Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-09-20

inquired CnrlS, SOlleWllat lllOlllneu dS lle
beef appeared.
at was Meg's fault" replied Aunt Char.
lotte. "She put it on that dark shelf be-
hind the cellar door, and I found it there
this morning quite forgotten. But Won
der, Meg, you did not notice that there
were only two turkeys at supper; this
would have been eaten if it had been there" D."
II did not have any SUPPER" said,
"for thought there would not be room.'
''That is merely an excuse" interposed
Lottie; "you were spooning with John
Howarth in the conservatory all supper
time"
1 meant to look defiant, but / may have
looked guilty.
"Did he propose to you?" asked Sophy,
staring at me.
''I will put stop to this nonsense about
John Howarth," I said determinedly
"You shall all know exactly how the case
stands, and then there will be no excuse
expense. AsSophy supposes, Mr.. HoWarth
did propose to me last night"
"Oh, Chris" interrupted Lottie, "hoW
could you hit my cat in such savage way?
Come here, Tip-poor pussy"
"You should teach your cat not to stick
his claws into ones leg at dinner-time," "
retorted Chris; "then he wouldn't get hit" "
sHe was not touching you!" returned
Lottie, warmly. "He was begging quite
inoffensively." =,
'sHe was sticking his claws into my Leg"
reiterated Chris, with quiet and most ag-
gravating obstinacy. :.
"Now don't you two begin quarreling,,"'
said Sophy, impatiently, "but let Meg tell
us about John Howarth. 1 have often
read about proposals in tales but l have
never heard of real bona tide one DESCRIBED
DO tell us every word he said, Meg"
Chris "For if he did I wish I had been
there to see him."
II shall not tell you whether he went
down on his knees or not" d! answered,
calmly; ''nor shall tell you what he said.
But" / added, with sentimental medita-
ton, che said some very nice things in
deed to me-nicer than you could put to-
gethcr, Chris, if you tried for hundred
years."
My aunt suddenly burst into tears
''This is the finishing blow" she said
"NIeg going to be married! 1 will never
give another party as long as live! 1t
was against my better judgment that 1
yielded this time. l did it to please you
all, and this is the result furniture ruined,
eatables wasted, your father ill, you all
quarreling like this, and Meg going to be
married! No, never another party in this
house."
"What-not even when Meg marries
John Howarth ?" sneered. Chris.
"No, not even then," replied aunt, re-
doubling her sobs.
"Well don't cry, auntie," l interposed,
''for am not going to marry him. gave
him very decided NO."
Chris here gave quick covert glance in
oh hiS aSsJn1nfinn
of perfect Indifference seemed to me tritie
overacted.
But aunt refused to be pacitied she had
reached that state of mind when troubles
are positively preferred to blessings.
"Saying NO to Mr.. Howarth will not
buy a new drawingroom carpet" she said,
cor eat up all the tarts and custardS and
cakes. / am sure'-warming to her sub
iect-"the waste has been shameful! When
the confectioner's man came this morning,
had not a single cake or jelly or blanc
manage to send back, for every one had
been broken into! And I saw you, Chris,
take just a spoonful out of that expensive
porcupine, when a palmer cake already
commenced was close by YOU"
"Oh, don't blame Chris for that, auntie!"
| exclaimed. "It was done for Miss Jones,
do doubt If he had the power, Chris
WOulu SuU a ulV VII lllS ie''SiH -
she asked him.
81 would" said Chris; "she is worth a
a hundred Koh-i-Noors."
"Reallyn' observed Peter, aroused at
last from the gloomy lethargy that had pos
sessed him all dinner time, and addressing
Chris. "What pity she does not regard
you in the same light. She told me last
night how she hated dancing with you, say
ing that you were SO clumsy you We're con-
stantly getting your feet on her dress"
"Indeed!" retorted Chris. "She told me
the very same thing about YOU"
81 don't believe it," said Peter.
"Do you mean to say | am telling lles:'
demanded Chris.
"Another quarrel" cried my aunt. "Oh,
dear, dear! what will be the end Of it all ?''
s"The end of it all might be pleasant
enough" replied with energy, ''if only ev-
cry one of you would display little COM
nonsense. am out of patience with you
alp
"Well, Meg" said Lottie, calmly, "you
generally seem to consider yourself capable
of setting the world to rights; SO can you
set our little world straight? 1t seems to
me we are all miserable. What can you
suggest to make us happy?"
"Common-sense," epeated-"Only COM
mon-sense. Take my advice and peace will
be restored at once"
LET us have it then, said aunt, quer-
ulOusly.
ooh 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" be-
gan, firmly. "Let 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 sub
scriptiOn list for you, which will head with
five shillings; and if the others give with
equal liberality, 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 l will do
my part by going to bed immediately" said
aunt, meekly. 81 am much obliged to you,
Meg"
Chris about Miss Jones, you had better turn
YOUR attention nearer home. l know poor
little Kitty Reynolds would nearly cry her
eyes out when she got home last night, or
rather this morning."
"You know more than | do, then," re-
turned Peter.
ayes, do for 1 am in Kitty'sconfidence
and you are not; and | know what Kitty
said to me when she was going home, and
you do not. And my advice to you, Peter,
is to 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 | don't consider myself
bound to take it," and he went on eating
tarts.
"And now girls" continued, looking at
| nttio and SonhN Wmaka LID NOlIr minds to