Daily Republican., 1885-01-29
DICkEY'S QUlRBLE.

There, " Oh, ihsi it just like you 81
Dickey Wray exclaimed AS his handsome
elder sister with n careless sweep OF her
silken sleeve overturned plaster Cupid
that straightway tumbled crashing from
the mantel.
mabel never did have any reverence for
the poor little god of love-" laughed Sun
shine, slim girl with merry blue eyes
and q bright face dimpling with innocent
roguery.
All the same, am sure I have not
your levily," Msble snapped. am not
eternally Cycling about nothing. But do
make haste and brush up those dusty
fragments-you have TO go out for me,
you KNOW want some particularly nice
flowers for dear Mrs. Victor, and Theo
will come directly to drive me over"
Now, Nab, you need not be too sure
Of that" said Dickey, who was indus
triously teasing the saucy white kitten
perched on his knee. Thee Victor has
something less agreeable TO occupy him
just now, and his mother has become
much too Ill to care about your flowers. F."
" am so sorry for her," Mabel declar-
ed effusively, and must take her
some delicate token of my sympathy.
And flowers are always so cheering to an
invalid-slthough tine lovely things are
rather expensive just now but then am
too fond of Theo's dear mother to care
about expense or any sort OF inconve-.
nience when her qualification is to be
considered"
There, Nab, we are convinced Of
that" said Dickey grinning, possibly At
the antics OF the white kitten, which was
not disposed to appreciate the excellence
OF a lozenge spiced with cayenne. " But
| imagine Theo Is the one who needs
cheering he is awfully depressed and
do not wonder-no fellow would like to
lose such AN enviable possession -
What has Mr.. Victor lost" inquired
Sumo hine, tossing back her fair cleaning
hair and merrily laughing as the torment.
ed pussy made q frantic leap for her pro-
| tecting arms.
| Theo has lost his fortune" was the
startling answer OF Master Dickey, who
had lazily arisen and was sauntering to-
ward the door.
That cannot possibly be true" Mabel
excitedly remarked with an expression of
dismay upon her cold, hard, handsome
features. " You always do have a pro-
voking knack, Dickey, Of fabricating
disagreeable things"
Il hhNC ihbtitAttu notutuky bltht1
protested as he paused with his hand
upon the door. 1t Is true ; Theo Victor
has lost his Fortune everybody is talk.
ing about it,
| And then with a grin and a whistle
Master Dickey closed the door behind him
and strobe away.
" How very strange it is" Mabel ejacll
lated. " And declare, Sunshine, you
are astuallylaughing, and when you know,
too, how very painful such intelligence
must be to me. OF course, have always
rather liked Theo Victor or should never
have permitted his little attentions. But
the loss OF fortune always 30 Jreadfuliy
alters everything and | am sure can
not judiciously now encourage his par
tally for me. This misfortune may not
be altog ether his fault, but | cannot dis
regard the duty | owe to myself. An
astonished, Sunshine, that you laugh SO
tchildishly over the capers of an ugly XII t.
ten while am SO agitated; am astonibh-
ed at your levty, your indifference, your
seltishness must congratulate myself
that have more feeling for Others"
Sunshine dropped her kitten and her
merry eyes sObered somewhat.
d" But how can help you, Nab what
can do?" she asked, In her bright, gen
| tie, WlnsOme way.
"Oh, you can do nothing, Of course
Mabel said, with rude petulance. " You
are not the sort of girl TO be helpful to
any one but yourself. And / dare say
YOU will be only too willing to take my
place when Mr.. Victor comes, "she added
with hateful significance.
| For an instant the winsome face flush.
ed and the gentle eyes flashed resentfully:
but the girl seldom ventuIed the slightest
retort To the pettish and insane TRADES OF
her handsome, shrewdish sister.
al must decline the drive, l suppose,
Mabel pursued with shrug aid
cannot he sure that Mrs. Victor Would
i care for me to go to her now. She has
singular moods sometimes she can be
d,stressingly uuamiable and have nu
taste Tor the society OF captious and fret
full people," she 8vowrd, and then alb
Iruptly ceased speaking as the deor sud
denly opened to admit an attractive per.
Isonage, who turned toward her a glance
that did not imply an entire ignorance OF
what she had just uttered.
|. "Ah, Mr.. Victor" ste said, with pat
ronizing suavity, "you have come quite
too soon. But after all l had decided
to deny myself the promised pleasure
cannot conveniently go to Mrs. Victor
really have no time for any affair o
Icondolence, although, of course, l regre
n "There is nothing to regret" he quiet
Ily interpolated AS she hesitated befor
those uncomfortably knowing Chances
, /" Mother more expressly mentioned you
= sister; the drive was more especial
; INTENDED for Sunshine, and perhaps sh
a Imay not be unwilling to 90 withou
lyou."
"Oh, Sunshine would never deny her
r self of ANYTHING she will go, of course,
D Mabel ru iely said, as she frigidly inclin
i ed her naughty head and left I he tw
Together.
q Dickey has vexed her al out somt
thing" said Sunshine, attempting gent
A apology for her ungracious sister. w
,.I.Dickey and I-bantered her II bit bt
J. Icause she broke that pretty stltuette, an
v our raillery annoyed her."
Q "She demolished the poor little god o
Q love, did shei" Mr.. Victor returned
"A Iuuizzingly. THAT was lameutaole thin
>. to do, and rather characteristic OF h
III fancy" he added, so dryly and sugges
d lively that the merry, familiar iaug
IL rippled in music from the girls swet
1t lips.
" " I'VE said so, Dickey and I, and we vexe
her." she answered.
vi "Did Dickev say nothing else9" MI
d Victor queried. with peculiar smile.
,fi "He said that you-that you--had los
r Iyour fortune" she taltered re uctantl.
70 IS Is it true-quite true-Mr. VictorP
Miss Mabel evidently believes 1t is,
Ia he smiled SO meaningly that she droopt
10 her cleaning head and blushed with swi
Embarrassment.
81 am grieved for you," she said, wit
W quick, frank sympathy. "Apd Mabel