The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-05-29

w. J. INV ~ navy llLlitfpllNl L DC-
fore. The fact is, dear, my sister
Frederick is coming here for a few months.
You are so young and inexperienced that
thought, perhaps, it would be better for
for the present, at least"
Alice's damask-rose complexion deep
cned into scarlet.
ssIIaye in any way failed to meet yoar
wishes, Felix" said she, in a stiied
voice.
mo; no; but Frederick thought
II do not want to hear what Frederick
thought, said Mrs. Fountain quickly.
"And Cherry is getting so l~awless, and
Willie is positively ungovernable. and
Frederick says that the house needs a
Fountain.
'Do you think so, Felix ?"
"I2 Well, no, not exactly: but you
know pet, that You are young to be at the
head of a household like this"
Alice bit her lips.
StWhy did you not think of that before
you married me ?'' said she.
"Now you are getting childish, Alice,
said her husband gravely. :" shall begin
to believe that Frederick 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 follow her, and
then he sat down again.
"Frederica says | ought not to give way
to her in everything" said he. "And per-
children should receive a little more of my
attention. I'll go and walk through the
garden with them now. OF course the poor
darlings ought not to be neglected because
/ have married again."
Half an hour later Alice looked out of
the easement and saw her husband coming
out of the green houses with Cherry fondly
clinging to his arm, Willie trotting on be-
fore, and Aunt Frederick following with
both hands full of the rare white grapes
which the old gardener parted with SO re-
%luctantly.
"They are happy enough without me.
she said to herself, with a sharp sudden
pang at her heart: :" am only an intruder
here"
When Colonel Fountain came up stairs
to dress for dinner, he found the room
empty, but a little note lay OF the bureau.
"DEAREsT FELTx," was what he read
on tearing it open, 81 hope you will not
blame me for leaving YOU house. But
have decided that | cannot live where | am
not loved and trusted thoroughly. If you
and Cherry can be happier with Miss Fred
erica than with me, | cheerfully abdicate
in her favor. One thing is certain-there
cannot be two mistresses in Il home. And
| will try tt be as happy as possible with
my Uncle Willoughby in the meantime
and please do not forgettha | am still your
loving ALICE.
Colonel Fountains first impression was
that of hot anger. his second a dull despair.
But aunt Frederick pursed up her lips.
depend upon it, Felix" said she, ''the
girl is tired of you. I do despise these chits
that never know their own mind"
BE silent, said Fountain hoarsely.
.'You have ruined me Is not that enough?"
A week of Aunt Frederica's rule COM
pletely disenchanted the whole family.
Cherry burst into tears one day when
the old lady was especially exacting.
Il wish | had my mamma back again.
said she impetuously.
'sYour sainted mother, dear child"
proaned Miss Frederick, sis in heaven"
But | mean my mamma Alice, sobbed
Cherry. II do miss her SO dreadfully! |
believe she really loved me-. And-l do
love her, and I wish l hadn't behaved so
horribly to her. There!'
"Can't 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 goner,'
''We will bring her home" said the
Colonel, who was just then particularly
exasperated at discovering that Miss Fred
erica had been Transforming Alice's bou-
doir into a bedroom for some fourth cousin
who was contemplating an unlimited so
iourn at the house.
And Alice, sitting solitary and alone, like
g Mariana in the Moated Grange" was as
tonished that very day by the unexpected
vision of Cherry herself.
Mamma said the girl, half bashful,
half eager, dearest mamma, will you for
give us all, and particularly me? Will
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
"Will you really love me. dearest ?" said
she. "Oh, Cherry, Cherry, if you could
but know how / have pined for yourlove -
So she came home again, this time to an
undivided kingdom, for Miss Frederick and
her sisters had been politely turned out of
doors; the boudoir was itself again. and
Colonel Fountain was waiting on the TIRES
hold to welcome her back.
"My DEAR said he, Il have made a fool
of myself. | see it all now. 1t shall not
n second time