The Washington critic., 1885-10-01
AN EXPENSIVE LESSON.

hl1' ! ltlNJ WIS nDl III SppN huulDi
that day, as she sat at the Breakfast
table pouring coffee for her husband,
and dispensing bread and butter to the
three plump little Picrcys. She was
handsome, ovcrdressed woman, with a
good deal of false hair, frizzled and
pulled and braided on the top of her
head, and complexion that bore re-
mote witness to the constant use of cos.
metics. And Mr.. Piercy, at his end of
the table, was evidently i'll at ease, as
he broke his eggs and nibblcd dill
gently at his roll.
But what was ] to do, my dear? ?"
said he, after brief silence, which
was by no means peaceful.
Dor" shrilly rctortcd Mrs. Picrcy.
why, what do other people do? Are
we TO keep home for the INDECENT
poor? Or Il refuge for the widowed
and fathcrless ?"
"My dear, my dear" pleaded Mr..
Piercy, who was small man, with
thin hair and spcctaclcs, you may
be widow yourself, some day"
"And if ! am, shall not go beg
ging among my relatives, that you may
depend on, said Mrs. Piercy And,
after all, she ism { any relative of yours
only your brothers wife. I'd like to
know what earthly claim she has upon
you declare, the more | think of il
the more | am amazed at the womans
presumption Her very name is an
aggravation, too. Plume Percy in
deed. I'll wager my new lace pin that
she was second rate actress when she
married your brother. No, Mr.. Picrcy,
if you think that /"
But here the torrent Of the lady's clo-
quence was cut short by the uncXpect-
ed appearance on the scene of the very
subject of her Obiurgation--a tall,
pretty woman of about four and twenty,
whose wavy, golden trcsses and deli
Catcly fair complexion cOntrasted WV
idly with the deep mourning weeds she
wore"
"A veil down to her fee" mentally
calculated Mrs. Abel Percy. and a
six-inch bias band of the very best
CORTLAND crane on her gown. won
der who's expected to pay for all thisg"
Abel Piercy, the kindcst-hcarted of
little men, welcomed his brothers
MlbON VIII E'llNlllN llO0DllulllN buJ
Matilda, his wife, looked askancc at
her, with no friendly smile upon her
cOuntcnancc.
"Of course you will consider this
your home" said Mr.. Piercy, rs he
made haste to draw a chair close to the
fire.
Until you are able to suit yourself
somewhere else crisply added his
wife.
The widow said little; she only
looked, with large, wistful eyes, from
one to the other; as she sat there, the
morning sunshine turning her fair
locks TO braided masses of gold, the
pearly delicacy of her skin arousing
the livelicst envy in Mrs. Abels heart
Though, of course, it's only some
French balm or Circasslan cream or
other, that | haven't heard of" said
she to herself.
But after Mr. Picrcy had buttoned
on his Overcoat and gloves he came
back TO the breakfast room, while his
wife was putting up the children $
school lunches in the pantry.
Il am not much of talkcr, Plume, J"
said he, in an odd, hesitating
way; "but you are welcome, my dear,
very welcome! And hope you will
try TO feel at home. Don't mind Ma
tiida-iust at first. She's little pecu-
liar, Matilda is, but | do assure you
She"
Mr.. Percy" uttered sharp,
warning voice, at this instant, from the
threshold, "is it possible that you
haven't started YETI And you know
how particular Bulge and Bodley are
as to your getting to the store at nine
precisely"
Mr., Percy turned pink all over.
YES, my dear, yes" said he, II m
| quite sure to be in time!'
And he started Off on gentle trot.
When he was gone, Plume took Off
her bonnet and veil, removed her man
tie and gloves, and went into the
| kitchen.
Cannot | do something to help you,
Sister Matilda said she, pleadngly.
Mrs. Abel Piercy looked, with cold,
blue eyes and lips firmly compressed,
at the fair face, which was younger
and frcsher than ever without the jet
black circlct of the bonnet, and the
slight, graceful figure before her
mo, | thank YOU" said she, II am
not used to having fine ladies in my
kitchen"
But if you will lend me an apron"
mo, | thank you, Mrs. Oswald
Piercy," repeated the housewife. "You
will lind the newspaper in the hall.
Perhaps the advertising columns may
interest you"
1--WE are sisters" said the young
widow, with a quiycrng lip, "Will
you not call me Plumcy'
"Oh, no, we're no relations ut all, in
reality" said Mrs Abel Piercy, weigh,
ing ont ounces of sugar and pounds OF
flour with IN merring hand. and,
really, your name Is such Il very pccu.
| liar one, Jane, or Martha, or Eliza
would have been more to my taste
Perhaps, however" with a keen, side
long glance, you have been on the
stage
mo" said Plume, II was Il teacher
when Oswald married me. But what
did You mean about the advertising
columns of the paper'
"Simations, you know" said Mrs.
Percy, reaching over to the raisin box
Bridget, you have been at these raj
sins, as true as liyel There's half OF
EN- gone since was here last, -
mo, ppm, | haven't" sharply re
sponded Bridget, who was used tC
these kitchen skirmishcs. sure |
never lived in house before wher,
they counted the raisns and the lump,
o coal, and If don't suit, mum, it's {
month S warning from to day, if ye''
Place
Situations repeated Plume, hall