The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-02-18
BASHFUL YET
FEARLESS
~

dTS6S 80 sSS go eS S3 SSS&5
II | had been caught in such sit
uation by anybody but John Benton I
should have been terribly annoyed.
There l was sitting on the floor OF
the nursery with hair tumbled, my
noe red. and a great rent across the
eront OF my skirt where it had been
caught by nail few minutes be-
fore during fierce blindman's buff
rrimmage.
My little sister Alice was having
party and of course l had to assist In
entertaining the guests. There were
lust twelve, seven boys and five girls.
When John Benning tapped at the
ioor l said come in" carelessly sup
posing it was one of the servants.
II beg your pardon, Miss Latour.
rhey said l should find you here.
5ut perhaps l have made some mis-
AXE"
mot at all, Mr.. Benton" said l as
scrambled to my feet. I'VE are
,leased to see you. Sit down on-on
he piano stool. The chairs have
,sen taken into the other room. We
nave been playing blindman's buff"
IL received this invitation"
vent on Mr.. Benton, taking an enve-
ops from his pocket.
The gilt-edged card within read:
miss Latour requests the pleas
ire OF your company on Tuesday, De-
,ember 30, at five o'clock"
looked reproachfully at my sew
,n-year-old sister Alice. She had
ent one of the printed invitations in
which the printer had neglected to
insert the name Alice" to John Ben
on, and the great BOBBY had taken it
ior granted that l was the Miss La
our, so he had come in full dress-a
lice contrast to my torn dress and
!isheveled hair
did not care much what said to
tohn Benton. Ever since | had met
lim at the Warren's ball three
months before, my brothers all de-
tded that he was in love with me,
mt was too bashful to tell me so.
Not that he was backward where
ren were concerned. My brother Will
.ook me to the Stock Exchange one
morning, and l saw John Benton,
With his hat on the back of his head,
;rasping a brass railing with one
land and shaking the other, holding
ONE papers in the face of a savage
ooking man, and shouting at him at
ne top OF his voice in the most de-
,ant manner.
Hut Mr.. Benton was not thinking
nbout the market as he walked over
0 the piano stool in his dress suit
ma white necktie and sat there with
ne Of the most shcepish smiles I
yer saw on youEg mans face.
Now, LoH, YOU must sit down on
he floor again, so that we can play
~orfeits. And you, too, Mr.. Benton,
)ne on" said Alice.
John Benton blushed and looked
- me.
Most Of the penalties were in the
ape OF kisses, and l felt nervous un-
my turn came. Alice held for
tits over the head of particular
lend of hers, girl of her own age
I'd 1t was the duty of the latter to
~ what would be done with the
vner OF the article. There was my
indkerchief held up threateningly.
| am ashamed to say that my
cart beat quickly when Alice re-
Gated the familiar jargon, and I
7irly Jumped when she with a mis-
1ievious glance at Mr.. Benton and
yself stepped and whispered to her
lend. Then she went on with the
lestion:
What shall be done with the
Swner?"
Clear cut and distinct came the an
ger:
she shall kiss Mr.. Benton"
oh, it's Lou-it's Lou!" shouted
lice.
There was silence, as everybody
'icept Mr.. Benton looked at me to
re the operation performed, when a
lby voice at my side said:
III tiss him for you, Lou"
SO Stella climbed up to Mr.. Ben
ms neck, with one of her hands on
s white shirt front, and, as she
i'd herself:
Il tissed him right on the mouf,
I'd 1t TITLED my nose!"
l did not want to play at forfeits
~ longer-it was too dangerous
proposed that we should all
ng."
"Ess, tan sing. / know lots OF
hngs."
Yes, Stella, let us hear you sins
qe all by yourself"
80 she commenced deliberately:
Little birdie, or the tree "a lon,
'eath) on-the-tree! (another lon,
ieath) on-the-tree!"
Then she stoDned and with