Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-10-17
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hours. but in reality was only thirty min
utes. l sat mo,ionless. travellingbag i
hand. gazing through three thicknesse
of curtain, in hope of seeing carriag
draw up and deposit my family.
This excessive friendliness with com
plete stranger which Julia had enforce'
was wearing. especially when the stran
ger turned out to be 80 loquacious am
bent on entertaining me- wanted Juli
To come and take my place, and give M
some hints on showing friendliness to
spendthrift. In no Young ladies guide
had ever met with a chapter on such Al
emergency.
Mother will be so annoyed to be de
tanned, believe some little orphan has
eaten too many unripe peaches. or some
thing like that. and she was sent for Ia 81
to the Asylum
Il hope she won't hurry on my AZ
count
Thank YOU. That must mean that you
can endure this sort Of thing few minutes
more though upon my word Your anxious
expression and repeAted signs made me
fear wss making but sorry pr'-re>- IN
entertaining yoa.'
Entertaining me, \ ha>in of water
and pieSSs Of soap would have been more
coageniSl entertainment than any he had
favored me with: though doubtless this
vS> always the proper way of doing in
>lch \ hoariins-hou>e. First, address OF
welcome, then compliments and exchange
Of conversation, Ia make the newcomer
perfectly at home. and bani>h any little
stiffness that might otherwise occur.
DO You anticipate much pleasure from
the exhibition He asked the question
rs a man would who was determined Ia
make himself entertaining. no matter what
rebuffs met him. We Philadelphians
find il rather tiresome. though | own
enjoy immensely showing mothers Young
lady's visitors the wonders" | should
feel sorry to deprive any human being of
enjoyment in this world, but resolved |
would not consent to have that creature
show me a single wonder. Julia could.
and probably would. do as she pleased,
but Uncle John and | could 60 together,
and it would not be the first time Julia
had deserted the family ranks.
Yes, anticipate much pleasure. Will
you please see if | may not be shown my
room? And please tell your mother we
shall want dinner as soon As the rest of
my party comes - and | rose, bag in
hand, determined to put an end to the
tete-a-tete."
Certainly | will see where the delay
is.n
was glad to see he realized that there
had been delay. Giving my bag to sam,
followed him up Il fight of broad oak
stairs, and into room as luXurlously
furnished as the lower part of the house.
I Il t.tt Il
my feelings prompted, as my trunk was
below, and no move had been made to
take it to my room. | screwed up my
hair more snugly, and busted my boots
and hoped my appearance was more salts
factory to meet my sister. Those bare
stairs They were signs of the sons ex-
trayagance. He had drunk up or gam
bled that carpet. felt sure. once knew
a maiden lady who always, in selecting 4
house, looked first to see if coffin could
be brought down the front stairs. Wind
ing stairs condemned house in her eyes
never cared for the wind, but | do for a
carpet, and bare, slippery stairs are, in my
mind. a relic of barbarism.
A bell 1t was Just three o'clock. i
was Julia and Uncle John. ran-no,
crawled down the polished stairs holding
fast the balustrade, and, stepping softl,
as he might, my boots made racket tina
reverberated from floor to ceiling. Tina
spendthrift should never see me clingin.
to the rail and Strengthening myself
proceeded to trip boldly down-too boldly
for l caught my heel and fell, striking OF
every stair, my thick boots making grea
clatter. When my landlady's came to Sc,
the extent of my injuries, | wished haG
had sense enough to have killed myself il
my fall before getting myself into such q
ridiculous position.
II am so sorry! Why did you try to &C
so fast? Those stairs are a great nuisance
Are you hurt at all ?''
was very much afraid | had not hurt
myself; but on trying to stand, | suddenly
gave it up, and sat down on the lower
stair again.
where are you hurt"
"Wait, please, until find OUT
''ln the meantime | will pull off this
boot" and he was on his knees unbutton-
ing my boot.
''Stop that is the well one, and | can
ask you when | want any help" My
ankle was throbbing and aching badly.
and if that spendthriit kept bothering, |
should burst out crying.
Continued tomorrow.