The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-07-21
CHAPTER VI.

Raridan was at the station to meet
some guests of Evelyn's, as he had prom
ised. He had established a claim upon
their notice on the occasion of one of
his visits to Evelyn at 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
happy medium between the two. And so
1t fortunately happened that the trio
mitigated one another's 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 AMI Mr.. Saxton. Peo-
pie were already coupling Saxton's name
with Raridans.
"Oh, yes, that's all right"
II 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 woman who Is weigh
ing dinner guests or matching fabrics.
Cant you ask Wheatonp 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
assemblage. He had never taken lady
in to dinner before, but he had studied a
book of etiquette, and the chapter OH
Dining Out" had given nim a hint of
what was expected. 1t had not, however,
supplied him with a fund Of talk, but
he was glad to 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 offense. Her speech was musical
and she told her story with a nice sens,
of It's dramatic quality.
They had their coffee on the veranda
where the lights from within made 9
pleasant dusk about them. Porter
heart was warm with the joy Of Evelyn
homecoming. She had been away from
him so much that he was realizing fol
the first time the common experience o
fathers, who find that their daughter
have escaped suddenly and inexplicabl!
from girlhood into womanhood: and ye
| the girl heart in her had not lost it
freshness nor its thirst for pleasure. Sh
had carried of her little company charm
ingly; Porter had enjoyed 1t himself, ant
he felt young again in the presence o
youth.
General whipple had attached himsel
to one of the couples of young peopl
that were strolling here and there In tn
grounds. Porter and Mrs. Whipple he'll
the veranda alone; both were uncon
scicusly watching Evelyn and sSIton a