Daily Republican., 1885-05-23

BY GERALDINE FLEMING.

Miss HArdy-A majestic splnstot Oh
severe aspect and prim attire. Il
Its positively shocking" echoed
Miss Amanda-a somewhat colorless
aud shsdowy duplicate of the
other.
cts really too bad" lisped Miss
NJ irRbel, who was unlike either.
Mas Mirabel, the youngest sister,
was dumpy little blonde with kinky
tiaxen hair, pale, moony. eyes, and
like those of.a wax image. And
she perfefred to affect little airs OF
simplicity aud plaintive
severity OF her elders.
"Sussn don't care IL she disRraces us
ALL" averred the eldest sister. And
after all we have done for her, tool"
Susie Is very uDRraieful," avow-
cd the duplicate; We ought to do
nothing for her ut all. And l meant to
give her my nice old lavender cashmere;
but she cant have the dress now"
she added ~ she folded the stained and
frayed breadths of tiimsy garment
almost al ancient as herself.
She hasn't q bit of conscience"
Miss Mirabel drawled with an air of
injury, and she must know l cannot
help feeling hurt when DIR. Burrows
has always seemed 30 devoted to me-"
" But he doesn't care for her, Mira
any sensible body must know that, the
elder sister said with lofty decision.
4" But Susan has always been silly
and forward young woman. and dare
say she has thrust herself upon his
potice."
"Of course he doesn't care for her"
Nj ss Amanda affirmed. He must
positively despise a giddy young woman
who waylays him everywhere as she
does. Nobody can blame him Susie
must have coaxed him to take her some
where in his carriage, and he could not
refuse to bring her back home again,
Mira, even if she did choose to be
brought at midnight. You need not
feel hurt, Mira, although we cannot be
astonished that people are ossiping
about her, of course"
81 cannot help feeling hurt-he
always seemed SO attentive to me,
Miss Mirabel complained pathetically
and / cannot understand how Sue
can be 30 heartless."
And there IL no use rem onstrating
with her." Miss Hardy said with an
accession OF the lofty and auetere,
but IL she means to make herself a
disgrace tn US all, she must not be al
lowed to expect charity from us ; wa
have absolutely clothed her with our
nice old dresses aud mantles and boil
nets and just for the plain easy sewing
she did for us, too"
"And intended to give her the laven-
der cashmere just for making my new
heliotrope robin" Miss Amanda
echoed. " But she can have no more
sowing from me. And If she means to
behave 30 Improperly she ought not ex.
pect to stay in a house which belongs tc
us, even if she In our cousin"
" Poor relations always take such AZ
advantage of one" the youngest sistel
Ipiped resignedly.
Susan is exactly like her father,
Miss Hardy remarked. Uncle Lewi
always expects so much and il Willing
to do 30 little. We could not be blam %
il we should require them to leave thu
cottage-there are plenty of strong an'
effic lent men who would he glad TO d,
our gardening and stable-work fer tn
free rent of such n snug little house"
"Uncle Lewis Is strong enough b
does not choose to be efficient" Mis-
: Amanda observed.
= "We might go over and see him,
l Nllbo bukkCotCh WIN VhO ga ~ 90
sion of one who could not condescen'
; to delay an obvious duty.
We might go over and talk witt
= him at once" echoed Miss Amanda.
Z "And ! suppose must 60 with you,
0 Miss Mirabel sighed with q meek III
lof martyrdom. i really ought l
warn Sue of her folly about DIR. Bul
/ rows. / do not consider my own feel
ings-I never do about anything !-bu
!, do not wish him annoyed by her pr'
: sumption and silly coquetry."
And so presently the three ladies' LEI
: the big pretentious village mansion
Il and strolled down the shady street.
At the far end of narrow gree
= lane they paused before a tiny house
low, square wooden building-whic
8 was howell rather than q cottage, au
.e which was picturesque rather tina
aIsnug. The implanted walls were almO
y hidden in tangle of scarlet rune
D and purple wisteria flaming SUI
Il flowers, horid holl hooks, and gorgeo,
o marigold grew luxuriantly in IL
70 meager space intervening between u
- rude hut aud the fence itself; tle
o. swallows and cooling doves nestled
the shaky caves or circled over u
:, patched roof.
. The three isters-uncompromisi
n. as the three Fates-passed through Il
Unattached picket gate, and Rroup'
themselves before the low door whit
n was already open to the jocund breez
Il of the warm spring morning.
= The majestic Miss II .rdy used b
-lhuge house kay as Knocker. al
l. knocke imperiously.
al No one responded but II murmur
'u voices sounded indistinctly from
= Inner room.
sri "Tbey do not choose to hear" ga
Cd Miss Amanda, tapping vigorously wi
au with the silver handle of her prrasol
Il suppose she ia afraid to meet me
IL the youngest sister complained, with
no IN Eek air of resignation and iuj Try. II
l am sure l SHOULD feel cowardly mys
II il had been 30 dreadiully silly a
IL wicked as Sue has been 4"
'iy At this Instant slender girl eme
se ed from the inner room. She wa
fair and graceful young creature W
nj grave blue eyes and smoothly band
for hair; she were dress of faded or
W cambria, 30 cleverly re-made and re-
1t ted that no one would have surmi,
lP- the garment had once clothed the gal
ess and angular Miss Hardy.
Had you boon waiting long,"
, I!l inquired with gentle courtesy.
;. heard no rap-I-"
Il "We a.e not 30 sure of that" NJ
=, Hardy interrupted with her gaze
al a., I'D upon the wondering, lovely face;
! dare say you are not 10 especially ca
: to meet us just now, when everybOd
st5 Rossiping about your improprie
Things are coming out pretty plain,
san"
r1 "Apd Of course DIR. Burrows can o
ldespise any young woman who wayl