was not society man, so
she had no prospect of meeting him at
dances. He was extremely good looking
and so desirable in every way, but Fr"d
had stubbornly refused all her entreat-
les to bring him to the house.
"He doesn't care for girls-sensible
feIlow-and besides you've turned down
hard two or three Of my friends whom
have introduced to you"
81 wonder what's on tonight" she
thought, going to the library window and
f1attening her face against the pane.
Through the dusky gloom she discerned
Fred's vanishing figure family outlined.
He wasn't going toward the street, but
across the lawn.
'"To the stable!" she thought. And the
cap! He only wears that when he drives
or goes on expeditions Perhaps he is
only going for drive with some other
man and said that about no ones calling
to tease me"
She hoped devoutly that some one
would call The time was so propitious.
Her father and mother were away on a
Journey and now Fred out for the eve
ming. She did everything she could think
of to pass away the time of that awful
interval from seven to eight-the hour
OF suspense. She read the evening paper
played the piano abstractedly with heI
foot on the soft pedal that she might
hear the doorbell. Finally she went up
stairs to see what her little brother Tom
was doing. She found him putting or
his coat and hat.
-'Why, Tom, where the you going?"
"Out with some fellows. Mother said
might have one night out, you know.
Eyes. Everyone is having a might
out but me-" said his sister with 6
mirthless laugh.
"Well, | guess Fred'll be back soon,
said Tom, consolingly.
what makes you think so?" she
asked. curiously.
you just look in the den and you'll
see" he replied, with chuckle.
Helen quickly sought Fred's den anC
gazed in CONSERVATION at the prepara
fions and supplies for spread that sht
encountered.
''The plot thickens!" she thought fol
lowing Tom down stairs. He went ou
the front door and from the window sh,
saw him. too, cross the lawn and go il
the direction of the barn.
well" she exclaimed to herself, 9Th,
whole White family seem to be drawr
barnward. think l had best follow
suit"
She sat down for few minutes to plo
and ponder. Fred had evidently planned
a sub rosa feast, else he'd have asked he
TO help in the preparations He prob
ably counted on returning after her re
firing hour, which was early when ther,
were no callers. IT occurred to her tha
ne was going to drive first Well sh,
could prove or disprove that suspicion
right away.
She stole out across the lawn, down tn,
graveled walk, around the curve and ou
to the stable which was at considerabl,
distance from the house. 1t was entirely
deserted. She had key with her anC