The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1909-05-01

" ! called from the veranda as he was
M starting for the village with the daily
Wv around by Red Towers on your
way home and leave this note for
Every Well, Miss Ethel" Peter refined in Trixy
and received the note with polite pull at his hat
"And, Peter, you might little discretion.
don't want her to Know
You trust me, Miss Ethel. I'll fix it,
Her eyes met his for second and she laughed
Peters face also relaxed its official gravity as he
pocketed the note and started off. He knew all
about the matter. Miss Ethel and her mother hay
ing discussed it through the length of seven-mile
drive, while he kept his eyeson the road in 'front.'
but listened assduously.
The note was an invitation to a garden party
with the Daughters of the Revolution as guests of
star performer to be a young Irish earl who was
visiting Mi. Harry Jasper next door The two
selves, and as yet TO one else in the ne1ghboThood
had met the distinguished foreigner Miss Ethel
sve eve lsee of the garden Aearty:
The question thoroughly discussed on the
should be included. Mrs. Carter had said firmly
that since she WAS @ @ OF Inc s not b 20
had replied that the party was purely a social af-
had added some pointed details; the womans
maiden name, as everyone knew, was Maggie NC
career had kept saloon; she was odious, push
ing. nouveau richie, she dyed her hair and penciled
her eyebrows; she didn't have thought in the
world beyond clothes and she hirted outrageous1y
with every man who came near Peters smile
shrewdly. suspected, the keynote OF the trouble.
Miss Ethel had caught MI .d Harry Jasper paying
The contest had awakened Peters sporting in
stincts; he felt that when Mrs. Carter and her
daughter matched wills the result was even bet
ting. Accordingly, upon delivering the invitation,
for Mrs Booth-Higby; and his interest was
doubly keen at receiving il three days late. Miss
Ethel had been vanquished after all
He turned in between the ornate gates of Red
Towers-the two posts surmounted by lions up
the shadow of imposing porte-cochere.
A gay group of ladies and gentlemen were gath
iJ ohoir will 01
of mint julep, and Mrs Booth-Higby herself rose
and sauntered toward him amidst voluminous
rustic of draperIes.
whose man are you?" she inquired with
Peters face redeemed slightly. The entire group
had ceased their conversation to stare
''Mr. Jerome Carter's, he replied, fumbling for
the note
HcT eyebrows lifted slightly. 1t evident
that she knew about the garden party and had
tertaned emotions over the absence of her own
1T should have come three days ago." Peter
xiibiy lied ''Mss Carter, she give lot to de-
liver, an this one slipped down the crack between
It this mornin when washin' the blackboard.
hope that it amt important an that We WON'T feel
called upon to tell Miss Carter. 1t would get me
Her anger had evidently been excessive and she
worked it off now in a reprimand which Peter
Miss Ethers description of her character. She
ended by bidding him wait for an answer.
repeatAS to himself. "she's ashamed of him
an won't let on she ever heard the name, but
she is a lady for all his saloon"
When she returned twenty minutes later her air ali.
she inquired in a note of forgiveness
Il believe so, ma am.
els Lord Kiscadden to take part?'
Cant say, maam.' AS scene shifter, Peter
eaddens interpretations Of the character Of George
Washington 1ordship with fine sense of
ton of the name, Peters face was blank
rs he to remain much longer at Jasper Placer"
Haven't heard him say. ma'am."
the and e OF ten MIN
Peter touched his hat gravely, murmured Thank
lawn the Booth-Higby peacock decoration for
the Italian garden, but given to wandering out of
SHE'D his ten cents at the BIRDS head with the
muttered wish that the coin had been large enough
On the day of the garden party Peter worked
hard. He superintendent the raising Of supper
tent the lawn, strung colored electric bulbs
among the branches of the trees, the furniture
moved out of the drawing room and three hundred
shifting scenery for the dress rehearsal but 1ally
for tba 1rst tab,eau and With sigh of reiief
turned toward the kitchen. He felt that ne had
earned a fifteen minutes chat with the parlox
maid.
But fresh trouble awaited him. He found Mrs
ice cream had not come; and the expressman, who
had already met three trains, said that he could
not deliver it until morning. Mrs. Carter
bounced upon Peter.
rs Miss Ethel through with you? Then drive
the station Immediately and meet the six-twenty
train. IL it isn't that, stop at Gunthers and
tell them they will have to make me nine gallons
of ice cream before ten o'clock tonight. It's dis
graceful! I shall never engage Perry to cater
again. And tell the expressman that 1 consider
him very dsoblging,' she threw after him.
AN hour and half later he dumped three kegs
of ice and brine the back veranda, and turn
ing away cheered by the hope of his long postponed
supper, when Annie hailed him from the kitchen
window.
.tHey, Petei Wait q minute! Miss Ethel said
you got back for me to send you into the
library
= what they wantin' now?' he growled. ''I'lI
be glad when that bloomin' young lord takes him
self home to Ireland where he b'longs- Between
picnics an ridin' parties an clambakes an theat-
ricas, 1 amt had chance to sit down since he
come
Annie showed chair toward him Then sit
down now, for he's gone! telegram come calm
m wa an IT. Harry's motoring