The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-04-14

ment should be publicly announced.
Meanwhile, almost every dav brought
some good and sufficient excuse for him
| to call at Mrs. Renshaw's pleasant house :;
a new poem, the latest song, an invita-
/ ton for a drive, or a plan for an excur-
sion. 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 did Harry.
/ One lovely June morning he presented
/ himself at Mrs Renshaws at quite an
early hour, intending to invite the three
/ sisters To pass the beautiful 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 ser
wants; but at length he heard light
| tootstep, and in an another moment the
| door was opened by Violet She had
broom in her hand and a dust-cap COW
cred her bright curls but she babe him
good morning with as much cordialitv "a
| usual, and invited him To enter, adding
: Please walk into the DINING room,
for | am just sweeping the parlors.
Secretly wondering, Tom obeyed. As
he turned the handle Of the Dining
room door, there was sudden rush. a
hasty bang Of door, and a hurried ex-
clamation of 20 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 dish
eveled hair, who stood by the breakfast
table dabbling the cups and saucers in
some greasy water, and wiping them on
a towel, which, to say the least. was
very far from being spotlessly clean.
She colored, and with some confusion
said;
All, good morning, Mr.. Meredith.
Sc YOU have come to find Us all al work
this morning. 1t happens that We have
for our three servants a brother and
two sisters. They received this morn
ing the news of their mothers dangerous
illness, and mamma at once gave them
all permission to go home. We sup
posed We could get woman who some
times does extra work for us, but she
was engaged for the day, So we are
obliged to do the best we can ourselves.
| assure YOU" she continued with lit
tie laugh, which Tom had often thought
pretty and engaging, but which now
sounded false and affected, " that | am
by no means accustomed to such work,
nor have l any desire to become So"
= Can not you allow me to assist
YOU ?" asked Tom politely, Il was
brought up on a farm, and have often
washed dishes and made myself gener
ally useful in the kitchen"
"Youw exclaimed Adele, in such an
astCnished tone that Tom could not for
bear laughing.
9 Yes, certainly; why not? ?" asked
Tom.
''Oh l don't know-only l thought
YOU never did anything" stammered |
Adele then endeavoring to seem at
ease, she said, Eyes, if you will help, |
please take this teakettle into the kitch- |
en- and set it on the stove"
Tom seized the kettle, and, throwing /
open the door leading to the kitchen,
was Gro. 9 the.rO0m toward the stove /
when his progress was arrested by the |
sudden appearance of Ida from store /
room beyond. If Adele looked slovenly |
and disheveled, 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 ruftie, very |
little hair, instead of the mafinificent |
tresses he had so often admired, and |
what there was hanging uncombed about |
her face, no wonder that Tom started in
blank astonishment.
A heavy frown took the place of the |
usual smile, as she CURLY babe him good |
morning. Tom muttered an apology |
for his intrusion as Re deposited his |
burden on the stove, and turned to re-
trace his steps Just as Violet entered the |
dining room. She did not see him, but |
addressing Ida, said
g Run away, now, Ida dear, and dress, !
before the callers come for you. l have |
already sent Adele upstairs, and will |
finish the dishes, now that | have done
my sweeping"
"You have been long enough about |
it, l hope, muttered Ida, ungraciousIy, |
but nevertheless availing herself of her !
sisters offer with much CELEBRITY. Here
are the dishtowels, Violet" she said, |
extending several greasy, blackened ar
tieles to the young girl
Tom had been meditating an escape; |
not an easy affair, as the sisters stood |
directly in his path but at the word |
dish-towels he involuntarily stopped |
and glanced around.
''No wonder my grandmother caution
ed me-" was his first thought, as the |
soiled towel met his sight, and he hasti- |
" approved the look of disgust which |
crossed Violet's face as she laid them !
aside, and, opening a drawer, she took
from it splendid supply, soft, dry and
clean.
Ida and Adele had both disappeared,
and Iona Yentured to renew his offer Of
assistance to Violet, who started little,
as she for the first time noticed his pres
ence. But she recovered her compos-
ure at once, and quietly answered, as
she deity filed the dish-pan with clean,
hot suds:
'sNo, thank you, Mr. Merideth,
shall do very well without assistance.
NY sisters have not left much for me to
do. You had better walk into the par
lor and they will soon join you"
ma, indeed" replied Tom. II will
take myself out of the way, with apollo
gies for my untimeIy intrusion, unless
YOU will really let me be Of some service.
And believe me" he added earnestly,
with an admiring glance at the neat lit
tie figure tripping so lightly about the
kitchen and mentally contrasting her
with her two sisters, you will make
me very happy by allowing me to help
you"
ooh, very well, said Violet smiling
and blushing little as she met his gaze.
eff you are really in need of employ
ment | will try to provide some for you.
Suppose you set those dishes on the low
er shelf of the closet as | wash them
then can arrange them after they all
are done"
Tom obeyed, and was rewarded by
being allowed to bring hod of coal from
the cellar, and do varios other little
errands, during which time he was no.
ticing the neatness and dispatch with