Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-07-22
: CHAPTER VI,

Raridan was at the station to NEE
some guests OF Evelyn's, as he had prom
ised. He had established a claim upor
their notice on the occasion of one OF
his visits to Evelyn al college, and he
greeted them with an air of possession
which would have been intolerable in an
other man. He pressed Miss Warren fol
news of the Connecticut nutmeg crop
and hoped that Miss Marshall had not
lost her accent in crossing the Missouri
Annie Warren was as reserved and
quiet as Evelyn could be in her soberest
moments; Belle Marshall was as frank
and friendly as Evelyn became in her
lightest moods. Evelyn had been the
beauty of her class; her two friends were
what is called, by people that wish to
be kind, nice looking. Annie Warren
had been the best scholar in her class
Belle Marshall had been amongst the
poorest; and Evelyn had maintained a
happy medium between the two. And so
1t fortunately happened that the trio
mitigated one anothers imperfections.
Evelyn had discussed with her father
ways and means of entertaining her
guests. He preferred large functions.
He wished Evelyn to give a lawn party
before the blight of fall came upon his
flowers and shrubbery but she persuad-
ed him to wait until after pending
carnival. The ball of the carnival was
near at hand and she proposed that they
give a small dinner in the interval.
"I'll ask Wary anl Mr.. Saxton. Peo-
pie were already coupling Saxton's name
with Raridan's.
"Oh, yes, that's all right"
Il don't want very many; I'd like to
ask the Whipples - she went on, with
the anxious, far-away look that comes
into the eyes Of a woman who is weigh
ing dinner guests or matching fabrics.
Cant you ask Wheaton, ventured
Mr.. Porter cautiously, from behind his
paper.
IF you say So Evelyn assented. "He
isn't exciting, but Belle Marshall can
get on with anybody. I'm out of practice
and won't try too many. RS. Whipple
will help over the hard places"
Finally, however, her party numbered
ten, but it seemed to Wheaton a large
essemblage. lie had never taken a lady
in to dinner before, but he had studied
book of etiquette. and the chapter Oh
Dining Out" had given nIm hint of
what was expected. 1t had not, however.
supplied him with fund of talk, but
he was glad 10 find. when he reached the
table, that the company was so small
that talk could be general, and he was
thankful for the shelter made for him by
the light banter which followed the set
Ting Of chairs. Saxton went in with
Evelyn, who wished to make amends fol
his clumsy reception on the occasion OF
his first appearance in the house.
General Whipple persuaded Miss Mar
shall TO tell a negro story. which she did
delightfully."-, while the table listened.
Southerners are, after all, the most nat
ural takers We have and the only ones
who can talk freely Of themselves with
out oTense. Her speech was musical,
and she told her story with a nice sense
of its dramatic quality.
They had their coffee on the veranda.
where the lights from within made a
pleasant dusk about them. Porters
heart was warm with the JOY Of Evelyns
Homecoming. She had been away from
him so much that he was realizing for
the first time the common experience of
fathers, who find that their daughters
have escaped suddenly and inexplicably
from girlhood into womanhood; and yet
the girl heart in her had not lost its
freshness nor its thirst for pleasure She
had carried of her little company charm
ingly; Porter had enjoyed it himself, and
he felt young again in the presence of
youth.
General Whipple mad attached himself
10 one of the couples Of young people
that were strolling here and there in the
grounds. Porter and Mrs Whipp!e held
the veranda alone; both were uncon-
scicusly watching Evelyn and SaIton as