The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-02-26

noon, and she gave a little bounce that
made the hammock flop and throw us
out on the ground. Our hammock has
the floppiest disposition, anyhow.
Then, while we sat there on the
ground. weak from laughing, she ex-
planned that she had the loyeliest idea.
/ said it seemed to have quite upset
her, but she utterly snubbed my poor
pun.
Il just found in this book" she went
on, "Simiia similibus curantur.
wonder we didn't think Of It before"
Translate It," | said. never have
ideas in Latin myself.
"And you expect to enter college
this fall" Nell said, significantly.
Like cures like Of course, my dear.
I've heard it somewhere before" she
added, honestly.
"You mean" | began
Exactly" Nellie assured me. Wen
just try being affected ourselves, and
let Mabel see how silly II is."
had my doubts. / said that Mabel
would be more likely TO see that we
we're just rude, and perhaps we woulG
only offend her instead Of reforming
her Mother agreed with me, too. She
advised us, if we really felt called on
to mend Mabels ways. to tell her
frankly what we thought, instead OF
using a method that was so likely 10
be misunderstood.
But Nell and agreed that we did
not have the courage to do that, and
besides, this other way would be more
fun. Mother smiled and did not say
any more. She never nags, and she
never says. Il told you so, my dear"
She just lets me find out a good many
things for myself.
So Nell and / spent several days in
learning how to do IT, We studied
Mabel pretty closely, and l confess l
had a kind Of sneaking feeling, for she
is one Of the sweetest, frankest. most
generous girls ever knew.
But at last we considered our educa-
ton completed. and one afternoon we
started out. with trailing skirts-bor-
rowed-and absurdly bepompadoured
heads, to make a formal call on Mabel
We 1attered ourselves that we had ac-
quired the correct accent, and our
manner was affected to a point several
degrees above Mabel's. We tried it on
Mat before we started, and he nearly
had a fit-
At Mabels house we usually walk
right I'm and announce ourselves. but
this afternoon we rang the bell and
brought Maggie with her tray.
know she was surprised, but she was
game" as Mat would have said.
As we gravely presented our cards
end asked for Miss Wogehrs and Miss
Mabelle,7 her face was as expression
less as il we we're perfect strangers.
She quietly showed us into the parlor
and went to tell the ladies'" She
came back in a minute to say that Miss
Rogers was out, but Miss Mabelle
would be down in a minute.
Nell and wondered afterward If she
gave Mabel a hint. We have never
found out.
Perhaps our sending our cards
warned Mabel. At any rate. when she
came into the parlor nothing in her
manner suggested that there was any
thing unusual about us. She had
played tennis with us all the morning,
too.
She said, "Aunty will be so sorry to
miss your call. How do you do, Mary
and Helen?'
Then she shook hands with us both,
explaining how glad she was to see us,
and how long it was since we had
met
She was simply delicious, and for 4
Nell and / were staggered.
We thought we were ready for any
hing. but this perfect composure near |
ly routed rs.
Then Nell rallied and went into |
action" Nell Bronson is nothing il |
not thoroughgoing, and she is a born |
actress. II was the funniest thing ] |
ever saw-those two girls matching /
their imitation city manners against /
each other. l stayed out. for the most |
part | had all / could do to keep /
from laughing and spelling It all; and |
besides, Nell did not need any help.
They talked about the weather; ]
ibout Edith's party. which Mabel pro-
lounced a Charming bit Of local color, /
)ut so country, you know" Then she /
described a party she had attended in /
Iew York.
Nell said, feeliDgly. that it must be
erribly stupid to live in a country /
own when one was used to the city.
Mabel said 1t was-Oh, unspeakably .
tupidl (She had been in New York
ust five weeksD There was no So
,iety in Harwich. OF course there were
lice people, but no society. Nobody
new how to entertain, except, per-
laps, Mrs. Meriweather, and she really
VAS New Yorker.
So the girls went on. and / think
hey would have kept 1t up indefinitely
,nly rose to go. fairly bursting with
.wallowed laughter. Nell got up, too,
md Mabel.
Must you go?" she said. But you
yill come again? Mary. love, pardon
ne. but your hat is a bit too far for
ward. Do you mind If fix It? Therel
Really, one needs to have lived in a
ity to get things just right"
Then she asked us If We would let
Ter show US some day how to do our