The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-10-19

"Stuff and nonsense!" said Mrs. Hop
good, sharply. II keep house myself,
after my own fashion, and give others
leave to do the same"
"But, mamma" replied Elsie, II was
thinking how I should like to invite all
the girls here some evening, and have
tea, and afterward some little games.
I've been asked out so many times with
out responding, and really I am getting
ashamed to CO."
"Then you had better stay at home,"
said Mrs. Hopgood, polishing vigorous
ly away at the stem of her silver card re-
ceiver. 81 think see myself with all
the young folks in town capering on my
brussels carpet, and cake crumbs and
melted cream daubed over everything"
Elsie made no answer, but her coun-
tenance quickly fell.
II wish mamma was like any one
else" she said to herself, the tears OBJ
securing her eyes. II wish she was like
Kate Prickett's mother, who lets her
have company every Thursday evening.
John Elton wants me to marry him. If
I married him could have house of
my own, and do just as l pleased"
Mother" said Mr.. Hopgood. week
or two afterward, with troubled face;
sis it true that our Elsie is out walking
evenings with John Elton? He is q
worthless, dissipated fellow, and no fit
associate for any girl"
mercy on us! I don't know" said
Mrs. Hopgood, with q perturbed face.
II supposed she was with Kate Prickett
or Clara Momfort. I'm great deal too
busy with picking and housekeeping to
run at giddy girls heels the whole
time. But am going to commence
cleaning tomorrow, and then I'll war
rant I'll give her enough to do to keep
her ort of mischief"
Mother said Isaac Hopgood,
gravely, sometimes I think that if we
made home little more attractive to our
children"
"Oh, nonsensew quickly interrupted
his wife. II suppose you'd like us to
have tableaux, like Mrs. Momfort; or q
magic lantern like the Mickfords. Our
children have not been brought up in
that way"
Mr.. Hopgood said no more. Mrs.
Hopgood, to use ner own expression.
was Gin the thick of house cleaning"
the next day, with the carpets rolled into
heaps, the floors spattered with soap
suds, and her head tied up in q pocket
handkerchief when the door suddenly
opened.
"Take care of my pan of soap suds
and soda!" she cried shrilly. "Oh, it is
you, is it, Allyn"
Eyes, mother, it's me-" said Alexan-
der, her eldest son, who had just gone
into business as junior partner to his
father. 81 say, do leave off washing a
minute and attend to me! Ryerson's
in town-my old chum, you know-only
for one day, and have asked him to
dinner"
"To dinner!" almost screamed Mrs.
Hopgood, dropping her brush in con-
sternation; Alexander Hopgood, are
you crazy? OF course can't have him
to dinner; look at the confusion this
house is in"
"Oh, he won't mind that, mother; Ry-
erson is Thoroughly good fellow. Just
let him sit down to anything with the
rest of u.s."
ST shall do nothing of the sort, Alex
ander," said Mrs. Hopgood, rather Sc
verely, COMPRISING her lips. "You
are aware that do not approve OF your
inviting company at any time. still less
at such period as this. If you have
been fool enough to ask him, you may
get out of the scrape the best way you
can"
"But mother"
81 don't want any more discussion on
the subject" said Mrs. Hopgood daub-
ing away with the brush.
Alexander went out, slamming the
door.
.'Well," quoth Alexander, to himself
eff l can't ask friend to dinner at home
there is at least the alternative of invit-
ing him to the hotel. l never did such
a thing before. but don't see how else
i can manage"
So Alexander Hopgood entertained
Mr.. Ryerson at the hotel, and gave ON
unlimited order for iced champagne and
dessert And the upshot of it all was
that Alexander Hopgood was brought in
at eleven o'clock at night by two walters,
hopelessly intoxicated.
Don't be f-fraid, mother" suffered
he, brandishing an empty bottle, as he
became dimly conscious of her white
scared face bending over him. $50 on
with your washingl It's heap jollier
at the hotel than it is at home. Freedom
forever. Hooray!"
"Oh, what shall dor" sobbed Mrs.
Hopgood when the walters were once
out OF the house, and the roll of the cab
wheels had died away. To think-only
think that son of mine should ever
stoop to disgrace himself thus"
''ft's your own fault" said Kenny, the
second son. You'd not let Ally bring