Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-24

there were much laughter and noisy
a dark blank again.
Everybody here?' demanded Mrs.
weldrake. emerging from her kitchen.
large. beetle browed and commanding
Of aspect She was dressed in stiff,
black taffeta silk skirt Of generous
width and q white lawn waist. She
wore a large white apron. and as she
came into the sitting room there how
cred about her defined odor of fresh
~ made coffee and recently fried
doughnuts.
Everybody here" she repeated, re-
viewing the chattering groups of wom-
en- and the awkward men lowering
about the door.
"All except Althea Laden and her
mother" spoke up young girl. They
oughter been here by this time. saw
them drive away from their house
long before we left"
There was an embarrassed silence
before Mrs. Weldrake answered: "Well.
we needn't wait for Althea Laden and
her mother. They amt coming" She
vanished into the kitchen.
Not coming?" asked the girl who
had spoken before.
They wasn't asked" whispered a
woman guardedly.
mot asked?" echoed the girl
"'Tisn't likely, is it, giggled a wo-
man with a nod of her head toward
the kitchen door. and the girl. glancing
at Mrs. Weldrake's daughter, Stella.
nodded understandingly.
"Althea Laden wasn't asked, to the
minister's surprise" The words ran
around in low murmured disapproval.
for Althea and her mother were village
favorites, and the invariable "Why ~
and its answer followed. All of the
women already knew that the Ladens
had not been invited. but under the
stern injunction OF Mrs. Weldrake
none bad dared to break the seal of Sc
crect imposed upon the especially in
vited, for this surprise on the bachelor
minister Of Thornville had found its in
! ception in the brain of matchmaking
Mrs. Weldrake. and Althea Laden was
not to be invited. Fat, good natured
| Stella Weldrake and pretty Althea La
! den had always been warm friends.
and according TO Stella's discriminate
ing parent that stout, amiable damsel
was quite outrivaled by Althea's more
delicate charms; hence this surprise
party, from which the Ladens were
omitted and where Stella was expected
to shine undimmed and perchance cap.
ture the minister's unsuspecting heart
Its 8 O'clock" announced Mrs. Wei
drake, bustling into the sitting room
arrayed in warm shawls and with q
knitted ''fascinator" over her iron gray
hair. II guess we better be going.
see lamp lighted in Mr. Whitney's
study" She lifted window curtain
and peered across the snowy fields to
ward the parsonage. He don't sus
pect thing"
And, so far as / know, nobody else
outside this room knows about the sur
prise" added Mrs. Dora Hatch trium
phantly as the party trooped forth
each one bearing burdens of toothsomt
viands Big Peter Weldrake brough
up the rear with steaming can of cot
fee.
The surprise party creaked across
the snow with much smothered laugh
ter mingled with Difference as they ap
preached the parsonage from the patti
across the fields
green shaded lamp beamed from
the study window. but there was NJ
Y sign of the minister's dark. well shaped
head outlined against the bookcases.
Hes stepped out minute" breath
ed Mrs. Weldrake hoarseIy Mos
likely's he's locking the door after Jen
ME Plumb. That's why / waited till !
o'clock. after she'd got the dishes done
She's mortal slow"
There she goes now"
The group stood huddled by the bacl
porch watching the bulky form OF tn
black woman who came in by the da,
to do the minister's housework
When Jennie Plumb had tramped on
Of sight the surprise party tiptoed care
fully around the path to the front door
Mrs. Weldrake leading and her hus
band bringing up the rear.
A dim light burned In the hall. bu
save for green glimmer from tn
study beyond the parlors were quit
: dark. Mrs. WeIdrake rang the be-
once. twice. three times. without re
, Spouse.
~ guess Mr.. Whitney amt to home,
whispered q doubtful voice.
That's all the better" snapped bac
Mrs. Weldrake. trying the doorknot
This doors unlocked. and we can e
4 right in and give him the surprise 0
his life"
The women heaped their wraps i
the hall In the manner OF those VIII
were accustomed to the business o
surprising unsuspecting persons 1
their homes and bore their bundle
of refreshments kitchenward. thei
mouths rounded TO shout Surprise
at the hapless minister II he shout
, prove TO be in the house after all an
should come upon them unexpectedly.
The men. feeling some compunctio
at This Invasion. hung awkward
about the front door as II ready I
3 / make a audden exit In case dlsastf