The Washington critic., 1888-02-11

cried.
There was q moment of stupor, dur
ing which Aunt Penelope smiled with
scorn.
off you mean to marry bim?" Miss
Judith retorted.
"Marry whom ?" What are you
talking about?" and in came Miss
Sarah.
eve means to marry Malcolm
DunstonP' Miss Penelope exclaimed,
with sharp laugh.
Aunt Sarah stared, then pulled her
spectacles down to get better look
at the girl, and she silently acknowl-
edged her loveliness with sinking
heart.
Marry himw she cried, with indig-
nation. "Ile isn't the man for every
chit Better girls than you have
tried It."
Miss Macilyaine, ir., was offended.
SO you think it's 80 hard to fall
in love with me? There, you really
don't know. Why, ] have an offer a
week at home on an average, but
here's q chance" she cried, with
bravado, and facing her astonished
relatives. First he shall fall in love
with me and them" she opened the
door and looked back at them with
undutiful defiance, che shall marry
me-"
Having, so to speak, flung down the
gauntlet, Eve scampered up stairs
and left the three old women staring
at each other in speechless consterna-
ton.
Poor Jacinthp' Miss Penelope
broke the silence.
For Jacinth's sake" Aunt Sarah
said, 81 think we'd better send her
home as soon as possible. After all
he is only man" Miss Sarah had a
very poor opinion of mem, "and there
is no knowing-If we can only keep
Malcolm away" she cried, interrupt
ing herself, "and he is the only man
who ever does come here, think she
will be ready to co."
".
The monotonous days passed, and
poor Eve was much like the
Lady Of Shalott, with the differ
ence that any Lancelot would have
positively welcome. Her airy at
lcluptS W COllCllldbiOH W6re HleJ ny
crushing disapproval; her vanity was
hurt, and even the impulsive heart
that really did beat beneath the
gigantic nosegays with which she
loved TO deck herself. II was the ne
cessity of her nature to make an i'm
| preston on some one, and at last she
| was reduced to flirting with the an
| cient gardener. As he was wholly
deaf and half blind, she found one
day nh,hing left for her TO do but to
lean o1eI tIiee hedge and stare up anu
| down the road. Then, in default Of
| other amusement, she opened the
gate and strolled down the road into
unknown regions, sheltered from the
sun by huge Japanese parasol of
flamboyant colors.
Rothmere was still barbarous and,
| while Eve was only conscious that she
was making really very pretty pic
thre, she was reused from a contem-
| plation of the queer old houses OF
Rothmere, buried in honeysuekles
and roses, by most diabolical
''whoop!" and the next minute she
was surrounded by a lot of dirty raga-
mullins who greeted her umbrella
with derision.
Miss Macilvaine was no coward
go away, you little wretchesp she
cried, with stamp of her foot, but
as that effected only another "whoop,
Eve, holding her umbrella as shield
made a regular onslaught, when Of g
sudden it was torn from her grasp
and the next instant it was borne
triumphantly down the street.
She looked about helplessly.
"Why, Miss Maeilvaine, what has
happened
1t was Malcolm, who had come
upon her from side path, and she
had not heard the sound Of his horses
hoofs.
He swung himself down from the
saddle while she explained; and
throwing the mares bride over his
arm, he walked beside Miss Macil
vaine and listened with rather absent
minded amusement to her chatter.
Aunt Sarah, trimming the roses
about the porch, saw them coming
and stood rooted to the spot as Eve
tripped toward her.
"Such o lovely walk as I've hat
with Mr.. Dunston, Aunt Sally. Ht
says his sisters are coming to call anC
am to 60 there to play tennis;" an(
Eve ran up stairs singing with he
clear young voice till Miss Saral
bounced down on the porch steps ant
put her fingers in her ears,
"Now there's o man about shell
never co." she groaned, gifted as i
with the power Of prophesy. But il
a few weeks it was not Of poor, soil
tary man that the old women com
planned, but Of what they were pleaset
| to call ''hordes Of men,
One afternoon Miss Sarah, open
ing the sitting.room door, turnet
into stone upon the spot. In tn,
Misses Macilvaine's sacred chair
! reposed three young men, at whom
| Eve was glancing gracionsly from
under her curly lashes. Three men
where once only Malcolm daredto EN-
ter. a ge,t -4
"Mr. Plearkins, is It parish busi
ness ?" Aunt Sarah demanded grimly
recovering herself.
The wretched young curate turnet
purple to the very roots of his sand,
hair, and the others, one from tn
circulating library and the other iron
the apothecary store on High street
kept him company. -
"And suppose you, sir" and sh'
glared at the first, ''have come abou
the book club" Then she closed lik
steel trap on the apothecary'
young man. you'll excuse me
SIR, if can't imagine why you ar
here ~
Then up sprang Eve. "They ar
calling on me. asked them."
II beg your pardon, gentlemen
this is All American custom, wa
Il not aware of the fashion, Old peopl