Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-11-18

nelia, with more 2crimOny than before.
She has an intuitive feeling that the rec
tor does not agree in these structures.
Something in his expression rouses the
jealousy which is always burning in
such natures as hers. No sooner is the
door shut upon the rector than she
bursts out:
Mamma! that odious girl has been
tampering with Pringlel"
Nonsense, Cornelia; as if he would
look at such a child. Men of his age
| like a sensible woman for wife
"They do no such thing, and you
know that very well. What's the use OF
making fool of me that way.
"Cindy is as forward as she can be"
remarks Adelaide, viciously; "and she's
not such child, either. l noticed old
PringIe watching her at the school
feast"
And why didn't you tell me?" retorts
Cornelia, fiercely, "and would have sent
her home. It's just like your i'll nature,
| Adelaide. You are as Jealous as ever
you can be-"
Il jealoas of such buzuz AS old Prln-
glel Oh, thank you. hope shall get
something better than that
Sour grapes, my dear" returns Cor
nelia, laughing seornfully. "Oh, you
needn't be so prond. l can tell you old
IPringle doesn't care twOpence for you,
tthereT
you ill-natured creature" cries Cor
nelia, dissOlving into tears.
Hold your tonguesr' says their moth
er, hurriedly; there's some one driving
up the avenue" At once the Spicers
fell into position. Their training was per
fleet; the Generals widow understood
washing the family linen in private.
Just about this time young Lord
Lavender came home to the Hall. Re-
lport said he meant to give series of
festivities--balls, lawn-tennis parties,
and what not. The whole neighbor-
hood was in flutter. You must call
at once" my stepmother said to my
father; there's no time to be lost. We
must get up dinner. Old Lady Tum-
bletowers told me to-day he is musical
Adelaide, you haven't practiced late
ly."
81 wonder if he will take any interest
in the schools? 2" remarked Cornelia, mu-
singly.
Jack Spicer winked at me-he was
always teasing his sisters, and there was
no love lost between them. l liked
Jack when he WAS at home my life was
a shade more endurable, and the few
treats that had enlivened my childhood
were due to him. To him also | owed
the first revelation so pleasing to every
woman. Returning after all absence of
three or four years. he blurted out:
"Why. mother, Cindy has grown a
] IY-i,a har 70 tnx n
next season, and she'll make you all the
| fashion"
Don't fill the child's head with non
sense" my stepmother said GROSSLY. 1t
wouldn't have suited her for my head to
be filled with anything but the making
and mending of her daughters clothes
the ordering and arrangements of the
dinners, for which Cornelia and Ade.
laide got the credit of being such fa-
nous housekeepers; and the floral dec
oratiOns, which attracted even Lord
Lavender'S fastidious eyes and drew
from him the remrrk that they must be
the work Of a perfect artist.
"My girls are both thoroughly artis-
tic" says my stepmother. She hadn't
quite made up her mind which Of them
should go in for the prize. He was a
little too young for either; but. after
all, few years more OF. less don't mat
ter in the long run. Adelaide is our
musician. She has wonderful voice
three octaves, and the register smooth
as velvet. She has every advantage
masters everywhere. YOn like music? -
Doesn't cafe rap for the finest voice
in creationp cries Jack, who is great
ally of the young lord. Lavender, don't
humbug my mother. He'd rather have
Il jolly waltz with pretty girl than ex-
anime PATHS register. By-the-by, where's
Cindy?"
"Gone to bed, shsuld hope" returns
my stepmother in icy tones.
"ConfOunded shame" mutters Jack
under his moustache; but this was no
time for making stand. He returned
TO the charge next morning.
81 say, mother, Cindy's coming to
Lavender's ball. of ceurse?"
"Cynthia's not OutT cry all three la
lies in breath.
Then it's gsOd time to begin-good-
| ness knows she is old enough. Let me
see, she was between six and seven
when you married Sir William-that's a
dozen years ago-why, mother, Cindy
must be"
What business is it Of yours what
age she is ? interrupted his mother quick
ly. 81 shan't take three girls ont; it's
time enough to think about . when
your sisters are married"
Jack gave long low whissle. Poor
Cindy."
| Cornelia and Adelaide. their faces
flushed, their nostrils smiling, spoke to-
gether.
Jack is always rude to us-he likes
I Cindy because she fiatters him."
81 like her because she's young and
Ipretty, and ! take it that's the reason
you hate her. But you women are all
alike, jealous as the devil"
Jealous! jealous Of poor little Cindy
Well, you really might fad us some
thing betterT
"Clndy is as pretty as any of the fash
ionable beauties" returns my champion
stoutly, "and If you only gave her fair
play would beat them all I bet you
five to one Lavender would be spoons
upon her, if he saw her. She's Just his
style"
This injudicious speech sealed my fate
as regarded the Lavender gaieties-that
is, II ever l had chance. From thence
forth was kept more closely to nv
needle than ever. Indeed. it was in
constant reQuisition, for the demands
of my amiable sisters were increasing.
Never had l known them to be so ex-
acting. Everything seemed to be going
wrong with them. From all their gale
ties they returned out of sorts, and their
ill-humor and disappsintments were
vented upon met was all the fault of
my bad dressing, nay bad taste, my ILL
natured advice.
Meanwhile Lord Lavender convulsed
the whole county by issuing invitations
for a series of festivities Morning par
ties, a ball, tableaus were to succeed
one another. A covey of relations de-
scended in a flight to assist the young
lord i'll astonishing the previncials, and