Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 January 1910 — GIRL WHO NEVER GOT THERE. [ARTICLE]

GIRL WHO NEVER GOT THERE.

It Tnoli a Severe Jolt to Accomplish Her Reform. Mrs. Kent was standing by the library table, pulling on her gloves and looking anxiously at Rose. “Are you writing to accept Mrs. Lange’s Invitation for the piazza tea?*’ she asked, at last. "I am,” answered Rose, with a final flourish. Then she patted the stamp in place with energetic little thumps, and handed the letter to her sister. "Just drop that as you go by the box, please.” “But,” urged Mrs. Kent, "it’s not only are you going to accept, but are you going to be on time? No, you needn t smile' fascinatingly at me. Rose. You know you never are anything but ‘the last, belated guest.' People are beginning to call you 'the girl who never got there,’ and I’m at the end of my apologies. Do be early!" she urged. “I should bo like to put the finishing touches to your pretty frock. I’n.' sure you can’t manage it yourself.” "Dear old Philippa!” said Rose, giving her a hug. "Still mothering me, although you’ve a baby of your own now. And how is my beloved 'Peaches?' I think I’ll have to start early so I can stop in and play with her for an hour or two.” "\ “Peaches,” answered her mother from the doorway, “is invited, too. 80 you’d better come early, you see. She’s the main attraction,” added Mrs. Kent, modestly, as she left the rom. After her sister had gone, Rose sank back in her chair and yawned. "Why are people always hurrying me?" she demanded, plaintively. “Now I always say, ‘We dine at 7, and please be late.’ It simplifies things so.” But somehow, when the day came, an easy chain of circumstances, duties that slipped quickly by, unconsciously hurried Rose forward, and she found herself dressed and ready with quarter of an hour to spare. “I’ll be in time,” she said, with a laugh. “I'll be the first person there, and I only trust my friends won’t faint from the suddenness of the shock.” Once started, Rose, for all her shillyshallying. was impetuous. Now, as she swung uf> the box-edged path, she though’t. “I’ll Jump out and grab Peaches when she comes. Won’t be surprised to see her aunty?” No hostess was waiting for her on th* long varan da. but beyond, among

the vines; there was the flutter of a child’s frock, the glimpse Of chubby bare arms and a fluffy golden, “It must be Peaches. Peaches In the dress I made her,” thought Rose. "But what Is she carrying? Oh!” The girt ran forward Just al~the lighted Chinese lantern fell and flamed against the muslin ruffles. Her long coat was off in ah Instant and flung around the struggling. Bcreaiqlng child. Another moment, and the veranda~~seeined crowded with excited people, but Just that one first little minute, and that only, had been enough to save Peaches. Rose lay awake that night a long, long while. Somehow. all would' not come straight in her mind. She seemed to see Peaches there, burning, burning, and no one to help her. "Suppose I hadn’t come early,’’ she thought, shuddering. "But I did.” Then a suspicion of her old whimsical an.ile curved her mouth. "I do hope it won’t seriously Inconvenience them," she said, aloud, "but really, people will have to stop calling me ‘the girl who never got there,’ because after this I’m going to be ‘the girl who is always on time.’ ’’ —Youth's Companion.