`` Do n't be frightened , ladies , mail bags are always looked after , '' said a large envelope with an official seal and the name of a Senator on it . `` Any bones broken , dear madam ? '' asked a jaunty pink letter , with a scent of musk about it , evidently a love-letter . `` I think one foot is hurt , and my clothes are dripping , '' sighed Dora , faintly . `` Water wo n't hurt calico , '' called out a magazine full of fashion plates , adding dolefully , as its gay colors began to run , `` I shall be in a nice mess if I ever get out of this . People will wear odd fashions if they follow me this time . '' `` Hope they will telegraph news of this accident in time for the evening papers , '' said a dingy sheet called the `` Barahoo Thunderbolt , '' as it lay atop of the heap in its yellow wrapper . `` Be calm , my friends , and wait with fortitude for death or deliverance , as I do . '' With which philosophic remark `` The St. Louis Cosmos '' folded the pages which for the first time since the paper was started , were not dry . Here the water rose over the topmost letter and a moist silence prevailed till a sudden jerk fished up the bag , and before the dolls could recover their wits they were spread out on the floor of a mail car to dry , while several busy men sorted and saved such papers and letters as still held together . `` Now we shall see something , '' said Flora , feeling the warm air blow over her as they spun along , for a slight accident like this did not delay the energetic Westerners a moment longer than absolutely necessary . `` I ca n't see you , dear , but I hope you look better than I do , for the yellow of my hair has washed into my eyes and the red of my cheeks is quite gone , I 'm sure , '' answered Dora , as her wet dress flopped in the breeze and the broken foot sticking up showed her that her blue boots were ruined . `` I do n't care a bit how I look . It 's great fun now we are safe . Pop up your head and see the wide prairie flying past . I do hope that poor baby got away and swam home to his mother . The upset into the river was quite to his taste , I fancy , '' said Flora , who was much excited by her adventure and eager for more . Presently one of the men set the dolls up in the corner of a window to dry , and there they stood viewing the fine landscape with one eye while the other watched the scene of devastation within . Everything was in great confusion after the accident , so it is not strange that the dolls were not missed when they slowly slid lower and lower till a sudden lurch of the car sent them out of the window to roll into a green field where cows were feeding and children picking strawberries . `` This is the end of us !
Here we shall lie and mould forgotten by everybody , '' said XXXXX , who always took a tragical view of things .
Cosmos Dora Senator Thunderbolt Westerners accident evening first love-letter musk