The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-01-23


know. We're public characters. Miss
Timpkinsf' And plumng themselves
on this solution OF the riddle, the
company waited patiently during the
next three-quartels of an hour.
At last there was waited to their
nostrils the mingled aroma of steam
ing rockwell and clans, and Mrs.
Wells shifted eXultantly.
The bake's open." she piped. Il
smell it. Amt it delicious?'
With one accord the ten women
started for the big dining hall with its
long, bare trestleboards thanked on
both sides by rows Of round, implanted
wooden stools; but they were inter
cepted by Colonel Pepperlee, more
smiling. more ''curchus" than ever.
Not there. Not there! This way. il
you pleased" And the women, be-
wildered but docile to the voice OF
man. followed the colonel through an
adjacent door.
They were in private dining room.
Before them was table spread with
table cloth, a linen table cloth. as
was later established by Miss Sally
Sloane's rubbing a fold OF the material
betwixt thumb and forsfinger. With
napkins! Real napkins, not squares of
pink. green and yellow tissue paper. as
in the public hall. scalloped along the
edges it is true. but nevertheless, only
tissue paper. Real chairs, too. Chairs
with cane seats and good thigh backs
in one of which Miss Sally Sloane
promptly deposited her plump person,
breathing gratefully: o
Praise be! I'd rather have half a
dinner with whole back than whole
one with Monet
But the others held aloof. but Mrs.
Wells clutching at the matrons arm
and warning her excitedly: This amt
any fifty-cent dinner, Miss Timpkins!
It's a seventy-tiver! My nephew, Pc
ter Rawdon-" and Miss Timpkins
spoke hastily:
Il must be a mistake, sir, l can't
pay"
You don't pay penny" treasured
the colonel. Not a pepny, It's
treat"
Miss Timpkins gasped. Mrs. Wells
gasped. They ali gasped.
But Mrs. Wells was the first to re-
cover her speech, and exclaimed, "A
treat. A treat! Do you hear. ladies?
Colonel Pepperlee's treating u.s." and
beaming joyously upon the colonel. she
bObbed courtesy.
Thank you, colonel! Thank you
kindly"
Not at all. Not at ALL" said the
proprietor, his rosy face quite pale with
cUlsternation
Twan't me. Twas an order from
the city. A telephone order
A chug and whir outside interrupt
ed the colonel; he almost ran to the
door. There was an anxious question.
satisfactory reply. and the next in
slant he ushered in tall young man,
young man with pleasant gray eyes
and a clean -shaven, dimpled chin, es-
corting an old lady in purple foulard
gown, black chip bonnet trimmed
with violets, and lace veil swinging
jauntily over one shoulder, a ponder
GUS old lady with curly white hair
and sparkling black eyes and coun
tenance aglow with happiness and
heat.
"Why-ee! It's Serena?" cried Mrs.
Wells. Serena Dodd How come you
here?" loT
I'm an automobile." affirmed Mrs.
Dodd. raptuously. I'm an automobile!
A lovely low one. l slid into it Sticks
whistle! Twas him. nodding to-
ward her companion, brought me. We
flew like Old Nick was chasing us. and
l want scared a mite
She surveyed the table joyously.
my suzzy me! Amt it elegant? Cow
oumbers and cracked Ice, Bermudy
onions and celery, plum brow bread
and white biscuit! Ah-h-h-h!" Mrs.
Dodd would have smacked her lips had
1t been quite lady like.
And it's all my party! He said
SO. Set you down, ladies, and make
yourselves to home,' Hospitality.
'Leastwise," with a glance at Miss Sal
ly Sloane. those of you as amt done
it already. Samanthy Wells, you
quickstep it right over here. Miss
Timpkins. you look out for Mrs. Prem
dergest. She's new and she's bashful,
and won't get a mouthful less you
tend to her Now, now, now!" severe
ly, perceiving that the matron was
about to speak. This amt any time
for probing into things. want my
dinner"
Then the walters swarmed in, and
1t was hot clans here and hot clans
there. and more hot CLANS. There was