Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-05-19
CHAPTER Ii-Contlnued.

What's your-friend nke?" asked
Miss Cynthia interestedly.
He's a kinder forlorn-like young
man that paints pictures what are
plumb uplifting fer other folks to see
They are jest out and out surprising
When / seen his heart was so sot on
the barn to work in-I Jest amt one
to hold out against other folks hank
ering fer what's mine, and so-lands
alive, there he comes now!"
Up from the river over the Bluff
came the forlorn one, and the two OF
three minutes he consumed in strid
ing across the lot to the grocery door
Miss Cynthia spent in a paralyzed 70.
gard Of him.
He was tall and broad and had a
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 a flower in the breeze, and
on his left arm bobbed Carrots of the
flaming hair. To one knickerbockered
leg chung Bonnie Dobbs, while the
hOSnSS III LID OIAOI oAOC 0d66SO Will
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 All 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 l 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
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 an en-.
chanted gurgle. AS Miss Cynthia
raised her arms she also raised her
long lashes q fraction, and inadver-
tently let forth CLEAN Of mischiev-
Gus amusement that sent little tongues
of flaming embarrassment all over
the still dumb Mr.. Kent
It was enough to floor any man to
nnd suddenly that girl was laughing
ut him-and such girl in such a hat!
OF course he realized that he looked
like new style perambulator, but
What-The arm that steadied Blossom
rembled and she was about to be low.
bred into the embrace of her waiting
trtend, when with little squeal and
scornful kick of one pink foot she
clutched determinedly a shock Of bis
black hair and absolutely refused to
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, am sure. be more amen.
able to observation-disclosures" 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 a ,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 as she laid the heavy baby
on the pillow and threw the mosquito
netting over him. The mans calm az
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
overjoyed at her attentions, refusing
to leave him for herself was tie last
straw.
But, even worse, could the man have
meant to insinuate that she was con-
sciously exerting charm, for him,
over Blossoms shoulder? The mere
'uspicion of such a thing settled mat
ters! With her head in the air she
walked to the front of the store and
demanded a paper of tacks, which
Miss Selma Lue fastened to wrap up
or her, all unmindful OF the proximi-
ty Of the volcano.
Il do wish you didn't have to go,
Miss Cynthie, honey. was jest count
ng on your setting with us awhile
. git 'quainted with Mr.. Alan. He do
ak so interesting about pictures and
things we don't know nothing about.
You can learn heap from him. Why,
Mr.. Dobbs was a;saying Jest last night
That the things he tells us about are
plumb educating. You must come
down often to see him" And within
yard Of Miss selma Lue stood the