The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-02-17
The Times
Evening
Story

I'm weak moment OF abyssmal
dullness the young squire -
so called TO distinguish him
from his late grandfather-nad
sent invitations TO all the
children he had remembered IN tne
neighborhood TO assemble for kina
of juvenile house-warming-
/ He stood now upon the hearthruS
In the green drawing room. some
what nervously--if truth must be told
awaiting the advent of his guests
Before his three years In Singapore
be had been most excellent friends
With every boy and girl within the 1T
dius of 20 miles round. Nothing. ne
had therefore decided. could be a more
appropriate initiation TO his new In
heritance than a big, rowdy. clamoT'
Ing, delightful children's party.
Alas, He had rcckoned without his
host, or should we more properly say
his hostess? For children's party
with a mere man as the organizer Is
apt to be somewhat disquieting. TO
begin with, when they did arrive the
majority OF children were shy. They
drifted into the drawing-room by twos
and threes, shook hands with the
young man on the hearthrug, and sub.
sided silently into corners. The min
lority--consisting chiefly of Eton-coateti
boys--was rowdy, and between the
two extremes Eric Dalton--to give the
young squire his right name-was at
his Wits end. He had relied solely
on his own skill. forgetting that one
cannot play piano. organize games,
pick up weeping mites OF four who
had bumped their heads. all at the
same moment.
Look here, youngsters. let's com
mence with musical chairs" he sug-
gested, with fustered cheeriness.
Dilemma number one!
The older boys thought musical
chairs a kids game" Also, the
chairs were heavy and ancestral, and
not adapted for easy moving. One
eager little girl, In attempting to drag
chair into position. was already iy-
ing beneath It. shriekingSJike locomo-
tive
| Eric rescued her, soothed her sobs.
and timidly offered General Post as an
idea. Some scoffed-others applaud.
ed The shy majority forgot their bash
fulness and became argumentative.
In the middle OF the discussion il
pink-frocked maiden OF eight, leading
four-year-old sister by the hand.
touched Eric's knee and preferred q
request.
GLORY feels rather sick Will you
nurse her DIT, please? Mummie al
ways does"
| Nurse Glory--settle the argument
keep the games going Good heav.
ems Eric could have shed tears OF
sheer impotence-would have done so,
perhaps. had not the butler entered
suddenly and made distinct an
nouncement. He rose miserably with
the bilious four-year-old in his arms,
and threaded his way through the
clamor. shaking a protesting head al
the assailing shouts OF "Oh, Mr.. Dial.
ton, please mayn't we dress up? It's
so much jollier than"
Couldn't you be bear, Mr.. Dalton
and let us be Indlans?"
Mr.. Dalton, Mr. Dalton. Sissy 8
hair-ribbon's come of: would you
please tie it on again."
The butler had retired after an
nouncing the visitor, and with a look
OF comical despair on his face, Eric
found himself. greatly 10 his surprise
shaking the hand OF tall, fair girl In
outdoor dress. whose face was entire
ly unfamiliar to him.
I'm so sorry TO disturb you." said
the newcomer. as she smiled round or
the gathering; but you did expec'
me. didn't you?"
Her hair ctirled crisply. her eyes
were like the Mediterranean on a fin,
day. end Eric would have liked to re
ply warmly In the Affirmative. Bu
truth is truth. so he merely shook hi,
head sorrowfuliy. and said he wa:
afraid not.
why. we've had quite a long cor
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