Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-12-05

cover whether their dI-h.ioveis are IN
proper ORDER retorted his friend.
Tom laughed.
II have q presentiment that l shall
forget my revered erandmotLer's adj
vice until it is too late, when the i'm
portant event Of meeting my fate shall
arrive"
And then remember il for the rest
of your life, l suppose, observed Har-
ry 1.-The principle "f marrying in
haste and repenting hi leisure Well,
l hope my fair cousins will not be til e
cause of such a catastrophe but l
must leave you here, as have a patient
in this house" And lie hastily ran up
the steps.
Left to himself, Tom sauntered slow
ly along, thinking Of the young ladies
whom he had Just seen. 1t must be
confessed that little Violet occupied but
a very small portion Of his thoughts,
which were filled with Ida and Adele.
But doubt if either of them ever
saw a dish-towel," was his concluding
reflection, as he reached his boarding
house.
Weeks passed on. Tom was devoted
in his attentions to the Misses Renshaw.
Rumor had assigned him first to Ida,
then to Adele, and waited with i'm
patience for the time when the engage
ment should be publicly announced.
Meanwhile, almost every day brought
some good and sufficient excuse for him
to call at Mrs. Renshaw's pleasant
house g new poem, the latest song, al
invitation for a drive, or plan for an
excursion. OF Violet he saw less than
of the other sisters, although they were
very friendly, and he treated her with
the same brotherly frankness as Harry.
One lovely June morning he pre-
scented himself at Mrs. Renshaw's at
quite an early hour, intending to invite
the three sisters to pass the Leautiful
summer day in long country drive.
He noticed that there was some delay
in answering his ring, which was not
usually the case with Mrs. Renshaw's
well.trained servants but at length he
heard light footstep, and in another
moment the door was opened by Violet.
She had broom in her hand, and q
busting cap covered her bright curls
but she babe him good-morning with
as much cordially as usual, and in
vited him to enter, adding
"Please walk into the dinning.ro
for I am just sweeping the pariors."
Secretly wondering, Tom obeyed. As
he turned the handle of the door, there
was sudden rush, q hasty bang of
door, and a hurried exclamation of 30
Violet how could you ?" and he found
himself in the presence of the fair Adele
although for the moment he scarcely
recognized her in the slovenly- dressed
girl, with dishevelled hair who stood by
the breakfast-table dabbling the cups
and saucers in some greasy water, and
wiping them on towel which, to say
the least, was very far from being spot
lessly clean. She colored, and with
some confusion said,-
"Ah, good-morning, Mr.. Meredith.
So you have come to find us all at work
this morning. Ithappens that we have
for our servants brother and two sis.
ters. They received, this..morning, the
news of their mothers dangerous ill.,
ness, and mamma at once gave them all
permission to go home. We supposed
we could get woman who sometimes
does extra work for US, hut she was en-.
gagged for the day, so we are obliged to
do the best we can ourselves. assure
you," she continued, with little laugh
which Tom had often thought pretty
and engaging, but which now sounded
false and affected, "that 1 am not &C.
customed to such work, nor have any
desire to become So"
"Cannot you allow me to assist your
asked Tom, politely. g. was brought
up on farm, and often washed dishes
and made myself generally useful in
the kitchen"
"You !" exclaimed Adele, in such an
astonished tone, that Tom could not
forbear laughing.
Eyes, certainly why not? asked
Tom.
"Oh, / don't know-only thought
you never did anything" stammered
Adele then, endeavoring to seem at
ease, she said, eyes, if you will help,
please take this tea.kettle into the
kitchen and set it on the stove."
Tom seized the kettle, and, throwing
open the door leading to the kitchen,
was crossing the room toward the stove
when his progress was arrested by the
sudden appearance of Ida from store
room beyond. If Adele looked sloven-
ly and dishevelled, what shall be said
of Ida? An old dress, dirty and torn,
slippers run down at the heel and burst
out at the sides, no collar or rude, very
little hair, instead of the magnificent
tresses he had so often admired, and
what there was hanging uncombed
about her face, no wonder that Tom
stared in blank establishment.
A heavy frown took the place of the
usual smile, as she CURLY babe him
good morning. Tom muttered an apol-
ogy for his intrusion as he deposited
his burden on the stove, and turned to
retrace his steps just as Violet entered
the dining-room. She did not see him,
but, addressing Ida, said,-
Hun away, now, Ida dear, and
dress, before the callers come for you.
l have already sent Adele up stairs, and
will finish the dishes, now that have
done my sweeping"
You have been long enough about
it, hope, "muttered Ida, ungraciously,
but nevertheless availing herself OF her
sisters offer with much alacrity. Here
are the dish-towels, Violet" she said,