The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-01-13
a HAPPY QUARREL.

| qulreu information. 1t was always she
who brought in any stray bit of news
or gossip. John never seemed to hear
anything AS Miss Nicola sageiy OBJ
served, ''ho always lived with his nose in a
| book"
"What does it matter To me-" said
Miss Nicola, "what they did in the days
of King Jameses or Julius Caesar? I'm
great deal more Interested in what is
going ON to-day at Nottingham or Lille
Bridge
She was 4 trim, neatly-dresscd per
son oil middle age with beady, black
eyes, short black curls that danced and
trcmbled with every movement that
she made, and a great fancy for wear
ing pink or blue rbbons-a sort OF asser.
ton perhaps, that she was not yet past the
age of bright colors and girlish costumes
To-day she carried little market-b basket
in her hand. She had been buying sweet
breads and asparagus for dinner.
Mr.. Whyte looked up from his desk.
lie had an extensive correspondence with
Continental philologists, and was prepar-
ing to send ont batch of letters by the
next mail.
"The Brandon Cottage" said he, rub
| bing his hand over the forehead that. in
spite of his ve-and-forty years, was still
fair and smooth. "Oh, am sorryr'
$50 am l." said Nicola. "Nobody
knows how much I've enjoyed the straw
berries of the garden, and the roses from
the great portico BUSH
Il wasn't thinking Of that SAID her
brother.
"You never do think of anything
practical" retorted Nicola, parentheti-
cally.
'But it's the quiet of the thing that |
shall miss, signed John, examining the
point Of his fountain-pcn. "Of course it's
family with nine small children at the
loast."
''You're wrong there" observed his
sister "ltsa gentleman With one daughter
"a gentleman who has come here for his
health. saw an old woman cleaning the
front steps, as | came by, and white
rabbit jumping about the lawn"
Good for the rose tree and sllruls!"
dryly remarked Mr.. Whyte.
81 shall speak to them, and beg them to
keep the horrid, little nuisance on their
own side of the fence, " said Nicola. 81
can't have my young plum-trees and
sweet-scented shrubs all nibbled bare.
They've got parrot, too; it screams aw-
fully"
"Well. let it scream. 1t can't scream
louder than Mrs. Jennings baby did when
they lived there, - said Mr. Whyte
'IIumphr' said Nicola. Il rather
think you'll find it can. I'm so sorry the
house is lct''
$50 ami said her brother. GLOW
ever there's no use in going halfway to
meet ones troubles-so, if you please
Nicola, I'll proceed with my letters
Meanwhile, the dwcllers in the little
Gothic cottage, embowered With Gins and
braided about with trails OF ivy, were
equally the subject of interest and discus
sion between Mr.. Delacroix and his daugll-
ter Corinnc.
"Papa," said Corinuc, give seen the
neighbors-a single gentleman and his
sister. She looks drcadfully prim and
dried up but he's quite handsome; and
they have such superb Irish setterr
stL-o, IA A.
He was an amateur artist in a sinall
way, and lis present absorbing occupation
was the arrangements of eanvascs, lay
figures, and portfolios in the room he had
selected for a stndo.
'But the dog barks every time Paquita
talks; and poor Paquita is frightened out
Of her Senses said the girl.
'Paquita must get used to ii"
~ hope it won't worry dear little
Bunny - sighed Cornne.
Bunny must keep on his own side Of
the fence" absently observed Mr.. Della
croix
Corinnc shook her head round,
piquant little head, trimming over with
dark curls. She had soft limFid eyes,
shadow cd with long lasles, a straight ex
pressive nose, and the sweetest of cherry
mouths, which, between laughing, talking,
and soliloqnising, was seldom shut long
emo ugh TO trace IFS perfect Cnpid-bo of
scarlet
II wish we hadn't any neighborsl"
cried she.
'My dear child solemnly remonstrat-
ed her father, edo you expect 10 live on a
desert ISLAND -
Corinne laughed.
az don't mind for myself" said She;
''But it's Bunny Paquita-and the
dreadful white and tan dog. I'm sure,
between them all, we shall get into some
scrapeH'
Corinncs prophecy came true. They
had lived scarcely two week in the Bran
don cottage when matters came to
crisis
Paquita, escaped from the gilded chain
and ring, carried her Investigations into
the Whyte garden.
Nero. in chasing her from his rightfnl
domains, pulled mouthful of gray-and-
green feathers out Of her tail.
Bunny glrdled the choice new roSc-trce
which had just been set out in the center
ext ,x,....s I,n.,, a,,1 ,,,aJ, a ,,,nal M