The Somerset reporter., 1909-04-22
gle man since we left the station

dull"
Constantia's laugh ripped. "oh,
you goosie," she said, "as IL ! cared!
1t will be rest. If the girls are nice
4 sort of bachelor girls paradise"
Maize nodded. There is nothing for
men TO do in these Hampshire hills"
she said, land except a few mere hants
and the minister and the doctor there
aren't any"
well. I wish Bobbie Dwyer could
hear TINT" Constantia murmured.
who is Bobbie Dwyer?" Maize de
manded
J "B "B0D..-,-~-Copstantia explainez. .1n
elaborate and strangely earnest scorn-
fulness. SIS a lord OF creation. | was
engaged to him until one day he tried
to dictate to me, Then. OF course.
broke 1t off and told him there w j..
some worse things than being an old
maid. and he flung back at me that he
should live single. for he could never
! trust woman again. and then | told
! him that an old maid was happier
than bachelor. and he said If tried
1t Id find out, and, oh. wish you had
heard us!'' And in spite OF the trag-
edy of her recital Constantia laughed
"And I'm glad there aren't any men
here-I hate them
Mazie's face glowed. 1--WE will have
a lovely time If you feel that way"
she said
Just then the ramshackle cab round
ed curve. and there was the old
house, with Aunt Cynthia at the win
dow and the light shining out behind
her. and they went in and had tea
and mullins and little cakes, and Ma
/ zie feasted her eyes on the picture
Constantia made in her modish gown.
The next day Serena Sears came
/ over.
1 "MaKie told me how pretty you
were," she said quantity, land l told
her I'd rather see you than a picture,
but you are better than a whole art
gallery"
And that afternoon lot Of girls
came. pretty and nuttering creatures,
who hung about Constantia admiring-
ly.
had gone away.
That night more girls came, and in
the afternoon there was a girls tea,
and at night feminine galaxy came
over and sat around the fire and pop
ped corn and sang college songs.
When Constnntia and Maize went to
bed that night the pretty guest re-
marked, II love girls" but her voice
lacked eager enthusiasm.
Several days later Serena Sears gave
a dance.
"Of course there won't be any men,"
she said. but we can all dress up and
dance with each other and the girls
are crazy to see that white chiffon Of
yours, Constantia."
But when Constants was arrayed In
all her glory she surveyed herself
thoughtfully In the mirror. ut seems
a bit wasted" she murmured. "Bebbis
always liked me in white"
The dance was not 4 great success
1t lacked something and that some
thing Constantia said squivocaliy was
men.
In the days that followed the girls
still nuttered and admired, but Con-
| stantia looked at them with specula-
tive eyes.
ITS a pity" she said over the tea
cups TO Maize. that so many lovely
girls should not marry"
81 thought old maidism was the hap
piest state" Maize ventured.
"Of course for me-" Constantia said
hastily. but for you and Serena and
the others-oh, you ought to meet
some nice mem
| And all that evening she was
dreamy. and before she went to bed
she wrote letter.
Then she planned to give a cotillon
before she left town.
81 will have the favors and refresh
ments sent out from the city" she
said. Everybody here has been 30
kind that I want to be hostess before
60"
Aunt Cynthia was induced to con
sent and the girls Of Hilton got out
their best gowns.
When the caterer came with his
| host of assistants Aunt Cynthla sougnt
Constantia in great state of excite
ment. You have ordered far too
much" she said.
There was a faraway look In Con
stantia's eyes. They will eat 1t up"
she promised.
But girls have such delicate appe-
tites," Aunt Cynthia protested.
"Oh. girlsw Constantia murmured
and dropped the subject.
But when she came downstairs to
greet her guests she was so radlantly
beautiful in pink and silver, with her
eyes like stars, that Maize caught her
breath as she looked at her.
"Constantiaw she cried. What has
happened?"
Just then from without came the
"honk- -honk" of motor horn. which
was echoed by another and another,