Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-02-03

than had returned from, Judson's with
-FOUR punches Of roses and one Of
them now adorned Miss Milly.
You're just lovely" Nancy had
cried. imprinting a warm kiss upon
the blushinE cheek: =
approval upon Aunt Sabrina, too, who
was very stately in a black silk with
one of the Judson roses pinned in the
net fichu about her throat.
And l shall kiss you, too," Nancy
called out to Blindy. catching,
through the open door a glimpse Of
Harvellously starched calico.
"You go long and keep out from
under my feet" had been B'indy's re-
threatened attack. II guess there's
work has to be done before this par
Tvs Overt" But the grumbling in her
voice could NJ oncea her pride and
satisfaction.
"Oh. everything is just lovely"
anc exclaimed, tiptoeing about to
add a finishing touch here and there.
AND indeed, some. magic wand seemed
to have scattered gladness everywhere
about the old place. the great rooms,
open now to the sunshine. radiated it
In the fragrance Of the Mowers that
Nancy had heaped everywhere.
Il wish it would stay like this" was
her unspoken thought. -
! But in her plans for the party
which was to show all Freedom. that
Happy House was a happy house,
Nancy had reckoned without Mrs. Cy-
rus Eaton.
Since trouble had Swallowed Happy
House and shut its .hospitable doors,
time had brought changes to Freedom
lust as it had ito every place on the
globe; commerce, trade, politics, q
certain democratizinx Of the stand
ards of living had made their inroads
even upon the little village; new
And new influences Challenged and
Threatened the old Island ari~stcracy.
Not the least Of these was the in
fuence of trade. When Cyrus Eaton
bought and rebuilt the general store
next to the %postoffice he made for
himself-or for his wife-a social
prestige that was beyond dispute. Az
the years had gone BY he had
strengthened this materially by GER
tain credits which he extended to Diff
ferent families in the village.
Webb had gone I'd Mrs. Eaton's first
with his invitation and his story. That
lady had tipped the little card upon
the table with a snort. DID Miss
Leavitt or anyone else think she'd go
anywhere where those Hopworths
were? Was it not her duty, too, to
warn her friends as to what this par
~hoydenish. impertinent girl, ."of the
bad branch of the family" who
seemed to have hypnotixed Miss Sa-
brina? y
By the time Mrs. Eaton had finish
ed her baking, put on her best purple
poplin and started out in Webb,s
trail, her rage had carried her ID
such heights OF eloquence that it was
not difficult for her to convince her
about to be played upon the good
folks Of Freedom and that each one
mast show her pride by remaining
away from the party. She talked 50
last. n repeated her stories so Oft
en-. that she dtgressed. quite uncon-
= sciously. from the truth and, at the
last few calls. made Nancy out a
most shocking young person!
II can't tell you'll wouldn't tell
you-af the goings on al that Cove"
was her favorite Introduction. "And
in the orchard, too! Anyone could
have told Sabrina Leavitt she was a
fool bringing the creature here-that
branch Of the family, everyone knows,
wouldn't be above doing anything!"I
So while happy Nancy arranged
flowers for the party the expected
quests entrenched themselves behind
their closed blinds. their righteous
satisfaction tinEed the very least bit
bv. regret born Of immense curiosity.
However, there were two excen.
tions. Samuel Todd. the postmaster,
was an aspirant for q seat in the state
LEGISLATURE. His ancestors, had never
lived. anywhere else but or the Island
and he had inherited q wholesome re-
tspect for the Leavitt name. He was
enough OF a politician, too. to know
that. even though she was an old
woman. he might sometime need Miss
Sabfina's goodwill.
You go long and keep; your eyes
open and your mouth shut, he had
advised his wife when. after Mrs.
Eaton's hurried call. she had sought
his counsel. You women talk too
much. anyway"
Mrs. Todd. for once wa delighted
TO do his Bidding: Carrie Baker. over
at North Hero. had made over her
yellow muslin 20 that Il, Has "better'n
Inewand iua lynn mp there In the
lcloset catchfn' dust" she explained to