The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1907-11-23

difh, 15-year-Oid Edith. with a long
brown curl over one shoulder. and the
collar OF her gown turned IN. was
Janice For two weeks after the initial
performance by the members Of the
shakespearian club. Edith in the
spare-room counterpane and the Grim
son piano cover. was Juliet. The fam
lis shrewdly suspected that during
this period the iceman was uncon-
sciously doing duty as Romeo, for on
more than one occasion Edith was
seen to gaze tenderly down upon him
from the safe vantage Of the flower
box il the attic window that being
the nearest approach to a balcony that
the house Afforded
The family bore up under all this
with commendable fortitude
Before September was over, Edith
was Queen. Elizabeth. in the spare
room pillow-shams, Marie Antoinette.
in cornstarch and impossible heels.
and even Charlotte Corday. behind the
grlmy bars Of the family gridiron. She
was Joan Of Arc al noon, and her rela-
lives would say good night to Lady
Jane Grey at bedtime, only to be con
fronted by Lucrezia Borgia at the
breakfast table.
Had this been ALL the Bannerings
might have borne up under Il; but
there was worse to come. Edith,
wearylng Of solitary heroines, began
TO look about for heroes. What
was Josephine without Napoleon, Isa-
bella without Ferdinand. or Mary.
Queen Of Scots. without Rizzio?
The iceman. having vanished with
the summer, was unavailable for ro-
mantle purposes; but the black-eyed
peanut vender, whom Edith passed
every mUrning on her way to school,
made an admirable Napoleon;. the
taI young man in the florists shop
did very nicely as Ferdinand; and
Edith's Imagination was sufficiently
elastic to clothe the grocer's assist
ant IN the picturesque garb Of Rizzo.
One day Dayton. Edith's older broth
er, who was about as sentimental as a
lobster, happened to walk home from
school with his idealistic sister He
saw the peanut yender exchange
glances. not with the Empress Jose
phine. but with his-Dayton's-pre-
cious sister Edith. He saw the for
lists assistant touch his hat boldly,
not to Isabella Of Spain. but to Edith,
Of America. He heard the grocer's
young man say, not BY your leave,
your mSjesty." but How do you do,
Miss Edith?" and Dayton was not
pleased.
~You seem" said Dayton. with the
unqualified severity Of an outraged
elder brother, ITO have circle Of ac-
quaintances. Are you in the habit OF
exchanging bows with all the boot
blacks and street fakirs you meet on
your way TO sch0ol2"
Il know those young men quite
we'll, replied Edith. loftily and they
are not bootblacks / often buy things
from them They are very pleasant
young men Don't you think that
young Italian looks wonderfully like
Napoleon"
mo, / don't" returned prosaic Day
ton. He locks more as if he needed
bath"
A few days later, Dayton discovered
Edith with bag Of peanuts in one
hand, bunch Of carnations in the
other, standing upon the grocers door
step, conyersing with the grocer's
young man. When Dayton reached
home he told his mother about it,
shes such a dear friendly little
SOUL said Mrs. Bannering, that
hate to tell her that she mustn't make
a bosom friend or every person she
happens to meet. even If that person
does chance to resemble royalty"
But when Edith's schoolmates be-
gan to tease her about her conquests,
when the neighbors began to hint TO
Mrs. Bannering that the girl was not
too particular in her choice Of asso-
ciates, and when the peanut vender,
the florists assistant or the gTocer's
young man was continually at hand to
escort Edith to or from school, Mrs.
Bannering realized that the time had
come for interference.
If she we're my daughter" said
Dayton shaking a threatening fist at a
bunch Of violets presented by the
young florist. I'D lock her up in her
room and keep her there. I'll thrash
those three chaps if you say SO.
Shall IL"
Certainly not" said Mrs. Banner
ing. quietly Il want you to invite
them here to dinner"
What" gasped Dayton.
i've decided" said Mrs. Bannering,
ito let Edith invite them all here TO
dinner. tomorrow night told hef
wished to meet her friends"
rs it a trap
"Woll, ye-es," admitted Mrs Banner
ing
The following day, Edith, radiant
with anticipation, made elaborate
preparations for the coming event
AT six o'clock the door bell rang.
The Empress Josephine went ioyfully
down the stairs to greet Napoleon.
But what allied him? There was GER