The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1907-11-01

ttlIllS lOStiltI lOI OIlc Oh OnT lIdNtlIIlS
staff to start away with"
Frank Allister, perhaps because as
a novelist he was always eager for de-
tail, at once entered into %conversa-
ton with May Wilson.
He thought it must be very painful
for a girl to have to go into a house
of mourning and begin to measure the
ladies of the family for black, and he
was anxious to know if female vanity
still asserted itself in the sorrowful
circumstances. Was the fr%eshly-be-
reaved widow particular about the fit
and cut of her dress? Had Miss Will
son any experience?
May explained that she did not trav-
ell, but she know, of course. from the
assistants who did that they had very
strange experiences.
Frank had settled himself by Mays
side and they We're %conversing on the
subject in which the young novelist
had shown so much interest. when
the sound of a CAP pulling up at the
door was heard.
That's Mrs. Petherick," remarked
Tuna. I'm so glad, for the mullins
oushtn'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.
1t was a merry little tea party
Mrs. Cheney's tea parties always we're
and everybody talked, including
TUNA, 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
a 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 We're being cut at he
West end now.
Miss Allister, hearing Mr.. Tossiter
pronounce the name OF a great pianist
of whom she had heard, gave him
yer attention at once, and led the old
entleman on to give her his personal
'eminiscence of the celebrity.
And Frank Allister talked quietly
o May Wilson.
Mrs. Cheney, looking round like a
God hostess at the cups, noticed the
arrest expression of Mr.. Allister's
C as he bent low that his words
night reach his neighbours ears
through the buzz, and she smiled.
She had guessed what no one else
lad-that Frank Allister was in love
with May Wilson, and she was glad,
or the little woman adored a 70.
nance. and that there should be one
beneath her w roof pleased her
more than anything.
1t seemed to her quite natural that
her 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 fol
being the first to see it. For she ha6
watched keenly, and she was convinc
ed that the pale-faced, pretty youns
woman with the pathetic eyes, as
Frank Allister called them, had not We,
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 ca
while they were hot and giving he
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 OLE
Mr.. Tossiter gave limitations of pop
lar actors he had seen lin his time.
Some of them had been dead befor,
the young people present we're born
but that made no difference to thei
verdict that the limitations were exec
lent.
Mrs. Cheney, after much pressure
consented to sing, but she declined a.
accompaniment - the music Away
made her forget the words. She san
Shells of the Ocean, a little out @
tune, and forgot the last verse, but e,
erybody thought it sweet, and sal
there were no songs like the old song:
The company dropped into genera
conversation, and presently Mrs. Pc,
ton Petherick said she must be coins
as she had promised her husband to b
home carlyle was so unhappy alon,
That broke up the party. Everybod,
as was the rule on such festive occ;
sions, retired to his or her own apar
ment, and Mrs. Cheney vent dow
stairs to help 'Tunia in locking afte
the suppers.
AS Mrs. Cheney and May Wilso
went out of the drawing room togthe
May said that she was going out b
fore the shops closed, as she wante
to get something at the stationer's.
Frank AlliSter was ho1d;pr +ho Jo/