The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-03-05

uIlNe up.
Dear Felix" she cried. running to
where her husband sat in the library
'.have you invited company"
Colonel Fountain Redeemed little
Company repeated he. '.Oh yes
| see. / intended to have mentioned il
before The fact is, dear, my sister
Frederick is coming here for a few
months. You are so young and mex.
perienced that l thought, perhaps, il
would be better for her to take charge
of the housekeeping, for the present, al
least"
Alice's damask-rose complexion deep.
ened into scarlet.
Have | in any way failed to meet
your wishes, Felix?" said she, in s
stifed voice.
mo, no; but Frederica Thought
Il do not want to hear what Fred
erica thought" said Mrs. Fountain
quickly.
And Cherry is getting so lawless,
and Willie is positively ungovernable,
and Frederica says that the house needs
a tirmer hand to rule it" went on Col.
onel Fountain.
.Do you think so, Felix?"
81? Well, no, not exactly; but you
know pet, that you are young to be at
the head of household like this
Alice bit her lip.
why did you not think of that be-
fore you married me?' said she.
Now you are getting childish, AL
ice" said her husband gravely. Il
shall begin to believe that Frederica is
right about your temper!'
Mrs. Fountain could endure no more.
She turned and left the room.
Colonel Fountain looked earnestly
after her.
Like most men, he hated scenes. but
nevertheless, his conscience pricked
him a little. He half rose, as if to fol-
low her, and then he sat down again.
''Frederica says l ought not to give
way to her in everything said he
"And perhaps she is right. Frederick
thinks the children should receive a
little more of my attention. I'll 90
and walk through the garden with
them now. OF course the poor dar-
lings ought not to be neglected because
l have married again
Half an hour later Alice looked out
of the easement and saw her husband
coming out Of the greenhouses with
Cherry fondly clinging to his arm, VII
lie trotting on before. and Aunt Fred
erica following with both hands full of
the rare white grapes which the old
gardener parted with so reluctantly.
''lhey are happy enough without
me- she said to herself, with a sharp
sudden pang at her heart; Il am only
an intruder here"
When Colonel Fountain came up
stairs to dress for dinner, he found the
room empty, but little note lay on
the bureau.
DEAREST FELIN," was what he read on
tearing 1t open,-'I hope YOU will not blame
me for leaving your house. But ] have de-
cided that | cannot live where [ am not
loved and trusted thoroughly. If you AMI
Cherry can be happier with Miss Frederica
than with me, | cnecrfully abdicate in her
favor. One thing Is certain-there cannot
be two miStreSSeS in home. And | will
try to be as happy as possible with my Uncle
Willoughby i'll the meantime.-Aud please
do not forget that l am still your loving
ALICE"
Colonel Fountains first impression
was that of hot anger, his second dull
despair. But Aunt Frederick pursed
up her lips.
depend upon it, Felix" said she,
'the girl is tired of you. | do despise
these chits that never know their own
mindrn
BE silent" said Fountain hoarsely.
.'You have ruined me! Is not that
enough?n
,,fA L,.oJ >, 10
pletely disedchanted the whole family.
Cherry burst into tears one day when
the old lady was especially exacting.
~ wish | had my mamma back
q gain, said she impetuously.
Your sainted mother, dear child"
groaned Miss Frederica, lis in heav-
en-
But | mean my mamma Alice"
sobbed Cherry Il do miss her so
dreadfully! | believe she really loved
me. And-and | do love her, and /
wish hadn't behaved so horribly to
her Theren'
Cant we bring her home?' shouted
Willie. Nobody remembers to help
me with my sums, or to cut out paper
ships for me, now that mamma is
gone"
I'VE will bring her home" said the
Colonel, who was just then particularly
exasperated at discovering that Miss
Frederick had been transforming Alice's
boudoir into bedroom for some fourth
cousin who was contemplating an un-
invited sojourn at the house.
And Alice, sitting solitary and alone,
like Mariana in the Moated Grange"
was astOnished that very day by the
vision of Cherry herself.
Mamma" said the girl, half bash
full, half eager, dearest mamma, will
you forgive us all, and particularly me?
VIII you come home to us again? We
are so lonely without you, and papa
says
But Alice had sprung to her feet and
clasped her repentant stepdaughter in
her arms.
VIII you really love me, dearest?'
said she. 'Oh, Cherry, Cherry, if you
could but know how have pined for
your loye!'
So she came home again, this time to
an undivided kingdom, for Miss Fred
erica and her sisters had politely been
turned out OF doors; the boudolr was
itself again, and Colonel Fountain was
waiting on the threshold to welcome
her back.
My DEAR" said he. l have made a
fool OF myself. l see it all now 1t
shall not happen a second time.
did | do right. Felix?'she said, tim
idly. But, oh, it was so wretchedm
Sweetheart, said Colonel Fountain
with limitless loyalty, you are always
right!''
Mamma is always right echoed
Cherry and Willie, showering caresses on
their recovered treasure.
For, by some magic spell, Alice had
to convert the whole family
at last. 1t was never my stepmoth-
err again, it was always Mamma
Alice"