Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-05-13
BHSHFUL
YET FEARLESS


If I had been caught in such a
situation by anybody but John Benton
! should have been terribly annoyed.
There I was sitting on the floor of
the nursery with hair tumbled, my
face red, and a great rent across the
front of my shirt, where it had been
caught by a nail a few minutes be-
fore during a fierce blindman's buff
scrimmage.
My little sister Alice was having
a party and of course 1 had to as
sist in entertaining the guests. There
were just twelve, seven boys and five
girls. When John Benton tapped at
the door l said "come in" careless
ly, supposing it was one of the SER
wants.
Il beg your pardon, Miss Latour.
They said l should find you here. But
perhaps l have made some mistake. >"
Not at all, Mr.. Benton" said l,
as l scrambled to my feet. 1--WE are
pleased to see you. Sit down on-on
the piano stool. The chairs have
been taken into the other room. We
have been playing blind mans buff. I"
II received this invitation, -
went on Mr.. Benton, taking an en-
velope from his pocket.
The g'ilt-edged card within read:
Miss LatOur requests the pleasure
Of your company on Tuesday, Deem
Der %, at five o'clock"
1 looked reproachfully at my seven
year-old sister, Alice. She had sent
one of the printed invitations, IN
which the printer had neglected to
insert the name Alice" to John Ben
ton, and the great BOBBY had taken
it for granted that 1 was the Miss
Latour, so he had come in full dress
"a nice contrast to my torn dress
and disheveled hair.
1 did not care much what ] said to
John Benton. Ever since / had met
him at the Warren's ball; three
months ago, my brothers all decided
that he was in love with me, but
was too bashfuI to tell me so.
Not that he was backward where
men were concerned. My brother
Will took me to the Stock Exchange
one morning, and 1 saw John Benton.
with his hat on the back of his head,
grasping a brass railing with one
hand and shaking the other, holding
some papers in the face of a savage
looking man, and shouting at him at
the top of his voice in the most de-
faint manner.
But Mr.. Benton was not thinking
about the market as he walked over
to the piano stool in his dress coat
and white necktie, and sat there with
one of the most sheepish smiles i
ever saw en- a young mans face.
'Now, Lou, you must sit down on
the floor again, so that We can play
forfeits. And you, too, Mr.. Benton,
Come on said Alice.
John Benton FLUSHED and looked at
me.
Most of the penalties were IN the
shape OF kisses, and | felt nervous
until my turn came. Alice held for
feits over the head of a particular
friend of hers, a girl of her own
age and it was the duty of the latter
to say when what should be done
with the owner of the article. There
was my handkerchief held up threat
eningly.
/ am ashamed to say that my
heart beat quickly when Alice repeat
ed the familiar nursery jargon. and
II fairly jumped when she with a
mischievous glance at Mr.. Benton and
myself stepped and whispered to her
friend. Thel she went on with the
question:
what shall be done with the own
er?'
Clear cut and distinct came the
answer;
'She shall kiss Mr.. Benton"
ooh, It's Lou-it's Lou?" shouted
Alice.
There was silence as everybody eX
cept Mr.. Benton looked at me to see
the operation performed, when baby
voice at my side said:
"Pll tiss him for you, Lou"
So Stella climbed up to Mr.. Ben
tons neck, with one of her hand:
on his white shirt front, ard, as sht
said herself: