The Ordway new era., 1911-04-14

the excitement had spread telepathi.
cally to the Hill mansion and was
bringing the color to Miss Cynthia's
cheeks and lending an additional
sparkle to her eyes. Miss Cypthia.s
eyes. however. had been very bright
through very wide-eyed night. and
her heart had been dancing In an IN.
accountable way since she fed
through the fields with the echo in
her ears.
Generally speaking. . woman pre-.
fers a first.hand wooing. but to Miss
Cynthia the outburst in the grocery
had had an especial charm. There
Is something propitiating and alluring
In an affection that IL daringly out
spoken and declares itself at the first
opportunity. whether or not the listen
er is the inspiration. Her state Of
mind might have been guessed by the
careful process Of her toilet. though
she only intended to descend to the
blum for the purpose OF aiding Miss
Selma Lue in her hospitable prepare.
tions. The visit Of her friend Evelyn
had lost all aspect of an embarrass.
ment: rather 1t partook OF the nature
Of triumph.
Her trip to the Bluff. however, was
postponed for an almost uncomfortable
length Of time. for In the hall she en-.
countered Mr. Everston in the act OF
taking his departure after an inter.
view with Mrs. Jackson Page. The
expression OF extreme harassment on
that good gentleman's face conveyed
definite idea Of the interview. and
Miss Cynthia followed him to the We.
randa and invited the explosion.
Most unreasonable. my dear, most
unreasonable! The land company is
willing to walt no longer than two
weeks for a definite answer. 1t Is an
exceptional opportunity and the only
way to settle the estate SO az to in.
sure a residue-er-suitable to your
mother's-er-needs. The price of the
house IL. l may say. fancy one. and
l cannot see another way Of getting
the property on the market except at
a sacrifice. Couldn't you-er-er-my
dear. demonstrate with your mother?"
Remonstrance with Mrs. jackson
Page sounded stupendous even to the
ears OF her own daughter. but Miss
Cynthia's head went up . tribe and
she answered in tones slightly akin to
those habitually used by that most
impressive lady:
III you please. MIR. Everston. pro-
coed with the business Of the sale,
and when the time comes l am sure
she will sign the papers. Thank you
for your kindness and-your pa.
tience." and Miss Cynthia held out
her hand to the fustered old gentle
| man with the smile that always drew
Bennte Dobbs-and others. She
watched him drive away in his sedate
old gig. and then turned, not to the
apartment Of the dimcult Mrs. Jack
son Page. but down the hill to the
blum. where turmoil and excitement
and life called.
And she found them in abundance:
in fact. the bluff fairly teemed with
them and spilled over and ran out to
meet her. Bennie headed the on.
slaught and was followed by Ethel
Maud and Luella Kinney and several
| Tynes Of assorted sizes. As they
brought up beside her. Ethel Maud
stepped on one OF her own feet In a
most amazing way and fell sprawliug
|
retrousse nose on the tip of Miss Gym.
thia's shoe. A mighty wall ensued,
which was augmented by Bennie's
most unsympathetic prediction that
she would be denied the privilege of
attendance at the party.
"Oh-oh-o-ho, I can go, too.
don't eat with my nose. and see with
my eyes and they won't be nothing to
smell. Ohio. can't go, Miss Gym
thie?"
Yes. indeed you can," answered
Miss Cynthia. as she wiped the barked
little dot with her clean handkerchief
and failed to notice the smutty prints
from the small fingers that clung to
the sleeve Of her snowy frock Ben
ME mustn't say that He knows 1t
wouldn't be nice party II you had to
stay at home with sick nose Now
come on and let's get your mother to
put some camphor on It," And they
all proceeded down street.
Mrs. Kinney hailed them from her
open window with the rolling-pin. She
was almost, Liter ally speaking, elbow
deep In pies. and the aroma thereof
spread across the street. Her front
stoop glistened damply in the sunlight
and the front walk was spotless. The
gate was tied up as a signal for the
children to jump over the fence and an.
proach their home with caution-on
the grass.
tTO BE CONTINUED)