Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-01-04
IN MASQUERADE.

In
He was on tho green cambric.coyered
lounge in his Aunt Sarah Briscomb's
cool dim sitting-room. He found II
very comfortable after a morning of
rowing and bicycling. Each alter
noon Of the five DAYS he had soiourned
in Westfield had found him there. read
ing o.. sleeping.
n frst-class place for a summer vaca-
ton when a fellow was tired out with
" long siege OF city newspaper work.
Aunt Sarah WAS In the porch. her
placid face just beginning to cool from
the heat OF dinner-getting. and her
specialized eyes slowly closing.
Bob, looking out at her, war falling
into . like d~rowstness, when . phaeton
pulled up briskly at the gate. and a
young person stepped out of it, who.
once seen. dispolled the last YES
tige OF Bob's sleopiness.
He sat up promptly. strAining his
eyes for a better view.
"Well!' Aunt Sarah called out, in
yratiied tones. pulling herself back
from tho verge OF her nap, and getting
ready to receive her caller. ..1'm very
glad to see you. Miss Stone. I wasn't
certain you'd come to-day. I've got
my butter all ready. though. and you
can have rs many eggs as you want"
Miss Stone hitched her horse, and
came up.the path and took a wide
pOrch-chair.
Bob congratulated himself on its
position. 1t gave him a good view Of
the young lady's very sweet face.
'.lt's so warm" she said, tanning
herself with a stylish little fan.
Bob observed that her dress and her
bonnet were surprisingly pretty for
Westticld.
$50 it's" Aunt Sarah agreed. 81
thought likely you'd stay at your UNI
clc's and sit out in the hammock and
read, or something. It's just the day
for it,"
Miss Stone frowned gently.
II never sit in the hammock" she
said with a pretty seriousness; II have
no time for it,"
"Well, there!" cried Aunt Sarah, be-.
ginning to laugh; 81 forgot all about
your notions, Miss Stone; or there, !
won't call 'cm notions, I'll call 'em
principles. You're just as tickled over
the country as ever?" /
"Just," cried Miss Stone, smiling
good-tempcredly.
And you get up at four o'clock every
morning yct?"
And sometimes earlier"
"And you keep on helping your Aunt
Mirandy with the work? You help get
breakfast, and help get dinner, and
And bake-yes. Tvo learned to
make bread" said Miss Stone, trium-
phantly. "And l MIXED last night:
MIXED real straight, too, only a little
went out of the pail"
Aunt Sarah vas laughing silently.
"And you don't want to get back
home-surc you don't?" she queried.
"Oh, no. Miss Stones gloved hands
clasped themselves impetuously. 81
never want to see the city again-ncv.
err! This is such a lovely life-so per-
fect!"
you're just the same, sure enough"
Aunt Sarah observed, wiping her
dampened glasses. IL rcckoncd you'd
get over it. Well, do you think Just
as much of Hank Grimes as evcr?'
"Oh, our bop Miss Stone grimaccl
laughingly. Nov you know what
meant. said that he was honest, and
faithful, and Industrious; that lie had
all the qualities of a gentleman, ex-
cept good-brceding, and that l should
prefer an energetic son of toll for a
husband" said Miss Stone, getting be-
comingly pink in her carnestncss, to
. frivolous, tlippant-minded city man
they're all frivolous and fippant.
minded!" Miss Stone tapped the arm
Of her chair dccisively. .sAnd no lack
OF birth, and station, and wealth should
prevent my marrying an honest worthy
young man. l think l might prefer
one witt, some worldly disadvantages:
could lift him up" said Miss Stone
seriously.
well. yes; you could support the
family" Aunt Sarah assented, with a
chuckling gaze on her visitors pretty
diamond brooch and earrings.
Eyes, l could lift him." Miss Stone
repeated gently. "But Hank Grimes
Il don't quite like red hair, and cross
ed eyes, and freckles, all together; and
believe he is deeply devoted to Mary
Ann Simmons, besides"
Miss Stone laughed swectly and
dimplingly, as sue rose to follow Aunt
Sarah to the dairy.
Bob Russell sat in reflective stiffness
during the ton minutes which passed
before Miss Stone went out at the gate
with a basket Of eggs and . pail of but
ter, and drove away.
He rushed to the window to watch
her-a slender aud charming figure,
with a peachv face. against the dark
background Of the phaeton. He felt
q sudden regret, which amounted to
n0snp~@rk . vrs~h Ah>h ~ ~-~n = R~s-