The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1908-04-08
The Country
Mouse.
By TEMPLE Bailey
Cnnvrirht lA07 hY N. E. Daley.
By TEMPLE BAILEY.
Copyright. 1907. by N. E. Daley.

Mary's brother Roger met her at the
station.
"Mary is planning no end of things
for YOU" he told Felicia when he had
settled her in the carriage. ''She is go
ing to give a luncheon and tea and a
theater party and a dance. and half
of her friends are enlisted to make you
have a good time. 1t will be lively
existence for you. little girl"
"Oh," Felicia leaned forward. Il shall
love it! My greatest excitement for
sleigh ride and I am longing for so
ciety"
MARY spells society with big s. =
Roger told her "She is a slave to 1t,
and she needs rest. She Is as thin as
a wafer and as pale as paper"
"But think what a lovely time she
hasr' Felicia said. all pink and white
with enthusiasm.
'Humph!" Roger said. "You don't
know when yOu are well OF. little Fee
Iicia."
But Felicia fell on Mary's neck when
she reached the great stone mansion.
4
''The school hoard gave me vacation,
and am going to have the time of my
life."
Indeed you are" Mary said and car
rfed her away to delectable bedroom.
where rose leaves drifted across the
wall paper.
I'm get Into my kimono, and then
we can talk" Felicia said jOyously as
she opened her little black bag. But
Mary shook her head obviously. The
girls are coming for luncheon in just
half hour. There are ten of them,
and the table decorations are to be
i In pale pink, because that is your ia
| vorite color"
what shall l wear?" Felicia asked.
81 have gray gown and a white one,
and the white one is for evening"
1.-THE gray will be all right with a
4 ducky little knot of pink carnations
and lilies of the valley. The florists
are doing them that way now. and
Roger can get you some"
Roger got the flowers, but the gray
gown was, not gorgeous. and beside
Mary's shimmering chiffon creation
Felicia felt depressingly shabby.
But the luncheon was exquisite, and
the girls were friendly, and Felicia did
not have much time to think of herself.
for there was a tea on Immediately
after, and she was carried OF by Mary
and Roger, wearing a long and splen-
did wrap Of Mary's, for her own SIM
pie tailor made jacket was out of the
question.
mo one will notice that it is mine,"
Mary assured her, lin the crush" so
Felicia, feeling very elegant. swept
through the crowded rooms and talked
as last as she could to dozens Of peO-
pie and came out breathless.
wasn't it awful?" Roger asked her.
81 shouldn't have gone a step If it
hadn't been for you"
at was delightful. Felicia gurgled-
''the pretty women, the lights, the mu-
sic, the ices sand everything"
"Humph" Roger grumbled, and Fee
Iicia made little face at him and
said, You're an unsociable bear, Rog-
err" and Roger said, "Oh. it's such a
waste of good material for you to
spend your time with such people
when you might be talking to me, Fe-
licia.'
Felicia opened her eyes wide at that
do you like to talk to me. RogerY'
she questioned. and Roger laughed and
said. 'Yes, but you don't deserve 1t. :"
And Felicia, feeling very much fat
tered. leaned back In the carriage and
peeped at Roger now and then. while
/ ffNw
the next day.
1--WE will go to the hairdressers ear
Iy. Roger. don't you think Felicia
will look dear with her hair marceledY
81 think Felicia looks dear With her
hair any way"
"O-o-o-h." murmured Felicia from
her conner.
Mary laughed and went ON.
There are the Deering luncheon and
three teas and the art exhibit and the
Colburns' dinner and box party aft
er, and then the cotillon."
"Oh. stop!' Felicia pleaded, looking
at her cousin with startled eyes. do
you expect me to do all that in one
day, Mary?"
"She does" Roger asserted, survey
ing his country cousin with melancholy
eyes. "and where. oh. where in all
that programme will you have a min
ute to spend with meY
81 am not worrying about that" Fe-
licia told him, dimpling. "but what
am | going to wear. Mary? What am
I going to wear"
There's your white Dress" Mary
said slowly.
But ! can't wear that one dress to
. luncheon and three teas and a thea
ter party and a dance. What are you
going to wear. Mary?"
my pale blue broadcIoth will do for
the luncheon and the tea and the View
olnner and the rest OF the evening""
when in all that rush will you find
time to changer" was Rogers ques-
ton.
Mary leaned back In the corner of
the carriage. She was very pale, and
there were dark circles around her
eyes.
"Oh. don't know: don't KNOW
she said. Sometimes feel aH II
were on a treadmill and no one wuprru
let me STOP"
Felicia looked at her with startled
eyes.
why. l thought you liked it." she
gasped.