The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-01-05
1.-THE Argosy.1
What Came OfIt.

Hamlet, after keeping them in sus
pense for weeks-now up in the skie
Of hope, now down in the dust of des
: pair-at length made up her mind
$ and announced her decision,-to go
but I'm sure" she added, 81 don
know what will come Of it.
r Charlotte Hamlet had thought fat
y rather cruel when, three years agt
i now, she heard of the death Of he
d widowed sister, Mary Taferel, anC
that the three daughters she left il
the world had no protector, unless sht
! herself became one. The girls hac
three hundred year conjointly-that
: is, one hundred pounds each, anc
8 could have kept home over then
heads by living together; but they
were young for that, and, Miss Ham
let suspected, somewhat giddy. SHE
5 was well-off herself, and had a roomy
pleasant house. It was not on that
t score she shrank from the prospect
but she was rather an invalid, ner.
vous, and loving above all things &
quiet life. However, there appeared
to be no help for it, md she wrote tc
her nieces to come. "We must all
have crosses murmured poor Miss
Hamlet. land I suppose this will be-
come one for me; but | have been pret-
ty free from them hitherto, and must
not repine."
The girls arrived at Stagbrook, Miss
Hamlet's village home. The eldest of
them was twenty-three, the youngest
twenty-one. They turned out to be
pleasant, sociable, and chatty; full of
life and spirits, eager for any gaiety
that might fall in their way, and very
anxious, each Of the three, to pick up
a husband.
Small blame to them either" freely
spoke up Mrs. O'Malley, an intimate
friend Of Miss Hamlet's. "What do
girls expect but to marry? and sure
the young men are growing scarce!
Nearly three years had elapsed since
they came to Miss Hamlet, and there
had been no change, when that lady
bethought herself of taking them to
the seaside, and bade them prepare
themselves.
To get away any,okere was some-
thing; but the place she had fixed up
on, Brightwater, was new and untried,
not dozen houses as yet in it. A
grand hotel was just built, the size of
which might, perhaps, make up for
the scarcity Of other accommodation.
1t was called the Royal Victoria, and
it took its guests by the week, some
what as boarding-house does, or after
the fashion Of Scarborough. Miss
Hamlet had written to the Royal Vic
toria to make arrangements, Mrs..
D Malley, who had just returned from
fortnight's sojourn there, having
praised it warmly.
1t is not exactly what l like said
Miss Hamlet to her nieces, as they sat
at tea II have never tried the life
myself, and l fear it will prove to be
too familiar; but we can leave the ho-
tel at the end of the first week for
lodgings, if we choose -
"Oh, Aunt Charlotte" exclaimed
Rosa, 1T will seem like Paradise after
this dreadful Stagbrook.
Dreadful Stagbrook!' repeated
Miss Hamlet, gazing in amazement
through her spectacles. ''What do
you mean by that, Rosa?"
Rosa dropped her high tone.
"Well, aunt, Stagbrook is dull; you
must know that. y
Il have never found it so. young
lady, and l have lived all my life in it. +"
Yes, aunt; | suppose that makes
the difference. We did not think
Chichester dull"
Il wish the holiday to be pleasant
to you al" resumed Miss Hamlet
stiffiy; 'and | shall take Dorothy
krane."
Dorothy Krane!' screamed all the
three girls in chorus. Dolly Krane!"
Yes; why not?" said Miss Hamlet.
''She will be a pleasant companion
for you"
"Why, Aunt Charlotte, Dolly won't
have decent thing to appear in!' ex-
claimed Lydia.
She'll do very well. People are
not expected to be fine at the seaside
Fancy dressing up at an hotel!'
Lydia kicked Julia under the table,
and Julia kicked Rosa. The young
ladies were taking every smart thing
they possessed, with enough ribbons
and fal-lals to fill trunk.
Nearly all Dolly's dresses are cot
TONI
IF they are they are delicate and
pretty" said Miss Hamlet. More
sugar, do you say, Julia? She has her
grey silk for best; now that it turned
1t looks as good as new. And Do
rothy tells me -'
Have you been to the parsonage,
Aunt Charlotte?"
"Yes; walked over this morning
when you three were out shopping
Three hours you were gone! | was
back long before you came in. One
would think you wanted something at
every shop in Stagbrook."
''All the prints Dolly's got have
been washed ever so many times, aunt.
Il dare say they have. They'll be
just the things for the seaside. Then
, she has that pretty figured muslin
that was new last year; and for best
she has her white Not that, as be-
. lieve, she will require to wear it. Do
rothy asked me whether it had better
be taken OF not.
! The white has been washed too,
: cried Lydia. Il wonder Mr.. and Mrs
Krane can spare her. How will th
children get on without Dolly, Aun
Char otte?-and the parish ?-and tn
schools?'
n ''As well as they cam answered
! Miss Hamlet. 'All work and no pla,
6 is not good for anybody-least gOo'
of all for the young. Dolly needs
= change more than you do, and tn
o, tears stood in Mr.. Krane's eyes whel