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About The Basin Progress (Basin, Mont.) 1896-1904 | View This Issue
The Basin Progress (Basin, Mont.), 17 July 1897, located at <http://montananewspapers.org/lccn/sn84036041/1897-07-17/ed-1/seq-2/>, image provided by MONTANA NEWSPAPERS, Montana Historical Society, Helena, Montana.
• I T had just struck 7, and the rest- less impatience which insncatee that dinner is being kept waiting had settled on the three members of the Wilkins family assembled before the drawing room fire. Mrs. Wilkins looked continually from the work on her lap to the clock on the mantelpiece with an expression which would baye been more a.miable If it had been less con- trolled. Miss Wilkins attested to be reading a book, but the constant tap- ping of her foot on the carpet showed that her thoughts were not following her eyes. Miss Gerdes Wilkins had lees conetraint. She moved restlessly from the clock to the window, and back again from the window to the clock, with discontent in her face and grumb- ling in her voice. At last she broke out: \It I were engaged, I'd teach him to be punctual. Dick's always late.\ Her sister dkl not answer. She was meditating the best manner of exe- cuting judgment on the offender, and had just decided on a course of ex- treme severity when a ring at the bell relieved the general tension. \There he W,\ said Gertie. \I'll give him a pleee of my mind,\ and she darted out of the room. Mrs. Wilkins and her elder daughter carefully settled their fee- tures Into an expression of cold dis- pleasure, and waked the arrival of their visitor. They could bear the sounci - nr voices hero - iv — et 'fbe Street' door; but there was no noise as of fhe door closing, or of anyone entering the house. They had almost forgotten their displeasure in their curiosity, when Gertie's step was heard bounding up the stairs again. \A telegram, I expect,\ said Mies Wilkins, wit hill -concealed disappoint' ment. \Really that would be most annoy- ing now,\ her mother remarked. 'The next moment Gentle rushed into the room bearing, not a telegram, but a large and expensive bouquet of yel- low chrysanthemums. \A boy brought these for 'the lady of the house,'\ she announced; \and he can't say whom they're from.\ \What do you mean?\ exclaimed both ladies in a breath, _their interest di- vided between Genie and the remark- ably handsome bouquet which she car- ried. \Just what I Ray. The boy said be was ordered to leave the cowers at No. 19, for 'the lady of the house,' and he doesn't know who sent them. Aren't they nice?\ \What a Curious thing!\ said Miss Wilkins. \What beautiful flowers!\ said her mother. \They must have cost at least 10 shillings. Who can have sent them?\ \Why can't you gums?\ Genie In- quired. \It's as plain as A B C. Who could have twat them but Dick? It's n peace offering for being late, of course.\ . The idea instantly total] favor. ' \OS course, It's Dick,\ said Mies WU - \0f course It is,\ said Mrs. Wilkins. \What a very kind thought! But be should not have spent so much money. No doubt he had to go out of his way to get them, and that made him late. Ile could not get such thywere every- where. But why send them anony- mously? Why not bring them with him?\ \Oh I suppose he thought It would be tun to make us guess,\ saki Mlle Wilkins. \You see, he sent the floweret on first, so that our curiosity about the giver would be at its height when he arrived.\ As If to eonlirtn the theory, there was at that moment a ring at the bell, and Gertie, from the window, announced that the long -expected guest was at the door. . \It would show our appreciation of the gift,\ said Mrs. Wilkins, \If we put the flowers on the dining table. You arrange them, (Somme, dear, will you? I will receive lachard. And, Gertie, deline tell the cook that she may serve up dinner.\ Immediately afterwards Richard Johnston entered Mrs. Wilkins' draw- ing-room with much misgiving in his heert sod a profusion of apologies on het lies. Ile knew that he was nearly twersty minutes late, and that unpunc- tuelity 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 fuel grads:manes. His excuses were \quite tinnecessary;\ there had been no la - convenience; \in feet, they had hardly ,noticed that he was late, St all.\ Ile ware at once conducted into the draw - mg -room, where his reception by Was L'itrilkinat and Gertie was of the same bewildering and unmerited cordiality. i He had no time for private confer- ence with Miss Wilkins, hot abe sat next to him at dinner. Whenever he ,tried to apologize for being late she 'gentled si Idtn with a parttetilerly kind - aye, and assured him that \they gotta under« ood? Poor Johnston could not readily ad- just himself to a reception 80 different from that for which he had braced him- self. Why did they all senile at him so knowingly? True, he had had his mus- tache curled before leaving the city; but that could hardly have made eu favorable an Impression. As the soup was being removed Mies Wilkins pressed his hand under the table, and whispered tenderly: \Thank you, dear, so much. It was nice of you. Mother was very pleased.\ Johnston, increasingly uneasy, while pered back, in innocent inquiry: \What about?\ \Oh you silly boy! Did you suppose that I should not guess?\ There was a flattering emphasis upon the \I but for the life of him Johnston could not think what he had done to deserve it. He had not time to turn the question over in his mind, for Mrs. Wilkins 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 Howes, with a perfectly blank and bewildered expression. Miss Gertie then took up the ease for the prosecution. \Olt it's no 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 knowledge of the facts. So he put on his airiest manner, and answered: \So you found Me out directly, eh? There Is no deceiving your sagaeity. Gerdes\ \It didn't want much ?sagacity,\ said Gentle; \who else could it ' \Who else, indeed?\ hnston. \It is useless for you to. try to \lo good by stealth,'\ smiled Mrs. Wilkins. \But you must allow me to 'blush to find It fame,'\ retorted Johnston. \What was it that betrayed me?\ Gregory's. Mother theme' you'd pald at least 10 shilliogis for theta - \Wherever you got the flowers.\ hur- riedly broke in Mink Wilkins. \they are very beautiful, and I thank you again most cordially.\ \But you malty must not thank me,\ protested Johaa*oa i haven't admit- ted that I did send the dosers. And. in any cadre, to attedipt to thank the donor la In disregard Ida slab to be anonynsuee\ - If you really wished sot to be found out.\ bald Mrs_ Willk'n•, - y - ou would not have chosen my favorite flowers - yelkew chrysanthemums.\ \Besides you looked so coonelous as you (suite in,\ said Mrs_ Wilkins_ (\That's the worst of being Late,\ though Johnston., \And I saw you recognized the Sou' - era directly you entered the room.\ \Yes added Genie. \and the way you tried to look as If you didn't nu- dtirstand was awfully weak_ Anyone could see you were pretending_ Why, you're Milt blushing. 1 deelare. Look at him, Gwen?' Johnston could not help laughing,. the evidence against him was ao strong; and this behavior oi his was regarded as certain confirmation of his gilt. As well as he could for laughter. he tried to get out, \But this is all a mistake\ protestations were reeeved with polite 811111€16 of inetedulity and the cita- tion of further harontestable proofs ut his guilts After some minute's of het vain contest, Gertie broke in: \Of courae, it was good fun to make us guest, but now that we have guess- ed, what's the use of pretending an That the mood has passed.\ It was longer?\ too much for poor Johnston's temper. - Yes, Dick. is was very sweet of you. - Yea. - he natd- \Say l'Iu awfully but you must have known that we sorry that I didn't admit at once that could not be long in the (hut. - and I sent the flowers.\ This was strictly Mias Wilkins pressed his hand under true - th e table again - That's tight,\ said Mrs. WilkIne . -Ând teem is no maw° , why you cheerfully, as she leh - the room. should not take the thanks whieh you Johnston was sore and savage; but d eserve. - said Mrs u - oto kw , i \ t h oue b he did not see why other people's un- closing the isubject reasonableness should spoil his . even - Johnston reared aloud There he tar If they were so determined that he had sent the flowers, he would con- e - ea, surrounded by tweet. who mseit [radii* them no more. ad. in >gee of all protrestationa, in thrusting gratitude upon Lim for some- thing be had out done. The situation was too comic. The lad es. however, were rather a.naioyed. They, natarally, thought that the thanks whieh they had expressed so graenou4.7. were worthy of being recei(ed with more respect. - I must nay, I nhould *tower -tale thi ' prove tip ' °reael°11- -- And he won't be a silly boy any joke better if you del not carry It quite so far,\ said Mimi Wilkinsmore'''' I Interlude 1 \And he won't tell any more naughty 'stories?\ ‚An- other interlude. \Say 'I send the flowers.'\ t Attempted Interlude.) \No O 40 till you've said It.\ At this happy moment, and before Johnston coukl reply, Gentle bur. -,t Into the room with the simple ejaculation: -- Well7' she stood in the doorway regarding peer .14sönnton with stern iteensattni Lit her eye; and lie quailed before that glance. realizing Instinctively that be was \In for it - again. - You really name not bounce a bout Lhe house like thee Gertie,\ said Meta WIlkina, with some Irritation; \you w ake one think that non - set/Mug dread- ful has happened. Whatever is the matter?\ \Ask him,\ said Gertie, pointing to the mIserable Johnston, who awaited his fate with the fortitude of despair. \It was a gots1 Joke, wasn't it?\ con- tinued the mistress of the et -tundra). \No wonder you laughed PA much. What a pretty pets of fools we 'must have seemed, Ilvven:\ - What do you mean?\ asked Miss Wilkins. with rising Impatience. 'Why. I menu the flon-ens, of course.\ - Then allow me to tell you that we have agreed to let that subject drop once and for ail.\ - Oh, have we!\ replied Gertte. \Un- fortunately, there Is someone at the door who won't let it drop. The boy is here again.\ \it hat tiny\ \The boy who boiught the flowers.\ \Well?\ \Ile w•nts them back. There's been a mistake us- stsght to have left them at No 9 Instead of No. 19.\ ream -fine of the indignation kind- ling in his sweetheart's eyes. Johnston, w Lui the Inspiration of to -pair, ROW that there was only One eourme pout- bie to ‚Ate the situation. it. burst Int() plausible All affecta- tion of hearty laughter as his nervous - nests would permit The ladle.; looked myetilled, but unrelenting 'He good enough to exidnin your. self.\ said Mimi WIlitima - Irs awfully funny, isn't It r oak] her slater ‚*n-a'tietihlv si r I s. ss hinghed Johnston. - \Don't you *PP? It's part of th , i joke, telling the boy to eime back for the flowers Hs, ha, ha' It was to make you believe t LIU I 11141.11 t really send them \ Arid leaving no time for gums- tionini. Johnston rushed downstairt, throat S sovereign bite the boy's hand, and idamnied the door nisei him tinning the rein of the evening With ins' mood Was iirerieemil nv one who ponders deeply Itut Gertlo evidently been aternly forbidden to re- fer to the autibiet of flower., ntwi they were not mentioned ‚again flow fir he riffle, Johnston never ‚lise realized the tn k ie np, s v p i tr of init when he eras ordering the I host - gnat ha was given partienlar in•true- tiona to leave his card with the florist.-- ( 'Amara's Magnsaine. S. • SUE REGARDED JOHNSTON WITH STERN AC(7USATION. \Oh don't Imagine that the boy split,\ said the younger Miss Winding. \Gertie!\ interrupted her mother, ad - \What did the boy any?\ milted John akin, cunningly, for he was deeply in torested by this time, Mrs. Wilkins replied: \He asked the maid whether our house was No. 1:); and then gave her the flowers tor She lady of the house.' Gertle---ale hap petted to be Lit the hall, and asked him from whom they came. nut he Kahl be could hot tell.\ The situation was now clear. John atou realized with alarm that be was supposed to have been the donor of the handsome bisuquet which he maw be- fore him. That he actually was not responsible for the courteous attention with which he was credited he felt in some way to be a. repronele and he blushed with shame. Ile had II on hie Itp« to any, \My dear Mre. Winches I did not send the flowers;\ but hie emir age failed him. It would he such a nasty fell from grace for hitn, and ouch a alight upon the ladles' diseernment No; he must break the truth gradually. and hedge a Male longer. \I suppope you got then at Mason's?\ inquired Gertie. \No I did not,\ saki Johnston \Then It was Gregory's. Thai's the only other shop near I thought It was Ttilliga are ever ao much cheap.- at Mrs Wilkins' tame was dilatorily colder sa she added. \Welt We will toy no more. The 1101rers WPM very eel come, and it was exceedingly kind of you to send them, Richard - \It really looks an though you w:.‘lbed na to keetb oo thanking you. - con:inued Mlaa Wilkins - 01i. ifs Pull a man. - ead G•-rtse, from the •ItItude ot seveuteen wont 'nerve. ''svoila everything for the want of a little tact -* Theffl . remarks brought lev'inston to his bearings It wit. ....dent ghat Fr mis ne at ones. dim butte tine mewl oe lb- fazmdly \Yea. bot suppnar I dkIn't wend the flowers after 'Then what hare you been laitzhoCt for, and blushing and going on in than way?\ asked (Write nnanswerably \I molly think we had better le; the subject drop, - said Met Wilkins IS verredy •\I shall begin to wish you hadn't s.-oe the flowers at all. If you peretet be this .Illy Imystery,` said Wes Willitue, with rising impatience Itilt. my deer Ogren. he ream -auk him'\ pleaded Johnston. rather alarmed at the turn things were tektite. - I never mil that I - \Really Inellt, t don't ward to argils rhia oneotion any longer Prenteeehly you wished your flowers tat ewe era. new; you are armaried that thou have done so, and I wonder you can't see what a pity ri ies to go on talking about them till they become anything but a sourer of pleasure. It is so silly, and n o very gratuitous.\ \But 1 ensure you, my dear girl, that I did not send the flowers!\ said John- ston, with desperate earneatneea. Gertle whistled, alai kirk WilkIna looked grave. \Really Dick, this is too muelt. If you will Limiest 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 know.\ Wish this Miss Wilkins swept out of the room; and Johnston feared by the look on ber face that her anger would nit be easily appeased. There was silence for sorne moments. \Why don't you own up?\ said Ger. tie, as she followed her sister out of the ruem. When she was left alone with him, Mrs. Wilkins appealed tu Johnston again. - Really. Richard,\ she said, with tăó sort of kind severity one would ex- tend w a fractious lunatic, \I think It is a pity that the evening should be spoiled in this way; especially when it promised to be tio pleasant. Wietteree your reasons for this obstinacy nuty be. is It worth while making us till un- happy?\ Poor Johnston looked disnial and des- perate enough. The joke had evidently lost Its point for him. \May I tell tiwendoline when I go up- stairs that the mood has pressed?\ continued Mrs. Wilkins. Presently Miss Gweodoline reappaer- el. She had evidently determined to over -loot Johnston's perversity; and he 1141011 forgot his troubles. When that pis -Wise degree of tenderneas had been reached which prompts lovers to- tut - dress melt other In the third person, Miss Wilkins began playfully to 1m - COLOR IN ANIMALS. flow It Is eh•nged or Affected by Wood and Surroundings Observation and experiment go to allow Imw large an Influence food has In determining the color of animals, Everybody knows how easily the color of the yellow canonry nutty be altered to an orange red by mixing cayenne Pepper with Its food, though it is true that the color chauge may be produced Only ln very young birds whose tenth- • ers are not completely matured. It is also a matter of experiment that all va- rieties of canaries' are not equally sus- ceptilAe to the influents of the pepper, and it ia' very curious fact that if the pigment that causes the red color of the pepper be mixed with the food of the births without the other constituents, yellovv-eolored canaries are not In the slightest degree affected by it, while brovvn birds or the brown feathers of yellow birds become distinctly lighter In hue. Here la another interesting experi- ment: The large tortoise -shell butterfly normally feeds upon the leaves of the elm, while the small tortoise -shell is addicted to nettles; but when some im- agoes of the large tortoise -shell were brtsl from caterpillars that had been found upon nettles, they showed a wonderful similarity te the smaller species though the color was nearer to that of the larger. Quite Ili the same line is the observation that the -thorn moth exhibits variation« in voter ac- cording as the larva is fed upon oak, hawthorn, lime, or lilac, Many other experiutents have shown a similar ef- fect of food in modifying or completely changing the color of animals. Among the changes of color that are most perplexing, if one would refer their cause to utility only, is that of the gull, which i le blue and white, and is therefore generally allowed to be of protective value. But for the first three years or their lives several com- mon species of gull have a brownish - speckled plumage, which is totally un- like that of the older birds, on which fachellirs -Redden' remarks: \If one color be advantageous, the other must be the reverses and three years is either a considerable period, or it Is not long enough.\ , Another perplexing part of the sub- jeet is the color of deep-sea animals. It Is an established fact that marine ant -- Male can and do live at the enormous depth of more than five miles below the surfaee of the water. It is also I • ertnin that the sunlight does not pen. etrate to that depth, so that the ani- mals that exist there -exist in the midst of more than midnight darkness. Yet the fact is, that brilliant coloration is generally found in them. Of what use con it be? How eau natural selection or sexual seieetion have anything to do with it? It is true, indeed, that there may be phoephoreseent light emitted by the anitnals themselves, and of this there are many evidences; but though the deep-sea tish may be guided to its prey by a series of natural \boll's -eye\ lanterns, the color of its prey could have no protective effect, but exactly the reverse.—Our Animal Friends. Weather Prognostications. Letter writing Is resolving itself into a very simple process. Half -printed postal cards with blanks are gold in many places in Europe, and one has only to fill out the spaces left for tell- ing whether the gender is well or about to go away or on the journey home, in order to have a missive ready for the mall. Another blow at letter writing has been struqk by the idea of utilizing the mall system for circulat- ing weather prognostications. The scheme for adding the latest weather forecasts to the regular posttnarks on letters will be commenced by the post - office department July 1. Applications for this service from over forty post- ofilees have been filed, and It will be In - trebles' first in Neu York, Chicago and other large offices. By this device the recipient of a letter will be able to tell what the weather was Its the town where the letter was mailed, and what the weather bun -nut guessed it would be for the twenty-four hours following its receipt. Fears are expressed that thin innovation may prove another blow attire art of letter writing. Many regular letter writers now fill several lines of note paper with a dexcriptIon of the weather tht•y are \enjoying and If this subject is ruthlessly torn from them nothing will remain. Perhaps in future there will be no letter writing, for newspapers will tell the new pho- nographs record the voice, X ray photo- graphs show the Innermost emotions of one's nearest and dearest, while the tel- ephone and telegraph, doubtlese greatly improved,- may he used for catching up such odds and ends of needed Informa- tion not otherwise conveyed. Bow She Knew. He—What makes you think that Relderly will noon nak you to marry him? She—Don't mention It to any one, lint I know his income isn't large And he's beginning to arrow with me that plain living promotes the best complexion. - Adams Freeman, He Knew. \The usual seats?\ antes] the gentle- manly box office attendant \Er -no; give me ‚something cheaper In the pit.\ \Here you are. Thanks. Glad your wife got safely home from her trip.\... Detroit Free Press. .0 I. • • a
