Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-15

nent forbcaringness OF my nature, fog never
made even the most distant q lasion TO the fac.
on which she haA.lateiy beenlayishing the bulk
OF her property. T. ~.
There was one circumstance attending tho ar
rival ofthat letter which we save me unbound
ed satisfaction. II had not come by the after
noon post, - find us all expecting Max himself
Ny apron-with all its pink bsws Opened jsuuti'
Twas at any rate out OF nay sight in my bot
even marred by the consideration that Patience
reaped An equal benefit She could never have
borne her position half 50 wen if the new guinea
plat had not BEEN suppose in the same sar-
cophagus IN which II lay undisturbed for weeks
after that. Certainly Dorcthys new kettle was
asserting itself conspicuously by warbling away
on the IRE; but we didn't mind SO mach, be-
cause a few minutes before in consequence of
Dorothy's putting it down pettishly i'm the very
hottest part of the fire, its china handle had
cracked all across and fallen half awav so that
], looked decapitated enough now to take away
So We went through breakfast. but. as I
mad dsmaliy fore seen. that oyal sta. u of affairs
coah not last 81 course IL was tit always is,
they say.1 who made tfe first SAVAGE thrust; the
rest followed "a a natural sequence. The letter
had got by some means nobody seemed to touch
II, nobody seemed even To see 1t, vet Il did crop
up first 10y one OF us then another) near my
plate; and, in weak and unyovernabIe flash of
spleen spoke aloud the thought which it sug-
gcsted "a me.
bly, preventedruuning over to tell US the news
himself Should not we have had a glorious
opportunity OF pouring out a Ebati0n of our
valued - mpaihy, and kind and generous good
wishes y Judge Of our expressions Four de-
voted maidenly cousins offering unlimited love
by proxy 70 the wife we've every cause TO bear
malice against-and know nothing about
seither."
~ know her" interrosed Joan, with fragile
attempt at laugh, but / never guessed-any-
thing particular about her. Max was quite
as-was attentive TO me-"
81 feel a great contempt Patience said,
turning with unusual gracioasness to Joan. '.for
a man who behaves the same to every girl in
whose society he may chance 10 be. His affec-
tons are not worth winning
They are not worth the winning, let them
CO. SAID /, with quite as much ma gnanimity as
as IL the choice had been given me OF either
retaining or letting them 60, according to my
fancy.
"Wen i feel relieved that he is not coming
himself saIa Dorothy plasidl though it
constrain to have solitary gentleman in the
house TO amuse, and 10 other visiter." s'
II wonder what the unavoidable preventive
Is, said L; :" never knew him to hesitate about
racing over the country when he chose, letting
his profession wait upon his pleasure"
% He always said it was such treat to him TO
"he pretended IL was the very most enjoyable
visit he ever paid"
"Flattery!b retorted Patience, ssrve no pa
tence (Which she hadn't with men who pay
one 50 much particular attention that they make
one believe things quite against ones VIM, you
s.They should be taken up for breach of prom
issory attentions" suggested 1, airily. We
might do it-four plaintiffs at time. Capital
damages we might get.'
"Max's poOrwife," sighed Dorothy with yerv
generous but neutrality-suspicious. compassion,
"will have good deal TO put up with; he il 20
uncertain in his mind"
81 don't think him uninformed,' criticised
Patience, presently, looking as if she had thor
Oughly understood DOrothy's term, (Which
must own / did not ) " and he can be tolerably
agreeable when he likes; but he is idle, and un-
fortunately plain"
''lf Minnie Frere. whoever she is knew him
as well as We know him, she would evidently
have refused him-as we intended to do"
said this thinking il Just well to pat il
forcibly at once; and rather struck by the coin
eidence that the points we were condemnng in
Max were the very points we had particularly
at any other time would have made me laug Oh
not 50 now! -, not so now.
''JOan," said 1, as we rose from the table. flor
after all the temptation proved irresistibleA
:. you are Off to the garden, L suppose. usual.
Ii will look very nice after few more morn
ings' hard work. III you hadn't said you wished
much, would offer to help you
And, would You believe it? Joan was so weak
that she went she would not venture to stop her
wearisome employment suddenly, for fear OF
our insinuations, and so she took the leather
gloves, and the mushroom, and the implements
OF torture, and went out to her mornings toll.
When had sufficiently eniOyed the idea and the
sight fetched her in, knowing she would not
have the courage to come of her own accord.
Then we formed another conclave about the
anwer that was to be sent to Maxs letter. One
thing we unanimously agreed, that it should go
by return; because, II We waited, Max land any
one would have guessed from our representa-
tons that he had strong faint of insanity in his
nature) might think all kinds Of ridiculous and
improbable things. The wonder to me now, I'm
looking back on that discussion, is, that no one
OF us questioned another as to what was meant
by this. We all seemed to understand SO well
what ridiculous and improbable things he
would be most likely to think. Yes, our letter
write it?
dorothy, of course ;" said Patience, L" she's
the eldest; and the news was sent her."
The news was sent to us ALL insisted
Dorothy, hastily FORGETTING the honor. '.Wasn't
''But it was addressed to you," asserted
Joan, qnenicih,ing the remark, "and you ought
"Joan knows him best" put in Patience,
daintily satirizing the same remark made under
happier circumstance week before.
"Patience, you write the best hand" sug-
gested l, on the same principle, and proud of
But it fell to Dorothy after all, as was only
natural; and she was Obliged to accept the
office, little as she coveted it.
81 shall write out a rough copy" she said
. and yon must all help me. don't know what
to say, I'm sure"
IL should begin with. sMy dear cousin -;
far as il went-thOugh Patience said that want
very far.
What else?" inquired Dorothy, looking va
cantly through the window over the back OF her
devonpert; while each one Of Us supported her
on foot.
Perhaps, after that ;" unused Patience. with
generosity, ''yOu had better say we are glad
to hear OF his approaching happiness, and hope
"SlOwiy, please" entreated Dorothy pite-
ously, as her hard pen scratched along the
paper, Ibis approaching happiness, and hope
sit won't last long"
Be quiet. Barbara" pleaded Dorothy, ssyou
put me OUT
swell, Patience-or somebody-and hope he
ellis wife will accept our friendship, when
~
I'VE offer it, which won't be yet''
$50 on, Dorothy. "DOn't get into fid get
Never mind Barbara. Now, I'VE are very
sorry you could not come over to tell us the
news YOURSELF
80, the egregiousness of that fib. 1t should
stand alone. Make postscript of it,"
''lOu had better say / remember his wife very
WELL" said Joan, with self-abnegation, .and
admire her; but regret"
"iie should have chosen her."
81 suppose you must tell him f" resumed Pa
tence, "that the valued sympathy and kind and
generous good wishes he bespeaks are his, if
they arc"