The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-04-25

$50 they have left you all Alone" he re
marked, curtly. "That Is rather dull at
your age, ehY Do you mean to allow your
self any dinner, Miss Housekeeper, and do
you think you could spare me lttlei for |
have been about town all day and am almost
famished."
Nab replied, little reluctantly, that she
would go and see. Oh, yes, she was sure
there was enough for both--Pauline was
never stingy in her MENACE. But as she &C.
complshed her errand, her conscience
pricked her for want Of ready hospitality.
What II she were unhappy-other people
must have their dinners. Uncle Powell was
an old man-old, very old, quite Hfty.fve,
and he looked tired land, In spite of violeps
sarcasms about his old fashioned whiskers,
and the ridiculous cut of his waistcoats, he
had always been kind to her, bringing her
little presents, and showing her little atten-
tons. He would do IL rather awkwardly,
and his voice would be a little gruf but,
after all, II Is not every one who has pleas
ant manner.
These reflections were so salutary that
Nab tripped up. stairs, bathed her aching
head with eau-de cologne, put on her fresh
white gown, though she had only an old
uncle for her Wis avis, and, putting away
her sad thoughts with brave effort, set her
self to entertain the unwelcome guest.
Now, the dinner was very good, and Mr..
Templeton's claret was excellent, and Nab
IN ade the prettiest little hostess possible, in
spite of those tell tale traces on her eyelds |;
and, as the soft childish eyes raised them
selves to his face with that pathetic, panied
look in them, something seemed to tug at
Uncle Powell's heart.strings.
"You are not quite happy, my dear little
girl ~ he said at last, in the kindest posi-
BILE voice. "Tell me all about 1t, NAB"
And then, with some difficulty, he drew
the whole story from her, only, Of course,
the Beauchamp part was suppressed, for
there are some things that cannot be told
even to the kindest uncle.
| The summer twilight was stealing through
the room, and Uncle Powells face was in
shadow as he listened to Mab's artless mar.
rative. When she had fnished--and he had
not interrupted her by single murmur--he
seemed revolving the whole matter carefully
in his mind, for II was some minutes before
he gave vent to his thoughts.
"Humph Just like your Aunt Selma A
SELFISH worldly woman--as I always told
Ralph. And pray what harm would 1t have
done her to have taken you as we'll I'll be
bound Pauline and Violet backed her up in
her selfishness-girls are so inconsiderate. l
hate such stuck-up doings."
Nab began TO cry.
"Never mind, Nab! You shall not spoil
your pretty eyes while you have your old
uncle to protect you. You have been a good
girl this evening, and you shall not lose
your treat. We will do them finely, Nab,
and Owen shall help us. They are at the
Randolph you sayi Very we'll. will tele.
graph for rooms at the Mitre. You just go
and pack up your fneries, and we will 60
down by the same train TO morrow"
"Unole oh, uncler' Nab could hardly
bring out the exclamation, she was so
breathless. ooh, Uncle what do you
mean 2''
81 mean just what say, and say what
mean. And will come and fetch you to
morrow, as sure as my name is Anthony
Powell.''
"But, uncle" stammered poor Nab, flush
ing and paling by turns "papa and Pau.
line-what will they say when they see me
Pauline will be so angry, and Violet viii
laugh and be sarcastic
"Let them Taught" returned Uncle Pow
ell, shortly. "Bess, me, Nab pa it'll,
testily-''I suppose may give my niece a
treat if like. Your father and will max,
that all right, SO the women need not inter
fere. If Pauline speaks to me shall tel
her my mind pretty plainly, so put all this
nonsense out of your head. l want to Sc,
Oxford, and 50 do you, so we will just hav,
our little trip together
Mab's only answer to this was to throw
: her arms round his neck and kiss him, as
certainly she had never kissed him in her
life. Perhaps MAIDS cheek was a little wet
Uncle Powell cleared his throat rather husk
lily after that, and even stroked her hair AZ
he babe her goodnight.
1t was a radiant Nab who was watching
for Uncle Powell this morning as he drov.
up with his portmanteau. The passenger.
on the Paddineton platform looked half GU
riously and half admiringly at the brigh
face peeping ont from the pretty shady hat
No little brook puzzled faster than Nab talked
all the way to Oxford.
But she grew more sober when theI
reached their destination. AS no one ex
pected them, there was no one, of course, t.
meet them at the station. Nab, who wa
yearning for the sight of OWENS bright, boy
ish face, felt unreasonably damped at this
And there was a further disappointment IL
store for her, for when after luncheon the
went straight to Magdalen in search of him
the young undergraduates rooms wer
empty.
ooh, forgot" exclaimed Nab, with a sa
droop of her lip; at is the flower show a
, Worcester, and of course he has taken ther
there"
"Never mind we will charter fly ant
follow them, +" returned Uncle Powell, briskly
not liking to see the cloud OH the girls face
but she bowed her head disconsolately a
this.
, "We have no tickets we should not b
admitted all that has to be arranged before
, hand"
, And then she said, with an effort, but yer
sweetly:
, "Never mind, dear uncle, we shall fin,
owen by and by and am glad to see hi
, rooms. How pretty and cozy he has mad
) them! The scout says he is expecting som
people to tea. Do you think" rather tim
, idly, "that we might walk about little
and come back later onr'
| And as Uncle Powell pronounced this al
excellent idea, Nab adjusted her hat, an
they sauntered out together, turning thei
; steps in the direction of Addison's Walk.
. The Templeton girls were not enjoyin
themselves this afternoon. In the first plac,
: 1t was rather hot, and Aunt Selma was tirsG
Then Owen was In one of his sulky mood
, and had not offered to introduce any of HI
friends. He had turned rusty from the INT
!. ment that he had met them at the static
and found that Nab was not with them.
, "What q shame, leaving that poor lit
! thing alone at home - he had blurted on
81 call that confOundedly hard of 70
women %
"Hush! Aunt Selma will hear you 70 r.
I mOnstrated Violet, rather alarmed at th
II tragical vehemencs.
3 ~ don't care who hears me!'' retOrte
!. Owen. 'That is SO like you girls. Yo
4 are always putting on Nab, Just beoaui
n you know you cannot either of you hold
g candle tot" Which was rude, TO say the lea
i. OF IT. but then brothers will be rude som
| iv,u nil Of nvf lord Int,