Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-10-31
well. try again. )"

toward the rear Of the house. Round
the corner marched short procession
Of negroes, bearing trays, and the dan
GERS were dispensing themselves to
chairs upon the lawn for refresh
ments.
well, do something" Mr.. Parcher
urged. 1--WE don't want to find him In
the cistern in the morning."
Mrs. Parcher looked thoughtful, then
frightened. II known she said. "Tll
make May and Lola and their partners
come sit in this little circle of chairs
here, and then I'll 60 and bring Will
liam and Miss Boke to sit with them.
I'll give Willie the seat at Lola's left.
You keep the chairs
Straightway she sped upon her kind
~ errand. It proved successful, 80
successful, indeed. that without the
slightest effort, without even a hint on
her part, she brought not only William
and his constant friend to sit In the
circle with Miss Pratt, Miss Parcher
and their escorts, but Mr.. Bullitt, Mr..
Watson, Mr.. Banks and three other
young gentlemen as well. Neverthe-
less Mrs. Parcher managed to carry
out her plan and, after little display
Of firmness. saw William SATISFACTORY
ly established in the chair at Miss
Pratt's left.
At last, at last he sat beside the
fairy-like creature and filed his lungs
with infinitesimal particles Of violet
scent. She whispered:
"No'ty ickle boy Batster! Lola's last
night. an ickle boy Batster fluttin'!
Flut all night wifi dray bid drip
William made no reply.
There are occasions, infrequent. Of
course. when even a bachelor is not
flattered by being accused of flirting.
Williams feelings toward Miss Boke
had by this time come to such pass
that he regarded the charge of flirting
with her as little less than an implica-
ton of grave mental deficiency. And
well he remembered how Miss Pratt
beholding his snbjugated gymnastics
in the dance. had grown pink with
laughter But still the rose leaf lips
whispered:
Lola saw! Lola saw bad boy Bats
ter under dray bid tree fiuttin' wifi
dray bid dirl. Fluttin' all night wifi
dray, bid, 'normous dirlv'
Her cruelty was all unwilling She
intended to rally him sweetly. But
seventeen is deathly serious at such
junctures, and William was in a sensi-
tive condition.
100 tross?' whispered Lola.
He spake not.
"Twasn't my fault bout dancing"
she said. bad boy! What made 90
tum so late?'
He maintained his silence and the
accompanying icy dignity. whereupon
she made charming little pout.
100 be so tross," she said. Lola
talk to nice Man uvver side of herr
With that she turned her back upon
him and prattled merrily to the gen.
tleman Of sixteen upon her right
Still and cold sat William. Let her
talk to the Man at the other side Of
QcF rs sue NOulu, duu ever 50 SdtlS.
William knew that she was conscious
every instant of the reproachful pres
ence upon her left. And somehow
these moments Of quiet and melan-
choly dignity became the most salts
factory he had known that evening.
for as he sat. so silent, so austere, and
not vet eating. though a plate OF chick
EN- salad had been placed upon his lap.
he began to feel that there was some
where about him 4 mysterious superi.
In large part assumed for the benefit
of the observer. After mOmentaIy
silence, due to her failure to think Of
| any proper response to workmen who
had pointedly criticised her. she re-
sumed the peremptory direction OF her
affairs.
Then, apparently in the very midst
| of her cares. she suddenly and without
warning ceased to boss walked out
into the street. halted and stared frank
ly at Jane.