Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-09-19
MISS SELMA
~dme SoopbmBnbie,
BY f1ARlF THOMPSONDANIE
s1H 1so b ~ mG ssSsSsg 81 Kf f1sry


gard of him.
He was tall and broad and had q
square chin and laughing, dark eyes.
So much she could see, but further de.
tails were obscured, for perched on his
right shoulder was the Blossom, nod
ding like flower in the breeze, and
on his left arm bobbed Carrots of the
flaming hair To one knickerbockered
leg chung Bonnie Dobbs, while the
pocket on his other side sagged with
the wounded hand of Ethel Maud.
who ran to keep up with the process
sion.
In due time they arrived at the foot
Of the steps on which stood Miss Gym
thia. still hypnotized with surprise. and
Miss Selma Lue, anxious to do the
honors in the way of an introduction.
The swaying Of the Blossom and her
clutch Of his hair had hid Miss Gym
thia from the sight Of the artist, and
his surprised eyes took in the radiant
vision in white linen and large rose
garden hat with such start that
there threatened a rain of babies on
Miss Selma Lue's devoted head.
Make you 'quainted with Miss Gym,
THE. Mr.. Alan-not as that's his last
name. as Is Kent, but we feel SO friend
ly with him now we compliment him
with his first. Miss Cynthie, please
take Blossom SO he can put Carrots in
his box; he is most droze of and am
afraid he will drop often his arm. I've
got to git bucket Of lard and some
starch fer Mis- Dobbs fer she Is in SIGH
a hurry"
Miss Selma Lue's energetic treat.
ment of the situation released Miss
Cynthia's motor nerves and she be-
came once more herself, very sweet
cool. formal self that acknowledged
the Introduction with graceful aloof-
ness. This most appropriate attitude
toward the strange young man was
somewhat modified by having to de-
scend to the step above that upon
which he stood In order that she might
get possession Of Blossom Who was
dropping toward her with IN en-.
chanted gurgle. AS Miss Cynthia
raised her arms she also raised her
long lashes a fraction. and insdver.
tently let forth q CLEAN OF mischiev-
Gus amusement that sent little tongues
OF flaming embarrassment all over
the still dumb Mr.. Kent.
1t was enough to floor any man to
find suddenly that girl was laughing
at him-and such girl in such hat!
OF course he realized that he looked
like new style perambulator. but
what-The arm that steadied Blossom
trembled and she was about to be low.
cred into the embrace Of her waiting
friend. when with . little sQueal and
. scornful kick Of one pink foot she
clutched detorminadly q shock q hla
Dlack uAiA s..Au uusu.ulel! reused W
leave her perch. In vain Miss Gym
thia wooed with outstretched hands:
Blossom held to her coign Of vantage.
A mean little feeling of qualification
cooled the embarrassment in Mr..
Kent's veins, and he said gently. too
meekly perhaps: TRY lower down.
Carrots will, l am sure. be more amen
able to the-th-charm." And he
rolled that very sleepy young gentle
man into her outstretched arms.
A CLEAN Of vexation was all the re-
turn he got for the trick he had played
on her. and with shrug Of dismissal
for both Blossom and him. Miss Gym
thia turned and mounted the steps
and made her way to the back of the
store.
Rage. yes, actual rage was boiling
within her ~ she laid the heavy baby
on the pillow and threw the mosquito
netting over him. The mans calm as
sumption Of an intimate friendship
with Miss Selma Lue and the babies
and the grocery, and she had almost
included herself. was uncomfortable.
And Blossom, who had always been