Lincoln County leader., June 10, 1897, Image 2

,11.
I mm ,S
in
IT hud Just struck 7, and tlie rest
less Impatience which indicates tliat
dinner is being kept waiting had
settled on the three members of the
Wllkins family assembled before the
drawing room Ure. Mm. Wllkins looked
continually from the work on her hip
to the clock on the mantelpiece with
ail expression which would have been
more amiable if it had been less con
trolled. MIhh W'ilkliiH affect el to be
reading a book, but the constant tap
ping of her foot on tJie carpet showed
that her thought were not following
her eyes. MImh Gertie Wilkins had U'ks
constraint. She moved restlessly from
the clock to the window, and back
again from the window to the clock,
with ilN'rntent in hr fnco nnd gmoib
Hug in her voice. At last she broke
out:
"If I were engaged, I'd teach lihn to
be punctual. Dick's always lute."
Her sister did not answer. She wa.s
meditating the best manner of exe
cuting judgment ou the offender, and
bud Just dwided on a course of ex
treme severity when a ring at the bell
relieved the general tension. "There he
Is," said (iertle. "I'll give him a piece
of my mind," and she darted out of the
room. Mrs. Wllkins ami her elder
daughter carefully settled their fea
tures Into an expression of cold dis
pleasure, and walled the arrival of
their visitor. They could hear the
sound of voices below lit the street
door; but there was no noise a.s of the
door closing, or of anyone entering the
house. They hail almost forgotten
their displeasure In their curiosity,
when Gertie's step was heard bounding
up the kiii Irs again.
"A telegram, I expect," (.'' d Miss
Wilkins, wit hlU-coucealed disappoint
ment. "Keally, that would be most aunoy
Lng now," her mother remarked.
The next moment (iertle rushed Into
the room bearing, not a telegram, but
a large anil expensive bouquet of yel
low chrysanthemums. "A boy brought
these for 'the lady of the house,'" she
announced; "and he can't bay whom
they're from."
"What do you mean?" exclaimed both
ladies In u breath, their Interest di
vided between (iertle and the remark
ably handsome bouquet which she car
ried. "Just what I say. The boy wild he
was ordered to leave the flowers at No.
for 'the lady of the house,' and he
doesn't know who sent Uieni. Aren't
they nice';"
"What a curious thing:" said Miss
Wllkins.
"What beautiful Mowers!" said her
mother. "They must have cost at least
10 shillings. Who can have sent
them?"
"Why, can't you guess?" (iertle In
quired. "It's as plain as A B c. Who
could have sent them bin Dick? It's a
peace offering for being late, of
course."
The idea Instantly found favor.
"(' course, It's Dick," said Miss Wll
kins. "Of course it Is." said Mrs. Wilkins.
"What a very kind thought! Itnt he
should not have spent so much money.
No doubt he had to go out of his way
to get them, and that made htm late.
He could not get such Mowers every
where. Hut why send them anony
mously? Why not bring them with
him V"
"Oh, I suppose he thought It would
be fun to maUe us guess." said Miss
Wllkins. "You see, he sent the Mowers
on first, so that our curiosity about the
giver wouUl be at its height when he
arrived."
As If to eonllrm the theory, there was
at that moment a ring nt the bell, and
Gertie, from the window, announced
that the long-expecttxl guest was at the
door.
"It would show our appreciation of
the gift," said Mrs. Wilkins, "If we put
the flowers ou the dining table. Yon
arrange them, (Jweinne, dear, will you?
I will receive Richard. And, (iertle
please tell the cook that she may serve
up amner. 1
Immediately afterwards Richard
Johnston entered Mrs. Wllkins' drawing-room
with much mUglving in his
heart and a profusion of apologies on
hl Up. He know that he was nearly
twejwy minute late, ami that unpunc
tuaJVty was one of the most serious of
offenses In the eyes of his betrothed.
What was his surprise to find the
mother of his betrothed all smiles and
(rraelousness. His excuses were "quite
unnecessary;" there had two no In
convenient; "In fact, they had hardly
noticed that he was late, at all." He
,wm at once conducted Into the draw
iTVg-room, where his reception by Miss
iWllkln and (iertle was of the' Mime
bewildering and unmerited cordiality
Ho had uo time for private confer
ence with Miss Wllkins, but she sat
next to him at dinner. Whenever he
tried to apologize for being Into alio
am lied at him with a particularly kind
ly eye, and assured him that "they
qui(4 uuderxtood.
Poor Johnston could not readiiy ad
Just himself to a reception so different
from tliut for which he had braced him
self. Why did they all smile at him so
knowingly? True, he hud had his mus
tache curled before leaving the city;
but that could hardly have made so
favorable an impression.
As the soup was being removed Miss
Wilkins pressed his hand under the
table, and whispered tenderly:
"Thank you, dear, so much. It wa.s
nice of you. Mother was very pleased."
Johnston, iJicrea.slngly uneasy, whis
pered back, in Innocent Inquiry:
"What about!"
"Oh, you silly boy! Did you suppose
that I should not guess?" There was a
Muttering emphn! upon the "I," but
for the life of him Johnston could not
think whu t he had done to deserve It.
He hud not time to turu the question
over In his mind, for Mrs. Wllkins de
manded his attention.
"You see to what good purpose they
have been put," she said, with an ap
preciative smile for Johnston, and a
meaning glance towards the flowers in
the center of the table.
Johnston looked at Mrs. Wilkins, and
then followed the direction of her gaze
to the flowers, with a perfectly blank
and bewildered expression.
Miss (iertle then took up the case for
the prosecution.
"Oil, It's uo use trying to look stupid"
(Johnston bowed); "we knew directly
it was you."
It here occurred to Johnston that the
speediest method of clearing up he
mystery would be to affect a guilty
kuowledge of the facts. So he put on
his airiest manner, and answered:
"So you found me out directly, eh?
There Is uo deceiving your sagacity,
(iertle."
It didn't want much sagacity," said
(iertle; "who else could It iie?"
Who else, Indeed?" said Johnston.
'It Is useless for you to try to "do
good by stealth,' " smiled Mrs. Wllkins.
"But you must allow me to 'blush to
find it fame,' " retorted Johnston.
"What was It that betrayed me?"
Gregory's. Mother thought you'd paid
at least 10 shillings for them."
'Wherever you got the flowers," hur
riedly broke In Mrs. Wilkins, "they uro
very beautiful, and I thank you again
most cordially."
"But you really must not thank me,"
protested Johnston. "I haven't admit
ted that I did send the Mowers. And,
In any case, to attempt to thank the
donor is to disregard his wish to be
anonymous."
"If you really wished not to be found
out." said Mrs. WHU' lis, "you would
not have chosen my favorite flowers
yellow chrysanthemums."
"Besides, you looked so conscious as
you came In," said Mrs. Wllkins.
("That's the worst of being late,"
though Johnston.)
"And I saw you recognized the flow
ers directly you entered the room."
"Yes." added Gertie, "ami the way
you tried to look as If you didn't un
derstand was awfully weak. Anyone
could see you were pretending. Why,
you're still blushing, I declare. Look at
him. Owen."
Johnston could uot help laughing, the
evidence against him was so strong;
and this behavior of his was regnrdi-d
as certain continuation of his guilt. As
well as he could for laughter, he tried
to get out, "But this Is all a mistake."
Ills protestations were received with
polite smiles of Incredulity and the cita
tion of further incontestable proofs of
his guilt. After some minutes of hi
vain contest, Gertie broke in:
"Of course, It was good fun to make
us guess, but now that we have guess
ed, what's the use of pretending any
longer?"
"Yes, Dick, is was very sweet of you,
but you must have known that we
could not be long In the dark," and
Miss Wllkins pressed his , hand under
the lable again.
"And there Is no reason vhy you
should uot take the thanks which you
deserve," said Mrs. Wilkins, as though
closing the subject.
Johnston roared aloud. There he
wns, surrounded by people who Insist
ed, iu spite of all protestations, in
thrusting gratitude ujion l.ltn for some
thing he hud not done. The sit nut Ion
was too comic. The ladies, however,
were rather annoyed. They, naturally,
thought that the thanks which they
had expressed so graciously were
worthy of being reeehed with more
respect.
"I must say, I should appreciate tin.
Joke better If you did not cany It quite
so far," said Miss Wllkins.
I
. - -r
SUE REGARDED JOHNSTON WITH STERN ACCUSATION.
"Oh, dou't imagine that the boy
split." said the younger Miss Wllkins.
"Gertie!" Interrupted her mother, ad
moiiUhlngly. "What did the boy say?" asked John
ston, cunningly, for he was deeply in
terested by this time.
Mrs. Wllkins replied: "He asked the
maid whether our house was No. It);
and then gave her the flowers ior 'the
lady of the house.' Gertie ah- -hap-peiusl
to be In the hall, and asked hlin
from whom they came. But he suld
he could not tell."
The situation was now clear. John
ston realized with alarm that he was
supposed to have been the donor of the
handsome liouquot which lie saw be
fore hlni. That he actually was not
responsible for the courteous attention
with which he was credited he felt lu
some way to be a reproach: aud he
blushed with shame. He had It ou his
lips to say, "My dear Mrs. Wllkins, I
did not send the flowers;" but bis cour
age failed him. It would lie such a
nasty fall from grace for him, and such
a slight uikmi the ladles' discernment.
No: he must break the truth gradually,
and hedge aittle longer.
"I suppose you got Unm at Mason's?"
inquired Gertie.
"No, 1 did uot," said Johnston.
"Then it was dregorj-'s. That's the
only other shop near. I thought It was.
Things are ever to much cheapo- at
Mrs. Wllklus' tone was distinctly
comer as sne added, "Well, we will sav
no more. The Dowers were very wel
come, and It was exceedingly kind of
you to send them, Richard."
"It really looks as though yon wished
us to keep ou Uiauklug you," continued
Miss Wilkins.
"Oh, It's Just a man," said Gertie,
from the altitude of seventeen sum
mers; "spoils everything for the want
of a little tact."
These remarks brought Johnston to
his bearings. It was evident that he
must at once disabuse the mind of the
family.
"Yes, but suppose I didn't scud the
flowers after all?"
"Then what have you been laugnin
for, and blushing, and going on In thut
way?" asked Gertie unanswerably.
i really think we had better let the
subject drop," said Mrs. Wllkins se
verely. "I shail lH-gln to wish you hadn't sen
the flowers at all. If you persist In this
silly mystery," said Miss Wllklus, with
rising Impatience.
"But, tny dear Gwen, lx reasonable "
pleaded Johusn.u, rather alarmed at
the turu things were Uikltig; "l m.V(,r
suld that I " r
"Really, Dick. I don't want to argue
thus question any longen. Presumably
you wished your flowers to give pleas
ure; you are assured that they have
done so, and I wonder yon can't see
what a pity It Is to go on talking about
them till they become anything but a
source of pleasure. It Is so silly, and
so very gratuitous."
"But I assure you, my dear girl, that
I did not send the flowers!" said John
ston, with desperate earnestness.
Gertie whistled, and Mrs. Wllkins
looked grave.
"Realiy, Dick, this is too much. If
you will Insist In continuing to amuse
yourself In this way. It shall not be ut
my expense. When you think the Joke
is exhausted, you can let me kuow."
With this Miss Wllkins swept out of
the room; and Johnston feared by the
look ou her fnce that her auger would
uot be easily appeased.
There was silence for some moments.
"Why don't you own up?" said Ger
tie, as she followed her sister out of
the room.
When she was left alone with him,
Mrs. Wilkins appealed to Johustou
again.
"Really. Richard," she said, with the
sort of kind severity one would ex
tend to a fractious lunatic, "I think It
is a pity that the evening should be
sMlled In this way: esrtechillv when it
promised to be so pleasant. Whatever
your reasons for this obstinacy may
lie, Is It worth while making us all unhappy?"
Poor Johnston looked dismal and des
perate enough. The joke had evidently
lost Its point for him.
"May I tell Gwendoline when 1 go up
stairs that the mood has passed?"
continued Mrs. Wllkins.
That the mood lias passed." It was
too much for poor Johnston's temper.
Y'es," he snld. "Say I'm awfully
sorry that I didn't admit nt once that
1 sent the flowers." This was strictly
true.
That's right," said Mrs. Wllkins
cheerfully, as she left the room.
Johnston was sore aud savage; but
he did not see why other people's un
reasonableness should spoil his even
ing. If they were so determined that
he had sent the flowers, he would con
tradict them no more.
Presently Miss Gwendoline reappaer
ed. She had evidently determined to
overlook Johnston's perversity; and he
soon forgot his troubles. When that
peculiar degree of tenderness had been
reached which prompts lovers to ad
dress each other in the third person.
Miss ilklns began playfully to Im
prove the occasion.
"And he won't be a silly boy any
more?" (Interlude.) "And he won't
tell any more naughty stories?" (An
other Interlude. "Say, 'I send the
flowers.' " (Attempted Interlude.) "No,
not till you've said It."
At this happy moment, and before
Johnston could reply, Gertie burst into
the room with the simple ejaculation:
"Well!"
She srtood in the doorway regarding
poor Johnston with stern accusation to
her eye; and he quailed before that
glam. realizing Instinctively that he
was "iu for it" again.
"Y'ou really must not bounce about
the house like that, Gertie," said Miss
Wllklus, with some Irritation; "you
make one think that something dread
ful has happeued. Whatever Is the
matter?"
"Ask him." said Gertie, pointing to
the miserable Johnston, who uwaited
his fate with the fortitude of despair.
"It was a good Joke, wasn't it?" con
tinued the mistress of the situation.
"No wonder you laughed so much.
What a pretty pair of fools we must
have seemed, Gwen!"
"What do you mean?" asked Miss
Wllkins, with rising impatience.
"Why. 1 mean the flowers, of course."
"Then allow me to tell you thti.'. we
have agreed to let that subject drop
once and for all."
"Oh. have we!" replied (Iertle. "Un
fortunately, there Is someone at the
door who won't let It drop. The boy
Is here again."
"What iMiy?"
"The boy who brought theHowers "
"Well?"
"He wauts them back. There's been
a mistake. He ought to hnve left them
at .o. v instead of No. 11)."
Conscious of the Indignation kind
ling In his sweetheart's eyes. Johustou,
with the hydration of despair, saw'
that there wus only one course possi
ble to save the situation.
He burst Into as plausible an affecta
tion of hearty laughter as his nervous
uess would permit. The ladles looked
mystified, but unrelenting.
"Be good enough to explain vour
self." said Miss Wllkins.
"It's awfully funny. Isn't it?" said
her sister sarcastically.
"It is. It Is," luughed Johnston,
"Dou't yon see? it's part of th.- joke
telling the boy to come back for the
flowers. Ha, ha, ha! It was to make
you believe that 1 dldu't really send
thein." And leaving no time for qnes.
tlonlng, Johnston rushed dowustalrs
thrust a sovereign Into the boy's hand!
aud slanitned the door upon him.
During the rest of the evening Miss
Wllklus' mood was preoccupied, as one
who (Hinders deeply. But Gertie had
evidently bwu sternly forbidden to re
fer to the subject of flowers, and they
were not mentioned aguln. How f'r
Miss Wllkins reall7.ed the true state of
the case, Johnston never kuew but
when he was ordering th- bridal' bou
quet he waa given particular instruc
tions to leave his card w ith the florist -Cassell's
Magazine.
She Snored. "How rlna
sleep?" asked the doctor of the Z
whose better half was under his
ii,.,,ii,- ul.l .., n.......
ouiu iiic uiuu. arum.
(joou canvasoncK ducks," said Rk1
era, "are quoteu, I see, at $i ap)j.
How true It Is that riches have wlna
Chicago Tribune.
"Margaret always reads the end of
novel first." "Yby7" "So she can i,
awake at iilght wouderlug how ltd
gan.- (jnicugo Record.
"Pa, what Is a pessimist?" "Apt
mist, my son. Is a person who neit
goes out on his wheel without expect
iu puuuiure uih lire. I'UCK.
iuis. imiuer My nusnami 1g j(
lighted with my pictures." Mrs. p0.
er "You don't say? Don't they lJ
uue your louicers Statesman.
"Not every man is made a foolol.
remumeu (lie ouserver of men ml
iniugs, ' bin every uiau has the nif"
material In him." Detroit Journal.
"The decree," announced the lunwi
ger of Jupiter. "Is that you shall h
hound forever to the wlieel!" "W-whir:
make?" asked Ixion, anxiously. Pod
Police Magistrate "Have you tw
seen the prisoner at the bar?" Wit
nesrf "Never, your honor; hut I've mm
lilm when I strongly suspected to
been at It." Tit-Bits.
Yabsley "Did you ever make a mil
take lu the dark aud kiss the wreii
girl?" Mudge "No. I have got mhJ
iu the dark aud kissed some other girl'
Indianapolis Journal.
"Some men," said Uncle Ebon, "kit
train er dog ter do nnyt'lng dey telli
Im, an' at de same time raise de raw
disobejlntest chillun iu de neighbor
hood. 'Washington Star.
"Dah ain' much use o' sufferln' in it
lence," said Uncle Eben; "seems like if
dis worl' picks out anybody foil 'er tit-
tim. It aln' gwinter to be satertled tU
he hollers." Washington Stur.
"Aud the divorce laws are so terj
liberal in your section?" "Llbml!
Say! They are so liberal that nobodi
ever heard of a woman crying at a wet
ding out there." Detroit Journal.
"My dear. If you took that fj
abroad you might hnve trouble In pt-
Hntr If lifinia ninilti " "Wlint rtn TIM
mean?" "I menu the tariff on art, mjf
love." Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Apprehension: The Professor "Aji
matter of fact, there are different dli
lects In different parts of Scotland."
Friend "Great Scott! Are there mm
counties to hear from?" Truth,
Mrs. Spatt "Your husband Is an li
ventor, I believe?" Mrs. Spotter-"Y
Some of his excuses for coming hom(
late at night nre in use nil over tt
country." Philadelphia North Amett
cau.
First Burglar Lord, Bill! (lis adver
tisement wouldnt fool nobody. Secoil
Burglar Wot is it First Burglar-FI!
ty dollars reward an' no questions is
signed by a woman. Leslie's Week
"Frlsble is the laziest man I ew
knew." "What makes you think r
"He actually seems to be glad tW
he's gettiug baldheaded, so that
won't have to comb his hair any more.'
Cleveland Leader.
"Might I ask what school of poeW
you prefer?" Inquired the young mai
who writes. Aud the old gentlemu
replied: "The homeopathic school
The smaller the dose, the better It suiu
me." Washlngtou Star.
Pease I suppose you've learned i
great deal about gardening since you'd
lived in the country? Hubbard V
I m picking up something all the time
This year I've given up trying to rate
my own vegetables. Puck.
"How did thev ston the elnnenient!"
asked Maud. "By a detestable plefe
trickery," replied Mumle; "her fata"
put his head out of the window and
shouted that her hat was on croota4
and when she grabbed for It she BP'
the tandem." Washington Star.
"Why do you do up your hair In tno
papers, dear?" remarked General Wej
ler of his wife, as she came down
breakfast In the Cuban boardlng-hoo
"Why, that's the way you do the
my up, is it not, dear?" replied tbeff
oral's spouse. Yonkers Statesman.
Once upon a time two Cows recllari
peacefully beneath a tree. "Oh, W
the way," one of the Cows remark
casually, "why was It, If I may
that you didn't chase those golfers
terday?" "Oh, I don't care to be th
cause of little calves being made toao1'
fer." Detroit Free Press.
"How long is it going to take to P1
through with this case?" asked the cli
ent, who was under suspicion of hott
breaking. "Well," replied the yooM
lawyer, thoughtfully. "It'll take
about two weeks to get through wll
It, but I'm afraid It's going toilkey"
aoout tour years." Washington stir-
Browner So you haven't a blcy
Miss Neere? Miss Neere No, I lx
ed at one the other day, but there
something about It I didn't like J
the man wouldn't alter It, so I didn't
get It. Browner They generally nu'
any alterations required. What wa"
you. wanted altered? Miss Neere-I1"
price. Judy.