Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-10-31

Frank had settled himself by Mays
side and they were conversing on the
subject in which the young novelist
had shown so much interest, when
the sound of a cab pulling up at, the
door was heard.
That's Mrs. Petherick," remarked
Tuna. I'm so glad, for the mullins
oughtn't to be kept another minute"
She dashed upstairs to the front
door, and a few seconds later Mrs.
Peyton Petherick entered and beamed
on everybody. Mrs. Cheney took her
place at the table, and the company
passed the cups while 'Tunia handed
round the hot cakes.
It was a merry little tea party
Mrs. Cheney's tea parties always were
and everybody talked including
'Tunia, who was accustomed to join
in the conversation. In the tiny room
it would have been useless for her to
pretend she wasn't listening.
Old Mr.. Tossiter was fond of remi-
niscences. He asked Miss Allister
how she was getting on with her
music, and then gave half a dozen
anecdotes of musical celebrities who
had been stars in his time, but of
whom his listeners had never heard
Mrs Peyton petherick told Mrs.
Cheney of some wonderful bargains
she had bought at the West end
diapers sales; and that encouraged
'Tunia-whO was thinking of buying
new dress for her day out, as her
policeman was off duty and was going
to take her to the Crystal Palace-to
ask how skirts were being cut at the
West end now.
Miss Allister, hearing Mr.. Tossiter
pronounce the name of a great pianist
of whom she had heard, gave him
her attention at once, and led the old
gentleman on to give her his personal
"reminiscences of the celebrity.
And Frank Allister talked quietly
to May Wilson.
Mrs. Cheney, looking round like a
good hostess at the cups, noticed the
earnest expression of Mr.. Allister's
face as he bent low that his words
might reach his neighbours ears
through the buzz, and she smiled
She had guessed what no one else
habitat Frank Allister was in love
with May Wilson, and she was glad.
for the little woman adOred a ro-
nance, and that there should be one
beneath her own roof pleased her
more than anything.
It seemed to her quite natural that
Ler" drawing room, being young and
single, should fall in love with her par
Tor, who was young and pretty, and
single, too.
And she was pleased with herself for
being the first to see it. For she had
watched keenly, and she was convinc-
ed that the pale-faced, pretty young
woman with the pathetic eyes, as
Frank Allister called them, had not yet
discovered the secret of the good look
ing young fellow by her side.
When tea was over and full Justice
had been done to the cakes, Tuna
taking hers into the kitchen to eat
while they were hot and giving her
opinion of them when she came back,
the company by Miss Allister's invita-
ton adjourned to the drawing room,
where she played the piano and old
MIR. TOssiter gave limitations of popu-
lar actors he had seen lin his time"
Some of them had been dead before
the young people present were born,
but that made no difference to their
verdict that the limitations were excel
lent.
Mrs. Cheney after much pressure,
consented to sing but she declined an
accompaniment - the music always
made her forget the words. She sang
Shells of the Ocean," a little out of
tune, and forgot the last verse, but ev-
erybOdy thought it sweet, and said
there were no songs like the old songs.
The company dropped into general
| conversation, and presently Mrs. Pey-
ton Fetherick said she must be going,
as she had promised her husband to be
home carlyle was SO unhappy alone.
That broke up the party. Everybody,
/ as was the rule on such festive occa-
/ sions, retired to his or her own apart
ment, and Mrs. Cheney went down
stairs to help 'Tunia in looking after
| the suppers.
i AS Mrs. Cheney and May Wilson
went out of the drawing room togther
| May said that she was going out be-
/ fore the shops closed as she wanted
to get something at the stationer's.
| Frank ,Allister was holding the door
open for them and smiled and said he
was going out, too - might he come
with her?
May laughed and said she was only
| going shopping" and Mrs. Cheney
stopped at the parlor door and went
into it with May to light The gas for
| her.
The little woman was beaming with
happiness, for her birthday party had
been a great success, and in the eX-
pansion of the moment the discovery
she had made came bubbling from her
lips.
"My dear" she said, why do you
think Mr. Allister wants to walk out
with you to-night?"
For moment May hardly grasped
the sense of the words.
I'm sure l don't know" she said
CdI ClS0SlJ LilC1 l4AC S31o JCC helI GU VI
and she saw. the look in Mrs. Cheney's
smiling face, and started.
II suppose-he offered out of pc
liteness," she said.
Nonsense, my DEAR" replied Mrs
Cheney. "Mr. Allister's in love with
you'll saw it long ago."
Then, without waiting to see the eff
feet of her revelation, the landlady Of
!. r1hn Vinnru with q rinnlinoc LITTLE