Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-05-24


LIP ooyEToUs."
''How dreadful ]"
"Dreadful-why ?"
"I'vs got no proTer evening dress-nothinI
but that horrid old black silk and in lodgings
10 So
.,stuff and nonsense The idea OF being OF
ope's p's and q's with q wyhne; tho kipdest, best
hearted, jolliest fellow in the world"
"Oh. OF course |" not without bitterness
.,only YOU soc I've never set eyes on the man In
my life !" and queer, grim little smile curyeI
the straight red lips.
sec him," c0olly, in the tone OF one having au
thority. Anyhow. he's coming. Pass me the
milk please"
A thin white wedding g-ringed hand pushes the
ntalwArt biscuit china jug across the table.
'tAn6 what is he to have to eaR Don't take il
all; the best of grandchildren is waiting for his
breakfast arn't you, sweetest Of small dogs2"
A touching squeak replies In the affirmative,
"WhAts he to have to eata" meditatively, re.
turning the jug and decapitating an egg. "Whet'a
he to have to eaH Well its rather puzzle,
isn't 1t ?"
ND a roundabout morsel of curly blackness, de-
corated with pert stiff white-tipped tail. -four
grisly aimless legs. sticking out in all directions
and an intoxicated crimson satin bow "boil you
and smother you in onions, bless you !" sauting
the tip OF coal black nose.
'Instead OF kisses I" Chokily. mo, I don't
think that will quite do. Gwynne may have pre-
iudces in spite of all his travels. By the way,
you must get him to tell you about his adven-
lures in Paris with the Communists, and how he
was going to be shot when they found that
shield upon him-the thing picked up, you
know"-stabbing pat of floating butter, and
transferring it to his plate.
Eyes, know" languidly -depositing the best
of grandchildren on the floor.
"5uch splendid fellow, too six feet one II
he's an inch. He was always straight and we'll
made, and all tnat !; but l really never thought
he'd turn out quite $3.50" peering into the
recesses Of q sardine box.
"Truly magnificent p Crumbling bread into
a saucer. and laughing satricaly.
"Ah !" forking out fish, you wait TIL you We
seen him. that's what you do, my Everlida-and
then perhaps I'll listen to you"
Stupid boy" with crushing dignity, and
pair of very pink cheeks, "just as II / we're some
wretched schoolgirl, always signing and dying,
and yearning after my brothers friends"
smiling wickedly. Il say, don't give that unhap-
py little beggar all that" looking at the brim-
ming saucer, 'hell have ft."
"Pouf Dttes Uotre grdnd,nere de, etcetera,
etcstera Oh dear, oh dear !"suddenly waxing
earnest. ~ do 80 wish you haln't asked him,
Ned. It's 80 jolly here alone with you but with
a great man glarlng at one-and wanting to be
kow-towed to"-and pair of sea-water- -colored
eyes grow sorely reproachful.
my dear !" gravely. Your soiourn among
the feshpots has not improved your moral ma
ture--proof of ndissoluble connection OF mind
aud matter, in a word, my Eve, you speak sell
fshly."
"Do II" says Miss Everlida, penitently "rm
sure IdOnt mean to-but IL you only knew how
| hate strangers-I suppose it's because I've had
such dose OF them lately"-and bitter little
laugh
"dwynne is not a stranger. Besides, you arn't
always 30 shy. You can make friends with peo-
pie in railway carriages fast enough with dry
ness of tone, not wholly destitute of meaning.
What shame !" flushing all over her face
"just catch me telling you anything again"
I'll take my chance !" holding out his tea-cup.
"And now TO quit the sublime for the ridiculous.
I'll leave you sovereign, andyou must fish out
something in the way of grub. Miss James II
tell you what1l be best. All !" [seeing her sugar
tongs in hand-saccharne matter is abomina-
tion to this brisk and peremptory young man
'"pon my word, think your mysterious hero
has walked of with your senses. Come out Of
the way, Pups. shall lose the train, il don't
look sharp.
And up he jumps, and away he goes into the
passage to change his shabby house coat for the
goodlier garment In which he breasts the tide
OF life. His hat brushed-not toe new hat by
any means-and the essence of the coming feast
deposited in q seal-skin purse, and himself
watched out of sight. Everlida Stapylten shuts
the house-door and comes back into the pleas
hnt Illtle blttlnB -rOOul-h hOIt WOOllen n6utral-
tinted creature with long fringes dangling about
her, and broad margins OF dead white clasping
her throat and wrists, studded with dead gold
mouse-like, gentlO creature, whom 1t would have
been pity to have killed, il only for the sake
OF ono peremptory young nan-to discuss the
varied eXcellences OF fish, flesh, and fowl, of
tarts and CREAMS, and savories, with Ned's land
lady. Miss James.
I'm sure, hope he won't worry you half as
much as he docs me- says Everilda, ,plAintiyely,
when the carte is composed and she is at liberty
to make her purchases as quickly as she likes.
What Miss, the dog?" turning short round
tray in hand, and looking hard at the grandchild,
who is actively engaged in the demolition Of a
Tag gend Of lace curtain.
THE dog, no, much surprised aud not quite
pleased at the suggestion ''this Mr.. Gwynne
For my part, l thing hiA a most fearful nui-
sance. Be quiet hir.'
Eve picks up the grandchild by the Bcruff OF
his neck, tucks him under her arm, makes
queer, perVerse little face. and walks OF upstairs
to array herself in the big steeple crowned hat
and scarlet shawl, and gray gloves and square
toed buttoned boots, for the benefit OF the Sur
biton butchers and bakers, and candestick. max
ers, and the ultimate refreshment and satisfac-
tion Of Ned's unwelcome and sesquipedalIan
guest.
1t is an ideal September morning. People
pursue their daily aYocation as il they were in
love with life rags take picturesque grace
from the universal beauty well-todo, prosper
ehulgence on mankind at large, and to be lavish
neh, free from care, seems the apex OF human
happiness.
Free from care |" echoes some one, perhaps.
We'll, rather. Free from care, indeed t. and
signhcant grunt.
Back to thy mutton, ,driveling pen of feeble
hand Notably to thy leg OF mutton-weighing
seven pounds all but two ounces, as tried in the
balance by q blue-shirted young man of ruddy
Sountenances and paid for by small person of
bald and meager aspect"
Well! The mutton ticketed, and the fishmon-
ger courteously entreated. and the grocer con-
ierred with, and the greehgrocer made delirious-
~ joyful by the purchase of pot of mgnonette
and bunch OF China asters, and basket OF
nectarines, and four King William pears and a
plump little melon-Eve is fond OF melon her.
sell being bit of Sybarite in her demure way,
IKE most young women-she takes stroll up
Victoria Road, and has look at the diapers
shop at the corner. What beautiful two-inch
wide lace for twopense three farthings yard,
and warranted to wash Ones vile old black
shk might be improved little by ruffles OF that
same lace perhaps-Any how it couldn't be made
Worse-and if Ned will ask strange men to din
ner-Eve tightens her hold of the grandchild,
VINO groans the groan of the replete, and boldly
fronts the foe.
Just one shilling, il you please, miss" re-
marks that much beaded and frilled and fringed
being subsequently, sticking pin in crisp
paper parcel. Anything in the way of gloves
Today, ribands, ties, parasols Z"
Eve fancies she would like a blue satin bow
very well-but, no To be decent is necessary,
to be smart another thing altogether. No rib
Nan.Ia g.. .ss.fV