The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-01-14

thinperlnB WITH Irlnplel
"Nonsense, Cornelia; ns il he would
look at such child. Mon of his age like
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 ns she can be-"
remarks Adelaide, viciously; "and she's
not such child either. noticed old
Pringle watching her at the school
feast"
"And why didn't you tell me?" re-
torts Cornelia, fiercely, "and would
have sent her home. It's Just like your
ill-nature, Adelaide. You are as jealous
rs ever you can bel"
"I jealous Of such buzuz as old
Pringlel Oh, thank you. hope 1
shall get something better than that"
Sour grapes, my DEAR" returns
Cornelia, laughing scornfully. "Oh, you
needn't be so proud. 1 can tell you old
Pringle doesn't care twopence for you,
therel"
"You ill-natured creature" cries
Cornelia, dissolving into tears.
"Hold your tongues" says their
mother, hurricdly; "there's some one
driving up the avenue" At once the
| Spicers fell into position. Their train
ing was perfect; the generals widow
understood washing the family linen in
private.
just about this time young Lord
Lavender came home to the hall. Re-
port said he meant to give series OF
festivities balls, lawn-tennis parties
and what not. Tic whole neighborhood
was in flutter. g You must call at once"
my stepmother said to my father;
" there's no time to be lost. We must
get up a dinner. Old Lady Tumble
towers told me to-day he is musical
Adelaide, you haven't practiced lately
" wonder If he will take any interest
ir the schoolsl" remarked Cornelia,
musingly.
Jack Spicer winked at me-he was
always teasing his sisters, and there was
no love lost between them. I liked
Jack; when he was at home my life was
a shade more endurable, and the few
treats that had enlivened my childhood
was due to him. To him also owed
the first revelation so pleasing to every
woman. Returning after long absence
of three or four years he blurted out:
"Why, mother, Cindy has grown q
regular beauty-bling her up to town
next season and she'll make you all the
fashion,
"Don't fill the child's head with nom
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 arrangement of the
dinners, for which Cornelia and Adelaide
| got the credit of being such famous
| housekeepers and tho floral decora-
tions, which attracted even Lord Laven-
der's fastidious eyes and drew from him
the remark that they must be the work
OF 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 o
little too young for either; but, after
all. few years more or less don't mat
ter in the long run. "Adelaide is our
musician. She has wonderful voice
three octavcs, and the register smooth
as velvet. She has every advantage;
masters everywhere. You like music%
doesn't care rap for the finest
voice in creation !" cries jack, who is
great ally of the young lord. "Laven-
der, don't humbug my mother. He'd
rather have jolly waltz with pretty
girl than examine PATHS register. By
the-byc, where's Cindy?"
"Gone to bed, | should hope" re-
turns my stepnlolhcr, in icy tones.
"Blamc shame !" muttors Jack under
his mnstache; hut this WAS no time for
making n stand. He retained to the
charge next morning.
al say, mother, Cindy's coming to
Lavender's ball of course?"
"Cynthia's not out" cry all three
ladies in breath.
"Then it's good time to begin
| goodness knows she is old enough. Let
me see, she was between six and seven
when you married Sir William-that's
II dozen years ago-why, mother, Cindv
| must be"
"What business is it of yours what
age she is?' interrupts his mother,
quickly. 81 sliant take three girls
out it's time enough to think about
her when your sisters are married"
Jack gave II long low whistle, "Poor
Cindy!"
Cornelia and Adelaide, Their faces
flushed, their nostrils smiling, spoke
together.
"Jack is always rude to us-he likes
Gndy because she ilatters him."
- like her because she's young and
pretty, and take it that's tho reason
you hate her. But you women are all
alike, jealous as the deuce |"
"Jealons jealous of poor little
Cindyl Well, you really might find
us something betterp
"Cindy is as pretty as any OF the
fashionable beauties," returns my
champion, stoutly, "and if you only
gave her fair play would beat them all
bet you five to ono 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, if ever 1 had chance. From |
thenceforth l was kept more closely to
my nee,lle than ever indeed, it was |
IN constant rr4Hi''iiinn, for the demands |
OF my anh,!,iu sisters wrro increasing. |
Never hal | known hem to be so exact
ing. EvolYilins seemed to be going |
wrong with them. From all their gale |
ties they returned ont of sorts, and |
their ill-hunor and disappointments |
were vented upon mo-it was all the |
fault of my bal dressing, my bad taste, |
my ill-natured advice.
Meanwhile Lord Lavender convulsed |
the whole county by ,ssning invitations |
for a series of festivities. Morning !
parties, ball, tahleaux were to succeed |
| one another. A covey of relations de- |
scended in fight to assist tho young |
lord i'll astonishing the proyincials, and
astonish them they did.
A dream Of fair women in impossible |
toilets, accompanied 10y III n lsome |
guardsmcn, drove and role about the
quiet country roads and startled the
simple village folk. The arrival OF
these great people put the finishing
touch to tho ill-humor of the Spicers.
Both my stepmother and her daughters
were in fever of anxiety, hoping for
some notice. They were forever throw
ing themselves in the way, longing for
admittance to the inner circle at the
hall of which such delightful stories
were told ly Jack, who was hand-and-
glove with the whole set. Long and
lond We're the disputes between him and
| L. Do - l,s... 4