El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-24
WHEN BRITANNIA WINKED
BY RADCLIFFE MARTIN.

HE committee of the Puddle
I come Coronation Festival was
holding its meeting in a small
| class room of the school house The
vicar presided. supported by Mrs.
! Blobbs and three nonentities and Mr.
Tanner. the school master. was kept
| busy reducing the decisions of his
superiors to writing.
HIM." murmured the vicar, that,
1 think, disposes Of the mug question
Satisfa ctorily. There is another i'm
portant point but l have an engage
ment. 1 think. gentlemen, that the
selection of the lady to take the lead
ing part of Britannia in the procession
may be left to Mr.. Tanner. Person
ally 1 have every confidence in Mr..
Tanners discretion. 1 understand that
suggestion meets with general ap-
prevail. Well, good evening Mr..
; Tanner, 1 should just like word with
you"
Mr.. Tanner meekly followed the
vicar to the door.
You see. Tanner" said the vicar,
Il have had to use a little of the
wisdom of the serpent Mr.. FLOODS,
though in many ways an excellenl
man, is perhaps a trifle obstinate. I
feared that he might insist on his
daughter being Britannia. think
Mary Dawson, who sings in the choir
and takes an active part in the Wom-
ems Sewing meeting, would be a suit
able selection. You will notify Miss
Dawson that she has been chosen TO
represent Britannia, Tanner"
YES sir" said the school master
obviously. He returned rather sadly
to the school room to pick up his
papers. and found Mr. Blobbs waiting
for him.
'Ah. Mr.. Tanner. since this Britain
MIA business Is left in your 'ands I
thought it'd save you trouble to let
you know that my 'Enrietta II take
it."
! But you see, Mr. Blobbs. the vicar
made a point Of having Mary Daw-
son"
Look ere. am I chairman of the
school managers. or IS e? You go
and get them bills out. Put 'er full
name, Alice 'Enrietta Blobbs,' and
after it, the daughter of W. Blobbs.
ESQ.,, chairman of the Rural District
Council Now We'll call that settled"
Mr.. Blobbs wandered down the road
and found Maud Andrews waiting for
him.
Halo, George, what's the matter?
It is the vicar or Mr.. Blobbs this
timer"
The school master shook his head
I'm in a most awkward position at
present You see. they've left the rep
resentative of Britannia in the Coro-
nation procession to be chosen by me-"
Miss Andrews tossed her head and
put a stray curl straight. We'll,
you needn't be afraid about asking me-"
But, you see" began Mr.. Tanner,
there's Henrietta Blobbs. Mr.. Blobbs
wants her to be Britannia, and the
vicar will have Mary Dawson. and II
Mr.. Blobbs doesn't get his way shall
never get an advance of salary-and |
most likely I'll lose my position. And |
II the vicar doesn't get his way he'll !
stop me from being organist ans i
longer, and there goes 20 pounds /!
year"
Then be a man and choose me. |
Tell them you did it to avoid giving |
a preference to either of the candi- |
dates. tell you this, George Tanner, |
that If you put either of those girls |
before me and haven't pluck enough |
to stick up for my rights. our en-
gagement is at an end"
That evening Mr. Tanner wandered |
through the fields a melancholy man.
He sat down under a hedge and |
groaned aloud. Il wish I was dead |
and out of It ALL" he said. His
signs and means were heartbreakine
As he groaned over his miserable posi- J
ton. cursing the fate that had flung
him in the midst Of three fires, Miss
Allison Travers came down the hedge |
1t is hard to record 1t Of young
lady whose hair had just assembled |
and whose skirts had just begun to
hide her ankles. but Miss Travers was !,
bird nesting.
AS she was hooking out a nest
with the handle of her stick she was
surprised by groan in the hedge.
She promptly straighteneds her hair
and looked through the gap.
What's the matter? Are you III?
It's Mr.. Tanner, isn't it?"
Mr. Tanner sprang to his feet. ct
beg your pardon, if 1 disturbed you.
Miss Travers- No. I wasn't il1-just
a little depressed
Miss Travers knew the school master
well by sight. She always thought
Of him as the red haired young man
who played the organ in church, and
the hand of the prettiest
girl in the choir all through the
sermon Being a girl of II she felt,
Of course. maternal interest In the
troubles of this young man Of 80
What's bothering you, Mr.. Tanner7