The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-03-03

slice of bread and butter TO the littl
girl who played the tambourine 20
hand-organ mans accompaniment, at th
back door.
The Clickson family, in full parlia
mentary eonclave, agreed that this woul
never do. Mrs. Eben told Clara, wit
characteristic dclcacy, that they coul
not be expected to maintain her in idle
ness, and that perhaps she had bette
look out for something to do.
Miss LORNA recommended uiveriisin.
in city paper for some dcccn, situation
Miss Mauraudia gave her kind resun,
Of all her faults aud failnCs. and adnion
ished her to correct them before she tX
pccted people to tolerate Ler; and Mr.
and Mrs Philo sat and stared at hel
with hard, dull, cleaning eyes, as if they
enjoyed every syllable OF ;his iiguritiv,
castigation.
Clara ventured on no reply. She only
sat, pale and silent, with downeast eye,
and tren bling lips.
Bnt the next day she left the Clicksor
farmhouse, and the family troubled
themselves no more about her until the
report spread itself about that Jason :
widow had met with success. She bad
painted some pictures which commanded
II ready market, and one Of the rich gen
tlemen who bought the landscape had
fallen in love with her and married her.
And then the Clickson family decided,
with one accord, that they had always set
deal Of store III Clara, aud now it was
clearly their duty TO go and see her.
"And if like the situation" said old
Mrs. Clickson, Il shouldn't wonder il
stayed all winter. My rheumatics are
always better for change of air."
Miss LORNA thought Of the ideas in
bonnet making and cap-tIimming that
she could gain by daily promenades Oh
Chestnut street. NIaurandia concluded
that she would abandon quarters sal
AIRY of the district school aud devote her
self to city society. Who knew but that
there might be Mr.. Montague Merrion
somewhere in store for hoip'
Mr.. and Mrs. Philo. as usual, said
nothing, but packed their handbag.
They'll had long wanted ''store carpet
and set of blue china and now was the
opportunity. Jason's widow could not
charge them board, and they could stay
AS long rs they pleased without incurring
any extra expenses.
But the Clickson family would have
been surprisei, and not altogether
pleased, could they have seen the ex-
preston of Mrs. Montague Merrion's face
VIXEN she received their joint aud COM
pound letter at the breakfast table.
A breakfast table as different from the
fried pork and heavy bread abomina-
tinns Of the Glickson house as possible.
White French rolls. piled in, silver bas-
kets; peaches, clear coffee in egg-shell
china; birds broiled ON toast, and eggs
wrapped in dumask napkins; while u
superb amary Ills, in full bloom, gave the
element OF color, and Mr.. Merrion. in II
picturesque morning wrapper of cherry
silk, read the newspaper, while Claia
looked over her letters.
And no one would have recognized
Jason Clickson's pale little widow in this
bright, blooming girl, for there is no
beautifer like happiness.
"Oh, Montague!" she cried, dropping
her letter. ''what am to do?'
What is the matter, sweetheart" in
quired Mr.. Merrion, calmly folding his
newspaper.
The, whole Clickson familyr' cried
Clara. "All coming to spend an indefin-
ite period of lime with usl''
"Ah!' said Mr., Merrion. "Your first
husbands relatives. Have you invited
them?'
"Oh, no, nor cried Clara. "Invited
them, when they were so hard and cruel
and inhospitable to me in my hour OF
need, aud all but turned ms out Of doors
at lasi?"
Then" said Mr.. Merton, 1--WE must
treat them ms we would treat any Other
imPertinent inirnders. My little Clara
shall not be tormented hy set of harpies.
Just give me the letter. love; I'll settle
this business. Oh, by the way, I have
to run out to Chestnut Hill this morning
to seeabout the new conseryatcries there
But I'll send Phipps, my lawyer, to The
depot to meet them. He'll make it al
right"
But, Montague" faltered Clara
what shall l do ii they descend upor
me like tie loeusts of Egypt, aud yol
not herr?"
They won't come, my dear, said Mr
Merrion, shrewdly.
Nevertheless Clara was very nervous
all day, aud could not settle peacefully Il
work in the exquisite little glass ceileC
studio with the Nehetian-red walls anC
ruby velvet draperies, which her Inns
b,nd's affection lad provided for her
for the recollection OF Mrs. Clickson'
cold, hard face oveTshadowed her like
nightmare.
The two maiden daughters sour re
gards were still fresh in her memory, ,ant
she could not think OF the stolid stupid
i;y of Mr.. and Mrs. Philo without
sLudder.
Tie Clickson family arrived at the de
. pot hot, dusty, crumpled, like all travel
ers. Miss LoTina's hat was crushed, MI
Muurhndia's complexion was all washe'
away with perpiration, Mrs. Philo ha'
the toothache, aud PhIlo had mislaid tn
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