The Washburn leader., 1913-12-12

the flowers Peter has just sent me-a
great basketful. dripping over. with
little bridal roses and carnations! And
the foolish fellow says in his note. Not
as red as your mouth. not as sweet as
your kiss. not as fair as your face
And in the heart Of one of the roses
was such ring. Nan. so brilliant and
beautiful: constellation. not soil
taire. don't like solitaires. wonder
how Peter knew. suppose Peter has
Instincts; some men have. Now
must dress for round of calls. then
dinner here. Peter is to dine with us.
Then the Christmas eve dance at the
Madisons'. No one in the whole world
knows about Peter and me but you.
dear. am to wear the pink over the
blue with the mother of pearl fringe
and ribbon ROSES. you remember? And
! wish you were here with all my
heart.
Later: Oh, Nan, such ball there
never was, with such charming sur.
prises! One was big tissue paper
balloon. red white and blue, hung be-
tween the folding doors. After supper
Captain Ashleigh. the military attache.
was blindfolded and armed with
wand. His object was to strike the
balloon. He failed In fact. four men
failed Then Mr.. Van Zandt's eyes
were bandaged and the wand given to
him. with all the company on the qui
vive. l can assure you. for it was a
novelty to all Of us. and we were sur
missing what that balloon contained
when Peter (oh, how wish his name
We're not PeterD struck the fatal blow.
and we We're all showered with -four,
and with such a multitude of trinkets
of silver and silk and velvet as never
before was seen. some labeled. some
not. the men all scrambling to get the
prettiest things for their especial girls.
the girls grasping at the prettiest mas
culine things for the especial man. It
seems 1t Is a German custom. and GER
tainly it was jolly and charming. Pc
lion (he led and did 1t to perfection).
said that we should have balloon like
that one at the double house our first
Christmas there wonder If we will!
'Now. dear Nan, I must close Write
me here at Wizards for the next fort
night. Our movements are uncertain
Dad heard at the state department
that he would be called upon to leave
for his post almost Immediately ow-
ing to the death of his predecessor
in Office at Limoges. and the vice is ILL
SO don't know how things may shape
themselves Peter. not engaged but
few hours IL you please. is already
quite presumptuous in his remarks ap-
proving of early marriages. am not
so sure. Peter is only twenty-one. I
AMI mean will be-eighteen soon.
Perhaps it would be nicer to wait
few years. shall suggest the wis
dom of this to Peter tomorrow when
we are going for ride together. Cap.
tain Ashleigh is loaning us mounts
oh. I forgot to tell you that the de-
lightful little carriage house and stu
BILE built at the end Of the garden of
the double house is not empty. Peter
has two enchanting. I'm sure they are
30 from their names. horses. Poppet
and Peacock They are eleven and
twelve years old. strawberry roans.
and coupe which is to be done over
in white cloth fora bride! And there
are two wonderful old servants. Quite
old. but still very immensely service
able. Peter says Shaddle, butler
he is almost thirty-6ve-and Supple
her first name is Bridget-who ID .ac-
tually twenty eight Don't call me a
hy away. although who knows but
that am! Dad always calls me that
He told Peter-now. Nan. what do
you think dad told Peter7 In the first
place. what do you think Peter told
dad7 Nothing less than this: Colonel
Revere. I am going to marry your:
daughter II l can win her That was
said the first time Peter ever saw me
Dad only told me today.
.''And dad answered. Well. sir. your
audacity is not. displeasing. Take care.
though. Ny daughter is like quicksil-
yer. only she is gold, and sometimes
think no man will ever capture her IL
he gives her time enough to change her
mind. Her mind is her own. sir, and
she takes surprising liberties with It
II wonder II I do7
I. ..Well. dear. an revoir. Write me
about Ned Davies. Are you still a.
cruel to him sever? And believe me
10 Be with sweetest thoughts Of you
at Bloomingdale d, ever. BETTY.
sSx1 - 8YR s.- 1890, .,nossna svanYa fpa q.