Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-19
4 HOUsE-HUNTER's RETRIEVE.

From Harpers Bazaar.
''Yes." said mamma 'tyoud better tell the doc
tor. Betty. that we have concluded not to TAX
his house for another year. 1t isagfeat blow to
me, Betty. My pecuniary arrangements with
the doctor have been very advantageous, and
strict economy In domestic matters is highly I'm
portant with Us just now. The little money we
had when your papa died Is sadly diminished:
Fred's education has cost go much, and it iB 30
expensive to dress and educate Blanche suitably
to her style and beauty. had hoped as
almost certain"
Here mamma began to cry. / felt very sorry
for her. She suffered in her way as much as she
made me suffer in mine.
''We'l get another house. mamma" said,
hoping to ward of the topic that I knew
mamma was dying to talk about but nothing
would do.
sits not the house I'm dissatisfied with, +"
said my poor mother, otis DR.. Steele, the
owner Of 1t, Of whom I have cause to COM
plain"
Il think you have misunderstood the doctors
old fashioned politeness. mamma. 1t is always,
perhaps. too pointed"
Altogether too pointed so far as your sister
Is concerned" said mamma. 'Hs az much as
told me he was in love with her down at the
beach last summer. Don't you remember the
day ne Invited US all to go, and was so vexed
neE servants that he talked about 1t all the way
down in the train, and appeared to be very sorry
that your domestic duties were so engrOssing?
You must acknowledge, Betty, that he has been
very kind to YOU"
81 do acknowledge 1t, very gratefully indeed
mamma"
"And then" continued mamma, "he got Fred
that situation In the bank. Why, no man could
have been more pronounced in his attentions
to the family OF the young lady he professed to
admire. and straws show which way the wind
blows; but would not be so humIliatng If he had
not come right out and told me that he cared for
her. man has no right-a man In his position
to lead mother to believe that he is about to
propose for her daughters hand and then seem
to forget all that he has said l remember his
very words, Betty. Your sister had started down
to the waters edge, and the doctor sat upon the
seat beside me, following her with his eyes and
roking his cane into the sand. Madam said
he. speaking very deliberately, as q man does
when he has made up his mind, i must tell you
that L had motive In asking you and your
daughters to share my holiday at the beach.
am very much interested in your daughter
And here Blanche came strollng back again,
looking so lovely that thought the best thing
could do would be to leave them together.
made an excuse to go back to the hotel and
supposed that when 1 returned all would be
settled, but from that day to this he never
opened the subject again either to Blanche or to
me. Your sister Is young and thOughtless, and
accepts his attentions as she does those OF every
body by whom she Is admired but q parent is
bound to look at the matter in more serious
light"
blanche don't care fig for him, mamma"
said.
''She would try to care for him II he offered
himself" said mamma. "She has owned to me
that she might be brought to view the matter in
favorable light"
ooh. mamma" said, jumping off my chair
In heat Of modification and impatience, lido
let's get out of his house as soon as we can! I'll
tell him we're going to move, and 90 out house
hunting this very day"
eyes, do, Betty" said my mother; "and watch
him when you tell him-see II he Is surprised
and vexed. And, Betty, my child, you have such
plain old-fashiOned way, you seem so much
older than you really are and the doctor and
you have always been such good friends, he may
cOnflde to you"
Excuse me. mamma" said, running to the
door. I'm sure l hear the vegetable man, and
must see about luncheon before CO."
Away ran down the stairs as fast as I could
60. and raped upon the door Of TIE doctors
study.
He opened the door. and already had his hat
In his hand and his overcoat on his arm. He
put both Of them aside, and with gentle cordial
ity babe me come over to the open fire.
"For the air is chill, Miss Betty" he said,
Though we are getting on toward April l be-
lieve-"
yes" said, and rushed Immediately into
the subject i'm hand. II Will not detain you,
doctor. must tell you that mamma has con-
Guided to move. l am going out house hunting
to-day"
Mamma ought to have been there. for II ever
surprise amounting to CONSERVATION was de-
picted anywhere. it was painted on the doctors
face at that moment.
blouse hunting." he cried. "What the-the
duece would you do such an insane thing as that
for? Move. What does your mother want now3
Papering? painting? kalsominlngi q hanging
garden on the roof? calcium Hight in the liall3
a steam calliope in the parlor? Tell me what
she wants. and II it's possible to accomplish 1t
without the aid of Aladdin's lamp it shall be
DONE"
How could say that she wanted him to mar
~ my sister Blanche? 1t made me burn from
the crown of my head to the soles Of my feet
to remember the conversation between mamma
and me.
You are very generous, DOCTOR" said, ''but
my mother wants to move Don't you know
that women are changeable sometimes, and get
tired OF the one placer"
land the one party?" he rejolned-''the one
Old fossil who began to hope he might settle
Are you one Of those women, Miss Betty? Do
you want to leave your landlord"
l knew that 1t was nothing but q generous
pity for my condition OF mind and body that
made him look upon me with such sweet COM
passion. He threw his gloves aside. and took
both my hands In his own. That was his un-
fortunate manner, his all too friendly way, 80
easily misunderstood as tried to persuade nv
mother. If 1t had been my beautiful sister in
stead OF my plain little self, 1t might have been
thought that the contamination to mammals
ambition was about to be reached.
'YOn look already so tired" he said "Sit
down here in this easy chair and tell me what
can do to save you from the awful fate Of q
house-hunter. Did you ever hear Of Mynheer
Won Ghlan. who every morning said. 4 am the
richest merchant in Rotterdam.7 He came to
grief, my dear little woman. from too much
walking. Haven't you cares enough upon your
poor little shOulders7 II your mother will move
why don't she 60 herself upon this hunt that
she desres?"
my mother IL never quite WELL" said.
Sand your sister," he said.
THAT would never dol replied, quickly,
"she Ia too" and here hesitated.
"TOO beautiful" he said, with q WHY grimace
Yes" exclaimed, resolving to make one
little struggle 10 mammals behalf. "Don't YOU
think that my sister Is beautiful, Dr. Steele?"
yes" he said, with all the vehemence that
could be required Of him; 'tOo beautiful alto
gether. i wish she was as ugly as o stone
fence"
A red fame leaped into his dark cheek. he
was certainly agitated by some unwonted emo
tiOn. thought perhaps he loved her, but dis
trusted his fate because of her beantv and her