The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-15
a r%nErrNATE MISTAKE.

Alct bra mp CuAAtu anu htA AaCo
Hushed-a miserable flush that would
have touched any n who loved her;
but her younger sister, Susie, who
Iollcd in an easy-chair, only said, Ian
Guidly;
.,Yhat displeases you, Alice2"
'For value received" began Alice
again, angrily, as she threw the promis-
D note upon the old-fashioned writ
ing table; eyes, that has been mammals
lu,irg principle through life; and l
mast say that she has discovered in
many most ingenious, if not always
creditable, ways the fine art OF getting
the worth of her money. Am ] worth
tine money? l wonder will Robert
Smms think l am worth these notes
that has given from time to
time? | wonder, how they came here
anyway When I am Robert Simms'
dear wife, would it not be well to put
on my new b~arouche, under Roberts
crest, tine motto, 'tor value recelved?'
Oh. Sue she cried, suddenly, in an
appealing voice, "how could mamma
borrow money from that man7 How l
hate the few luxuries that we have had
lately. now that / have discovered their
source! We, who are so poor, ought to
be ashamed to dress above III means"
Big tears fell slowly upon the Offend
ing notes. 'Oh, what a blind fooi
I have been not TO have suspected
thisl'
Quite true, my dear Alice; you are
Ifool to take "A trIfle so seriously" said
the lazy voice of Miss Susan. eff
Cousin Robert chooses to lend Il little
OF his surplus money to three charming
ladies' whose circumstances are some
what straitened-"
For shame, Susie!" cried Alice, in
dignantly. ''How are we to pay it, l
should like to know
"You do know, my very dear Alice;
but don't be so emphatic-you are, in
fact, almost violent. That last most IN
ladyiike stamp of the foot quite sug-
gcsted an earthquake
''Oh, if there could only be an earth
quake that would swallow us all up to-
getherl'
'Now you are childish, Alice. An
earthquake? No, l thank you; leave me
Il OF 1t, please-fOr L have not yet
worn my new plush costume. Anyway,
postpone it until after the next prone
made concert"
III the costume were mine, l should
send it with my compliments to Cousin
Robert, rs you cali HIM, although
could never make out why; his money,
Of course, paid for it,"
''Give back my brown plush costume
Alice, you are certainly insane. There
IL the tea-beil! Let us go down, my
much troubled elder sister; and try tt
smile upon yoUr future husband for his
ma y~uanImity.'
Alice moved away, followed leisurely
by Susan; and III the pleasanGly-hghteo
little parlor a daintily spread tea table
was awaitIn them. Mrs. Rlrd SAILS
ready ri its head, and cousin Robert,
laying down the evening paper, looked
up appruvingly at Alice's flushed cheeks
as d entered.
'Madamoiselle, you are brilliant TO-
night, lie said, with rather an awkward
attempt at a courtly bow.
Alice could not force a polite smile,
but grimly took her seat; and hel
thoughts were non too amiable.
Robert Simms has an air of proprie'
torship," she thought. "However, he
is not quite master of the situation yet.
Mammals sale is by no means effected.
What II red face he hast And such
teeth! He probably chewed Tobacco
before he was rich enough to buy such
good cigars, as we'll as a wife. Oh, how
hard 1 feel toward everybody"
cousin Robert" ate his mullins and
admired Alice: Susan discoursed placid
ly about various topics OF the day
Mrs. Bird, with an occasional anxious
glance at her eldest daughter, endeav-
ored to make herself agreeable TO hel
guest. Her fattery was most dehcate
and subtle, and her watchful tact made
even the commonplace remarks of Rob
ert Sinlms seem almost brilliant. Alice,
IN spite OF the tempest of troubles
within, could not but admire heI
mothers cleverness.
"Yes," she thought, mamma ekes
out the mans ideas as she does a scanty
Old silk dress, and makes them nearIy
bearable,"
When, after a most wearisome wen
ing tor one, at least, of the q~uartette
that looked SO cosy as they sat around
the fire, Robert Simms had gone to his
club and the two girls to their rooms,
Mrs. Bird sat thinking till the embers
faded to a sullen glow; her reflections
We're tar from agreeable.
III | have overrated my influence
with Alice" she thought, SIT h shonld
refuse Robert-she certainly had a de-
tiaut All to- nlght-what will become OF
Us? The neigpbors say he Is a hard
mau; but that may be from jealousy OF
his attention TO us. l have strlyen all
these years to give the girls u chance to
make a good marriages; and now, when
the hope seens near fulhlment, to have
that chit dare to defeat my plan! Oh,
Is too harrassingl Was ever a poor
mother so wretched rs II" she ended
YEARLY, as she went slowly to her
room.
Susan was sleeping the sleep OF an
elastic conscience and an easy, luxury
loving nature; while Alice, with her
head between her hot hands, was matur-
ing plans which she soon set about car
ryIng INTO execution.
She wrote a tear-blistered letter to
her mother, telling her how she had
found notes OF MIR. Robert Slmms
mistake as she was searching 10
for indeed mamma must know she
had not meant Il be dishonorable: how
she was wretched in her present lie,
with its shame and attempts to keep up
Il ladylike appearance befor a world OF
people richer than themselves; how she
could net marry Robert Simms II he
asked her, as she knew was expected OF
him; SO she would go away to a school
friend, on whose help she could rely,
and try To get some employment She
would save every farthlng h earned.
and send it to Robert Slmms to pay the
~dgsgracetul debt.
"And. please, dear mamma, was the
beseechIng end OF the midnight eplstle.
do not, by the love you bear your
childreu-which l know has urged you
TO TINS false step-please do not borrow
any more money! l am very sorry Tor
some hard thoughts l had o.
you, and already repent the I'M
kiud things l said OF you IN my
anger; and l have lefG Susie all the
things of NINE of which she can pos
sIbly make use-I know she has always
4-...l ----.ll.a .,al~,A Whan Won