The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-05-21

of occupation, l have taken the lib
erty of calling you together for a
slight diversion. You must know my
ship came in yesterday, and l want
your opinion on some samples, you
see here. of her cargo. In other words,
l was once lucky enough to do sea-
farlng friend of mine a good turn
that he never has been able to forget;
so every time he comes from a voy-
age he insists on bringing ashore
some sort of a present for me.
Not longer ago than last night his
vessel came safely to anchor in this
port, and this morning he made me
call, followed by two of his ma
rines bearing the generous offering
me this was rather a heavy load for
one man to carry off, so l decided to
send for help Will you help me?'
1t is needless to say his question
received prompt and unanimous
reply in the affirmative. According
ly, after We had duly applauded his
little speech, he proceeded, without
further ceremony to ';open-up."
Toasts to the host and the captain
were drunk with great relish.
Fill them up again, friends" urged
Waynewright, whose gaze, l happen
ed to remark, had wandered, as if by
accident, through the window and
across to the opposite building. AL
lowing my eyes to take the same di-
rection, l saw with thrill that she
and watching our proceedings With
no little curiosity.
"Gentlemen!" continued our host,
raising his glass, Il now offer you the
crowning one of all Our lovely neigh
Dor over the way!"
At these words l could not repress
a movement of annoyance. AS turned
aside to conceal the rising flush, Cav
erly, who was quite the swell of the
building, chimed in with Waynewright.
Good" he cried, "our fair visa
Wis, the most bewitching of her sex!"
Waynewright was looking around
with glass uplifted, when his eye light
ed on little henderson.
"Halloa l say, Henderson, aren't
you going to drink he demanded
Don't you approve the sentiment?"
We all looked at Henderson, who
became redder than a turkey-cock as
J he hastily raised the wine to his lips,
stamering:
Certainly, Mr.. Waynewright, GER
| tainly | approve most heartily
''By the way, boys" remarked Cav
erly, when We had again set down our
glasses, speaking of our lovely
neighbor, reminds me of bit of luck
l had yesterday noon. If you had
seen the little episode that occurred
then you would have died with envy.
Do you know, the young lady favored
me so far as to throw me kiss?
There. l knew | should astonish you"
And so he had At this impudent
assertion, made with all that self
sufficiency for which he was noted, |
very nearly bounded out of my chair.
| In fact, the only reason why | did not
| at once step forward and confront
| the bold ravisher of my precious kiss
was that | was too nearly suffocated
| with indignation to control my voice
| until it was too late. Luckily for me,
| before l had a chance to make my
self ridiculous, Grimwood sarcas-
tically interposed.
"Well, you are cool one, Caverly!"
| he exclaimed. Il saw the whole af-
| fair, being at my window at the time,
| and l happen to know that same kiss
was directed to me-"
This statement called forth uni.
versal murmur, in which any ejacula-
| ton that might have escaped involun-
tarily from me. was happily merged
so as to pass unnoticed Wayne
wright began to laugh
"This is getting to be interesting"
said he; Il feel some hesitation in
but | may as well confess that | have
| spent several idle moments at the
| window myself, during the past ten
days. l chanced to be looking out
yesterday noon, and | so far deluded
| myself as to think l was the object
| of the delicate attention under notice.
| But perhaps there are yet others who
were on duty? Don't let your mod
esty get the better of you, gentlemen;
we shall be happy to hear from any
one else"
At least half dozen voices were
now upraised in response to this in
vitation. 1t seemed as if every ten
ant on our side of the building must
kiss. And each was disposed to
claim it as his exclusive property.
Il hardly see how we can settle the
matter unless we refer to the lady
herself" said Waynewright, jokingly.
Suppose we send somebody over to
ask her whom she was aiming at when
the shot scattered so badly. Bender.
son, you are a disinterested party, l
take it, You were not at your win.
dow, too, harvesting that famous kiss,
were your" f
henderson flushed furiously, as he
had a way of doing whenever he was
brought into general notice.
1-yes-I was," he faltered.
We all looked at the little fellow in
some wonderment. His tone, to say
the least, was peculiar.
"And you thought it was sent to