Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1911-02-10

do you know" he said. looking
down at me with his clear. discon
ccrting gaze. do you know that
have Just grasped the situation,
There was such a noise that did not
hear your name. and I am only real
izing now that you are my hostess!
i don't know why got the impression
that this was a bachelor establish
ment, but I did. Odd, wasn't it,"
positively couldn't look away from
him. My features seemed frozen. and
my eyes were glued to his. AS for
telling him the truth-well, my tongue
refused to move. I intended to tell
him during dinner II had an OPP
portunity: honestly did. But the
more l looked at him and saw how
candid his eyes were, and how stern
his mouth might be, the more shiv'
cred at the plunge. And, of course. as
everybody knows now, didn't tell
him at all. And every moment ex-
pected that awful old woman to ask
me what paid my cook, and when
l had changed the color OF my hair
Bclla's being black.
| Dinner was a half-hour late when
we finally went out, Jimmy leading
of with Aunt Selma, and l, rs hostess,
trailing behind the procession with
Mr.. HARRISON. Dallas took in the two
Mercer girls, for we were one man
short, and Max took Anne. Leila Mer-
Ger was so excited that she wriggled,
and as for me, the candles and the
rchids-everything - danced around
in circle. and just seemed to catch
the back of my chair as it flew past.
sim had ordered away the wines and
Chianti. Dallas looked gloomy at the
change, but Jim explained in an UNI
dertone that Aunt Selma didn't ap-
prove of expensive vintages. Natural
| ly, the meal was glum enough.
Aunt Selma had had her dinner on
the train, so she spent her time in
asking me questions the length OF the
table. and in getting acquainted with
me. She had brought bottle Of some
sort OF medicine downstairs with ner.
and she took claret glassful, while
she talked. The stuff was called Po-
mona: Shall ever forget It:
1t was Mr.. HARRISON who first mo-
ticed Takahiro. Jimmy's Jap had
been the only thing in the menage
that Bella declared she had hated to
leave. But he was doing the strangest
things: His little black eyes shifted
nervously. and lie looked queer.
Whats wrong with him." Mr..
HARRISON asked me finally. when he
saw that l noticed. is he ill.,"
Then Aunt Selina's voice from the
other end OF the table:
Bella" she called. in a high shrfll
tone, do you let James eat cucum-
ters?"
Il think he must be" said hurried
ly aside to Mr.. HARRISON. see how
his hands shake!" But Aunt Selma
would not be ignored.
"Cucumbers and strawberries" she
repeated impressively. Il was saying.
Bella. that cucumbers have always
given James the most fearful indiges-
ton. And yet see you serve them at
your table. Do you remember what
wrote you to give him when he has
his dreadful spells?"
was quite speechless: every one
was looking. and no one could help.
1t was clear Jim was racking his
brain, and we sat staring desperately
at each other across the candles.
Everything 1 had ever known faded
from me; eight pairs Of eyes bored
into me. Mr.. Harbison's politely
amused.
Il don't remember" I said at last
Really. I don't believe Aunt Sc
lima smiled in a superior way.
Now, don't you recall it," she ir.
sisted. Il said: Baking soda in water
taken internally for cucumbers: ba.
king soda in water externally, rubbed
on, when he gets that dreadful. Itch
ing strawberry RASH"
believe the dinner went on. Some
body asked Aunt Selma how much
overcharge she had paid in foreign
hotels, and after that she was as
harmless as dove.
Then halfway through the dinner
we heard a crash in Takahiro's pam
try, and when he did not appear
again. Jim got up and went out to in
vestigate. He was gone quite little
while. and when he came back he
looked worried.
Sick" he replied to our inquiring
.glances. "One OF the maids will come
in They have sent for a doctor"
Aunt Selma was for going out at
once and fixing him up" as she put
it. but Dallas gently interfered.
Il wouldn't, Miss Caruthers," he
said. in the deferential manner he
had adopted toward her. you don't
know what 1t may be. He's been look.
ing spotty all evening"
<TO BE CONTINUED