The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-07-01
OPHELlA TIP1ON.

dish of cream toast forp The dish that
Ellen has Just put into the oven! It's
exactly what want to top my break
fast off with! Bacon and dry bread
and butter don't amount to much any
way
George, let that Alone" cried Mrs.
Upton, hurrying to the rescue. ut 5
for Ophela's breakfast
''Opheli;.'s breakfast, indeed!' re-
torted Master George, with grimace
Of indescribable contempt. "A great
lazy thing that never gets up until
nine o'clock; | wouldn't give her any
breakfast at all if were you, mother!'
And away lie scampercd with his bag
of school-books over his shoulder,
while Mrs. Upton came into the kitch-
en- with i troubled air.
..Be sure, Ellen" said she, THAT the
chocolate is put over at the proper
time, and that Miss Ophclias eggs are
boiled just so that the yelk shall be
sct,-l'll ring the bell when she comes
downs-s, stairs, and YOU must have the
kettle boiling!'
..Humph!" snorted Ellen when her
mistress had left the Kitchen il does
seem TO ne as if a great strong young
woman Ike our Miss 'Phelia ought to
.et II aid eat her breakfast when
other folks 10. As long AS she ain I
neither sick or lame, don't see no
,rnsc H. her bcin. waited on this
u wa.
Il. amt our business observed the
w;,sher-woman, emptying bottle Of
bluing into her tub.
No" assented Ellen. but ! pity
the man that gets her. that's all.
1t was after nine o'clock when Miss
Ophelia Upon sauntered into the
dreary back parlor where the flies were
feasting in little colonies on every stray
crumb, and the vivid morning sunshine
seemed to emphasize all the grease
spots and worn threads in the car.
pet.
Nothing but eggs and cream toast, :
said she, petulantIy. 'Do you call
that a breakfast
lis there anything else you would
like, my dear?' said Mrs Upton. so.
licitously, I'VE have some nice little
| outlets"
II hate cutlcts!' with toss of thu
curl-papcrcd head.
'.Or could tell Ellen to put down
one Of the cartridges that your father
sent for dinner
That would never do said Ophe'
liza. I'VE cant have q scant dinner il
Mr.. Merrigale is coming here. And il
would take an age to cook a partridge
Go away, you teasing little thing (te
Miss Marian Upton, mtat. nine, who
just then sided up with battered dol
in her hand
won't you fix my doll Is dress, Ophe
Lap" said the child. Its all torn
And Lulu Prime is coming here to pla.
with me, and should be SO ashamed
TO have my dolly ragged! Please
Ophela. =
don't bother me!' said Miss Ophe.
liza pushing away the child. MAN.
ma, ! wish you would make George
leave of whistling before he goes tc
school in the morning! thought il
would 60 through my head to day.
don't see why children are allowed te
| liye!'
| But that afternoon, when Mr.. Mer
rigale, the widower, came to dine. in
formally, with the Tiptons, Ophcli;
was all smiles and sweetness, and call
ed little Marian to come and sit by hel
while she held her hand in caressins
sweetness.
What makes sister SO kind to me
mamma?' shyly questioned the child.
..Do you suppose she will mend M,
dolls frock noW?a
Mr.. Merrigalc looked admiringly on
She is like Madonna this infatua
ed young man said to himself. ''Wha,
a devoted mother she would make to
my little ones! What q sunbeam 81,
would be about the house,
Old Mrs. Merrigale, the widower'
mother, however, was by no means o
this manner of thinking.
Il don't believe in that honey
toDgued girl!' said she, land ! neve
did. But Mark is clear wild about her
He thinks she is everything that is per
feet. Well, well, men always wer
fools from the beginning of the world
and SO far rs l can see, they Away
will be!'
The very next day, however, chanc
dealt a trump card into the hands Q
Mrs. Mcrrigalc. A friend at the sea
shore had commissioned her to engag
house for her in the city,-furnished
if possiblc,-for three months. Mrs
Merrigale sped to the nearest rea
estate agent at once.
NO. SO Andoyer Place" said tina
respectable functionary. The yer
place.!
"Andover Place,-Andoyer Place,