The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-11-02

aunt querulously.
"Oh, let us have 'Meg's advice at
once !" sneered Chris again. "How is
it we have not thought Of this panacea
earlier ?"
81 will commence with my uncle"
l began firmly. 'Iet him--at least,
make him see the doctor tonight, and
he will be better before morning"
"That is good advice enough" said
aunt, and l will tell him
Gas for you, aunt--go to bed at
once and forget your worries We
will start subscription list for you,
which | will head with five shillings,
and if the others give with equal liber-
ality according to their means, you
will be able to replace all the broken
crockery and have the white hearth.
rug cleaned also"
"That is good advice, too, and will
do my part by going to bed immedi-
ately," said aunt, meekly, / am much
obliged to you, Meg"
"As for you, Peter" / continued,
severely, 81 think instead of quarrel
ing with Chris about Miss Jones, you
had better turn your attention nearer
home. | know poor Kitty Reynolds
nearly cried her eyes out when she got
home last night, or rather this morn
ing"
"You know more than l do, them"
returned Peter.
eyes, do, for / am in Kittys con-
fidence and you are not, and l know
what Kitty said to me when she was
going home, and you do not. And
my advice to you, Peter, is, make it up
with Kitty, and leave Miss Jones for
those who want her.
"Capital advice! But / never asked
you for it you see; so l don't consider
myself bound to take it," and he went
on eating tarts.
"And now, girls, l continued, look
ing at Iottie and Sophy, snake up
yonr minds to the inevitable, and
change lovers. They are twins, and
so much alike you cannot tell which is
which ;and think it must be merely
contrariness in you two to pretend you
like either one better than the other,
and'-with just a careless glance at
Chris--"contrariness never pays in the
end. So take my advice-transfer
your affections quietly, and say no
more about it.
Then helped myself to some blanc
mango, and went on eating my din
ner.
"But you have forgotten me-" OBJ
served Chris, ''pray, have you no ad-
vice for me ?"
hesitated moment, then looked at
him defantly.
"Well," said, "I think the advice
have given Peter might also apply to
you instead of making yourself ridic-
ulous about Miss Jones, l think you
might find some one to admire nearer
home"
Then, owing to Peters delighted
"Bravo, Meg !" and Chris steady stare,
l had sensation that had never ex-
perienced in all my selfpossessed life
before-I think it was embarrassment
land l rose hastily from the table and
left the room, presumably to see "why
that dog howled So" And Chris must
have felt curious on the point, too, fol
he also left the table and followed me
to Nero's kennel
| When we came in again Peter was
standing in the hall with his top coat
on, brushing his hat very carefully.
"Why, Peter" l exclaimed, "whert
are you going? l should have though
you would have been more inclined
for bed than walk. Where are yol
going ?"
| Peter looked at us with a curious
mixture Of defiance and sheepishness il
his expression.
81 am going to see Frank Reynolds,
he said. He told me last night that h,
has little terrier he thinks | shall like
and he said he would let me have
cheap, so | am going to look at it"
"But," remarked Chris, pitilessly, ,yol
know that Frank has gone away from
home to-day, and won't be back unit
Monday, and your journey will be ut
terly fruitess will it not, if you fin
only Kitty in?"
81 shall see the terrier" muttere
Peter, putting on his hat, "and sha
leave word whether | will have him c
not"
"Oh, have no doubt it will be a
right p | remarked with an innocer
air.
Heter looked at me, and then said
"What was the matter with Nero,
"Oh-his chain-I think--his co
lar !! stammered, taken aback by tn
sudenness of his question, and endin
, by an appealing glance at Chris
"Never mind, never mind y erie
| Peter, waving his hands. "As yo
q said, Meg, have no doubt it will /
all right it's leap year, you know, an
Chris has only acted as any other ma
q - Here Peter darted through IL
hall door, and slammed it after hin
+ otherwise the hat brush would hay
q struck him.
n When Chris and l entered the dl
ing room, aunt was there.
q "Your uncle has just seen the do
v tor" she said smiling little as 81
kissed me before saying good nigh
"and, if any of the others have been
q ready to act upon your adYice, y,
a can let us know in the morning.
e think we are all ready for bed I
night"
h Il shall have to sit up for Pete
said Chris.
4 "One of the servants can do that
= said aunt.
d "No, they are alltired out, answer
70 Chris "and | shall like to sit up, il
! te see poor Peters bewilderment VIII
d ask him what is the color of the t
- rier"
'o "Oh, he won't be bewildered at all
. put in. "IIell answer, in all simr
10 city, Plum-colored or 'Navy-blue,' a
ut then wonder why you look surprised
When aunt had retired, l motto
that Lofty and Sophy were busy dol
Il. something to their photograph albur
and observing them quietly, saw tn
1t. exchange two photographs. s.
he nothing ; but, when we all went
stairs together they We're merrier tn
usual, and quite friendly again.