The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-01-07
MISS RENSHAW'S DINNER.
PARTY.

the doctors door. Every body in the
village told every body else that Miss
Renshaw haa arrived, to make her an
nual visit to her brother. There we're no
comments, but good many quiet smiles
and significant fittings of the eyebrows.
The old doctor laid down his book and
hurried out, half-scared smile Of well
come on his mild, withered visage.
Janet, his rosy little daughter, was close
upon him. Old Barbara stood at the
kitchen door. They all felt as if raw
easterly wind had begun to blow through
tine sunny little house, but being kindly,
gentle folk, they nerved themselves to
meet it in Christian spirit. Only
Colonel, the dog, seeing who was COM
ing, betrayed the general discomfort by
retreating, with howl, to the stable.
Miss Renshaw paced up the tan-bark
path complacently. She told her friends
in Pittsburgh that she was going to see
James. She ''fclt it to be her duty to
visit poor James, at least once year. A
wido wer, you know, with the fightiest
child for housekeeper- can imagine
the condition in which find everything.
I look upon it as missionary work, in
deed, to 90 and set house and servant and
my niece to rights. I never finch from
duty, thank Heaven" s ....
Every body in Newburgh suspected
the egect of these visits on the old doc
tor. But the present was to be momen-
tous beyond precedent. .s..
Aweek after her arrival Miss Renshaw
was waiting at the breakfast-table one
morning while the doctor slipped his cof-
fee and read his paper. He said:
II see rhat those Turks are at their old
work again, Miranda. 1t is curious to OBJ
serve how the traits of each race repro
duce themselves, inexorably, age after
age. Now the Aryan stock"
"Good gracious, James, do eat your
steak! 1t will be as cold as if it had
never been cooked. I wish you would
not dilly-dally so over your meals. It is
such an untidy, ungenteel habit"
20, certainly" gulplng down his coffee.
often trace out these historical
truths to Janet. Now the Mohamme-
dams, in every race appear
"I'm sure don't want to trace out the
nasty creatures anywhere. Bigamists
every one of them. Did you know that
the Ashers are coming9''
"Ashers2" peering at her from under
his spectacles. 81 really do not recall
the name, Miranda"
80, I suppose not. 1t is we'll poor
Janet has somebody to look after her
interest. When she was in Baltimore
last winter the Ashers were very polite to
her. Very wealthy, stylish people.
They come now to spend the summer
in the village, and we ought to show
them some attention."
"Certainly. I remember now the
child told me how kind they had been to
her. You will ask them to stay with us
until they are comfortably settled" The
doctor had one of the most hospitable
souls in the world.
"Ask them here!" almost shrieked
Miss Renshaw. But what was the use of
trying to make James understand? He
might be great naturalist, but in ordi-
nary matters he was little better than an
idiot. The Ashcrs in Miss Renshaws
eyes, was of the haut ton; they dwelt on
sombre, arristocratic heights, to which
mere fashionable people could not aspire;
their house was magnificent; they kept
carriages, full suit Of servants. And
james would ask them here, as if they
were mere nobodies! Heres She looked
around her at the worn ingram carpet,
the cheap white dishes, at old Barbara,
in her kitchen, who would come in pres
entity and lecture the doctor about chang
ing his coat, as if she were an equal
and shuddered.
1--WE may possibly manage to invite
them to tea, after have prepared for
them," she said, calmly.
Being the only rational person IN the
family, it was her duty to be calm, to
take this affair in hand and conduct it to
successful conclusion. She had heard
from the village gossips how George Ash
er, the son and heir, had fallen in leve
with Janet. Though what he saw in
her. her aunt could not divine. H.gitl
absolutely without styleD His mother, it
was reported, was a wiso!; sna' h.nered
the lad in every whim. =: ::
mo doubt" thought the asrite:G1ifah.
da, "she has come to look into our family
and social position. What providence
it was that I came! Til put my best foot
foremost, with the blessing of heavenr
The next merning, having elaborated
her plans, Miss Renshaw began the attack
while the doctor was filling his saddle
bags, preparatory to his daily rounds.
James, you must have another SER
want"
"What, Ell? Servant! Where is Bar
bara2'' staring into the kitchen.
''It is absurd to talk of Barbara. She
rules you and Janet with a rod of iron"
"She has been friend to us for twenty
years, Miranda. When Susan died, it was
on Barbara's breast she lay"
: 80, very we'll, but 1t is not a friend
you want; it is a servant. I ought to
know what is due to Janet's social posi-
ton"
'.Janet's social position9 Barbara2''
said the Dewildered doctor.
'And here is the luckiest chance" his
sister went on, breathlessly. ga colored
man, just from Virginia, a competent
waiter and butler, who is willing to come
and turn his hand to anything, for his