The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-05-07
FRED'S PLOT;
HOW HE REvENoED HIMSELF ON HIS
SISTER.
DY HENRIETTA j. MEYERS.

| to naught his splendid scheme for gearing
| Jenny, the cook, out Of her wits" by way
| Of duly observing the first day Of A BTiiii, and
having no idea of sinking the payment of
! tSis,just debt, set himself about the task of
devisiDg suitable mode of settlement.
an pay her OIL" he exclaimed at length,
triumpbantly. "Ill write her note ask
ing her to go out riding in the park, aud
| put her beau's name to IT, and then, when
che comes down to the parlor all dressed to
kill, I'll just let her wait awhile, and then
| jump up and boiler April fool and then 1
guess she'll wish she hadn't nodded, mean
| thipgw and as Fred wrote very good
hand and had Complete Letter Writer"
to consult, he succeeded in writing an invi-
tation which Fanny, who had never seen
line of her difiident admirers handwriting,
accepted as genuine. and, having dis
patched her answer, she awaited the APP
| pointed hour in flutter of pleased ex-
pectancy, quite beyond anything that Fred
had hoped to occasion, for what could the
boy know of the hidden love. the trembling
doubts and fears which agitated tho young,
loving heart of his sister,
Harry Holm was young lawyer who,
| though he had fair prospects, had yet to
| win his fortune. He loved Fanny Tracy
| devotedly, but had not ventured to de-
clare his love. The dainty missive which
informed him that she accepted his in
| vitation with pleasure, and would be
| ready for the drive at o'clock that af-
| ternoon, puzzled him at first. The idea
| of its being an April fool hoax he re-
| jected at once. Then he remembered that
it was leap year.
"Tbe darling!" he exclaimed, fondly re.
| perusing the note; "she could not help
seeing how l love her, and 1t seems she
| also saw that / needed a little encour-
agement," and how welcome the encour-
| agement was his beaming countenance
told very plainly, while he waited for
o'clock to come with degree of impa.
thence which, to say the least, fully
equaled Master Fred's.
| When Fanny entered the parlor arrayed
| for her anticipated drive, Fred, who was
concealed behind heavy curtain, could
scarcely restrain his delight at seeing how
elegant a toilet she had made.
| won't she be mad?" he thought, de-
| lghtedly. "All that fixing and fussing for
nothing Guess she thinks she's going to
have grand time by the airs she gives her.
self, and she does look kind O. nice, too,
but she'd no business to blab."
| kind o. NICE was very brotherlike es-
innate of the fresh and delicate loneliness
of the young girl, as she stood there flushed
and smiling before the pier glass. Her
| dress was a rich navy-blue silk, and the
creamy lace at her throat was fastened with
ruby brooch. A velvet turban, the color
of VIII ich just matched her dress, crowned
her wealth of shining brown ringlets, and
ricbly.embroidered dolman draped her
graceful figure. my but she's got her.
self up in style though" was Fred's mental.
comment. "See her look at her watch. He
he Don't you wish he may come, Miss
Fan 4? "Why, there he is !" he suddenly
exclaimed aloud, as Harry drove up to
the door.
Fanny heard but did not heed him, for
she, too, had seen Harry and hastened to
receive him, while her brother looked on
in indignant amazement.
l "1 really believe he likes her." he said to
himself. "Well, if that doesn't boat all !"
Then, a sudden thought striking him, he
softly raised the sash, slipped through
over the balcony into the street.
"Hallo, Jack !" he said to the boy hold
ing the horse, what does he give you?'
"Quarter," replied his friend, briefly.
swell, there's a quarter, and a first rate
top besides If you'll let me hold him. You
go on; the boys are just around the corner
"All right" and away darted Jack, moth
ing 10th, while Fred, springing into the
carriage, drove off in hurry.
Harry, glancing over Fanny's attire, sug-
gested an extra wrap. For the wind is
quite keen and | wouldn't have you take
cold for the world"
would you carer" she questioned with a
charming blush.
"If you only knew how much care
where you are concerned" he answered,
regarding her with an expression which
deepened the soft color on her cheek and
caused the white lids to droop over the
tell-iale eyes as she turned hastily to ring
for the required wrap.
With tenderest care the warm, bright
plaid was folded round her, and they went
out to enter the carriage and behold it was
not there, while at the same moment a
shrill young voice greeted them with April
fool! Fine day to take ridew and Fred's
curly head disappeared behind the nearest
corner.
Fanny, mindful of the keen eyes upon
her, kept her temper-it was SO sweet one
that it wonld have been pity to lose it
and they re.entered the house. Tho cur.
tain, swaying in the breeze revealed the
open window, and closing it she said: "Fred
was here when you came You know my
brother Fred?'
"Ob, yes. 1 have often wished had q
young brother"
The young girls lips quivered. "If you
knew what trial he is sometimes" she
said. 81 am SO ashamed that he should
treat you so rudely.'
ooh, never mind his mischief" replied
tne gentleman, slnillng GU know Una
to-day the boys are privileged" and ther
as she stood near him looking so dis
tressed he could not help kissing away
the bright drops which trembled on he
dark lasbes, and somehow neither CAV,
another thought to Master Fred until
half hour later his clear voice, full of glee
came up through tho open register frou
the room below, where he was holding
forth to Bridget and her long suffering
friend Jenny.
''Tell you what, you never saw two
folks look so foolish in all your lives
The idea of their getting the best Of me
guess they found out BETTER
"An' where's the carriage?' inquired
Bridget.
J SIN the stable, where it belongs.
knew that team aud took it straight
hOme.'
"But, Master Fred, demonstrated Jenny
. "you shouldn't oughter have treated tn,
gentleman like that You'll catch it whel
your ma hears about it,
"No, / won't neither What bushes
had he got to come poking along just thel
10 spoil the fun? You see, she though
he'd asked her to ride, and when he fouut
her all ready to go, s'pose he would ifhe'(
J only had horse aud carriagel He he
he! ha bal"
. Fanny lifted her head from her lover
boulder. THAT dreadful boy " she ex
claimed. "Harry, didn't you write this
and she drew the note from her pocket ant
showed it to him.
mo nv dearest" he replied "Onl,