The Opelousas courier., 1888-02-04

yellow hair over q long halr-pln; you
ought to be ashamed of yourselves
'Indeedp pouted Philippa. who
are you, Miss Polly, to set yourself up
in Judgment over your elder sisters, I'd
like to know"
"I don't care" stoutly persisted I,
"Uncle Rudolph is a dear, generous
hearted gentleman, and I won't sit here
to hear him laughed at. Now you just
keep still, both Of your
"Hateful thing, she's jealous" said
Laura. ''she can't bear the idea of my
being adopted by the rich uncle of the
family"
81 don't care a pin whether he adopts
you or not" said I, pulling sasagely
away at my hair. "But ] won't hear
him made fun Of when his back is
turned"
HELL not adopt you, anyhow" said
Philippa; nobody wants such al ugly,
wide-mouthed little gnome about their
"
house."
Iwinked back my tears. Philippe
knew that I was sensitive about my
mouth when she aimed that wordy shaft
so skillfully.
"If you say another word in ridicule
of Uncle Rudolph" said ], 'T1l go
straight to mamma and tell her."
"Mamma won't care"
mamma will care" said I. mamma
loves her brother dearly, and she won't
allow you to laugh at him."
A sullen silencsensaed on the part Of
my elder sisters. | had gained mNpoint,
but they contrived to make it vrry un-
comfortable for me.
However, neither Laurl nor Pflippa
were girls to bear malice very long aud
they came down the next morni{g to
help get breakfast, as good-natur' ID as
ever. NIX
Mamma" said Laura, '1give me the
key of the blue room and I'll go up for
some of the larger napkins. These are
mended and darned until they are
hardly decent, besides being too SMALL
you can't go now,n said mamma,
VII was busy brewing chocolate. "Your
r fe Rudolph is in the blue room.
him there to sleep because there's a
H. ~ &~E -
AN-in the roof of the best bedroom,
F6nd wa afraid it might be a little
gdamPs Why, girls, what's the matter ~
81 seePhilippa had uttered a little
safiek, Ind Laura dropped the double
damaskapn tlble-cloth into the c~oal-scuttle,
while IslRpod transfixed to the floor.
"UnaatRudolph in the blue roomr'
gasped PkIippa. .sClose to ours! With
that doorway betWeenl Laura, he must
have heard every word we saidtn
And she sat down and began to cry.
Laura looked aghast, but she was
quicker to recover herself.
FLUSH, Philippa,n she said. Don't
make a fool Of yourself. Here's Uncle
Rudolph coming down nowe I'm just
az sorry as you are, but all the whim-
pering in the world won't do any good.
We must just make The best of it."
Girls said poor, bewiIdered mann
ma, awhat does all this meang'
But before we could explain, Uncle
Rudolph camedown stairs, snug, smooth
shayen and looking as fresh as a water
pippin.
Good morning, Sister Rockfeld, !
said be, sitting down opposite the fire.
aGood morning, girls. ! was talking
last night, sister, about adopting q Of
the three, and making her the heiress to
what little I've got to leave"
sYes2'' said mamma, wondering very
much what was coming next.
well, I've made my choice. This is
the one" drawing me close to him.
Not Pollyfs
tsYes, Polly. True, she hasn't Philip
pas wax-dol face, nor Laura's quick
ness Of repartee, but / think she'll get
fond OF me all the same. Philippe thinks
me d mean old hunks. Laura don't APP
prove Of a way / have of talking through
my nose. But little Polly stands up for
the old gentleman, like q brave girl as
she il, with q heart Of genuine goldln
I'm sure I don't understand what on
earth you mean, Brother Rudolph, 9
said mamma, with q puzzled wrinkle
between her brows.
asBut these girls do said Uncle Ri
dolph, with curious roguish sparkles il
his eyes.
1.-THE next time you've got company
staying ii the house, young ladies' e
Laura and Philippe, ssyou mist do up
your confidential conversation ID . low
tone OF voice
Philips pouted. Laura hung down
her head. cried. I couldn't help i.
aUncle Rudolph said 81 do4st
want anything that ny sisters can
shared
hut you see. Jon Mven't any WI
d this question, miss, rctorEed incl.
Rudolph laughing.