Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-07-25
sOh, the bonnet is behind the age,

age, too
Marcia, I had better opinion of
you," said her brother.
Miss Arkwright glanced timidly at
Alonby He smiled.
Indeed, indeed" pleaded Marcia.
I would rather stay at home all my
days than to go abroad dowdy."
"And who do you suppose will know
the difference?"
Marcia shrugged her shoulders with
plying gracefulness.
Every woman, Harold, and prob
ably good many gentlemen.
Well,' quoth Major Arkwright,
pulling at his whiskers vigorously,
" I'm thankful wasn't born a woman.
"Why?' innocently demanded Mar
cia, with mischievous curl of her lips.
"Men are above such petty consid-
erations. Men don't stop to consider
whether their coats or caps are cut ac
cording to this seasons style or last.
Men don't"
"Now, Harold, do be little reas-
onable," interrupted his sister. 81
suspect you lords of creation are quite
as particular i'll your way, as we women
are about our gear"
Nonsense!'
Brief-but not. particularly polite,
laughed Marcia. Tomorrow even
ing, I'll go with..you, Harold,--to hear
MIR. ---- lecture"
Mr.. Arkwright elevated his eye
brows.
I'D be willing to wager a new silk
dress, Marcia, that if that suit don't
come home from Madame What t's-her-
names, you would even deny yourself
the intellectual treat of hearing Mr.. -
lecture"
"I'm not so certain about that" re-
torted Marcia, gravely. Sebastian 1
might sacrifice to the Moloch of fashion,
but not Mr.. IS eloquence. How
ever, let us hope that the sacrifice will
not be required" she added with
laugh. "And oh, Harold, by the way,
Uncle Eliab is coming to town to.mor-
row to see about renewing the mort
gage on the old farm. 1 got letter
from him to-day"
Horrid old bore!" was the neph-
ew's undutiful comment. "Of course,
we shall have to ask him up to dinner:
and don't think there's any help for
it, Marcia. Come, Alonby, we shall be
late"
And the friends departed.
The next day, as Uncle Eliab was
about taking leave, Marcia coaxed him
to let her have his overcoat.
But what on earth do You want
with it, Marshy?" questioned; Uncle
Eliab.
"Never mind, uncle dear; only leave
it here until you come into town next.
You shall wear Harold's handsomest
broadcloth, just from Delisle, in it's
stead"
"And shall look like an old turkey
in peacock's feathers!' said Uncle
Eliab, shrewdly. But you always had a
great hand for mysteries and contri-
vances, Marshy, though what you can
do with my old coat that Betsy Miller
made out of Huldah's cloak, ten years
ago last Michaelmas, declare to gra-
cious l don't know. They don't make
no such buttons as them now-a- days,
though. P'raps now," shrewdly added
Uncle Eliab, i" You are goin' to mas
querade party, or some O. them things
I've read of, or else Harold is!''
"Now, Uncle, don't ask any ques-
tions, but leave the coat, there's dar-
ling!"
She put up her rosy lips as she spoke
to bribe the old man with kiss, and
Uncle Eliab surrendered at discretion.
Well, we'll, child, have your own
way" he said--and Marcia had it.
"Now," thought Marcia, with spark
ling eyes, when once the front door
had banged behind Uncle Eliabs de-
parting form, Il will settle up old
scores with Master Harold"
AS the hour of eight approached,
Major Arkwright burst into the room
like good-looking whirlwind.
care yon ready, Marcia? Alonby is
waiting in the hall, and we must hurry,
if we expect to get anything in the
likeness of good seat"
"Ready? of course I'm ready"
answered Miss Arkwright demurely.
"I have been sitting with my things on
for the last quarter of an hour"
'' ought to have been on hand
little sooner, acknowledged Maj Ark
wright, "but I had all those mortgage
papers to look over and settle, and
time slipped away before I knew it.
However-where's my overcoat?"
'On the hall rack, isn't it?" Marcia
responded, with curious light shin
ing in her eyes.
"There's one here" muttered Har-
old, in subdued tone, but it s but
ternut- -colored thing, sprinkled all over
with little brass buttons the size of
Spanish dollar. l say, Marcia, I do
believe Uncle Eliab has worn off my
cont and left this relic of Noah's Ark
here in its place."
And he held it out at arms length.
81 dare say" said Marcia, preserv-
inc her rrayity by an almost snnorhn