The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-04-13

they became m0n0tonOus; and now I'd be
glad to hear you make some other remark
just for the sake Of variety, You know. -
Dorothy smiled absently and answered:
Eyes, Frank
Frank groaned.
There it is again." he exclaimed. Then
he added kindly: "Aren't you well, Dot
ty? Seems to me, you look white. Does
anything trouble you? ! wish you would
tell me what you're thinking about
'1'm thinking about mothcr-and N.Y.
self, Frank turning towards him and
raising her eyes wistfully to his. "You al
ways thought me rather a nice girl. didn't
you, as girls go?n
'Rather-as giTls CO.
"Well, I'm not. only found it out to-
day; but, sitting erect with sudden ener-
gy, 'Tm cruel, wicked, selfish thingl
Oh, Frank, hate myself! I've been think
ing, and must speak out to some one.
Mother is killing herself, working for MS
all; but it is not the children's fault, it is
all mine. / am the oldest. and I should
have thought" Her lips quivered, and
two big tears rolled UNDECIDED down her
cheeks.
The expression in the brown eyes look
ing at her grew rather tender.
81 Think said Frank, slowly, shat on
the whole, prefer cruel, wicked, selfish
people to others"
Dorothy's smile was a failure.
'Dotty," he said, gently, why do You
feel so terribly about it? Your mothers
all right, you know; and If you want to
help her, you can begin now-can't you?"
eyes, indeed. I am going to at once"
"How?" with interest.
well, | think I'll do the cooking; that
will be quite weight off her mind. I'm
going to get up early tomorrow, and have
breakfast ready when she comes down."
The next day Dorothy opened her eyes
to a new life. The room was filed with
the grey morning light. She dressed hur-
riedly, and with stealthy step, descended
to the kitchen. How cherries the usually
bright little room appeared
patty can't be up yet," thought Doro-
thy. Patty was the 16-year-old- maid-of-
all-work. Il wonder if mother has to
awaken her every morning."
She passed through a small passage into
a tiny room at the end, where Patty was
sleeping the sleep of the just. Rousing
H.. H. 81 h,,E
was finally accomplished, and Dorothy re-
turned to her labor.
''I'll leave the fire for Patty" she
thought because of course she knows jast
how to build it. What shall have for
break fast? Let me see-here's something
in . covered dish. Oh! potatoes cut up
ready for frying; that will be easy. And
eggs-Ill scramble them; the boys like
them that way best"
Here Patty appeared, yawning and rub
bling her eyes, which opened in round as
constituent when they beheld Dorothy.
II thinked misses looked rather funny
when she woke me mp this morning." she
remarked
Now light the fire. Patty, " said Do
rothy.
'Yes'm. Misses mostly does that, cause
waste so much kindlin'."
Light the fire. Mother?''
Eyes. miss, she do; cause II
''Well, you light it this morning-you
can, I SUPPOSE Now let me see, you fry
potatoes in butter, think. | know just
how to do that, for I've seen mother grease
the gridiron for cakes Taking a small
piece of butter, she rubbed it carefully
over tine surface of the gridiron, and de-
posted the potatoes thereupon, to have
them ready: "And toast-Pll have toast.
Patty, that fires going well enough now.
Where's the bread?"
Patty, walking backwards, so as not to
lose the slightest movement Of Dorothy,
whose proceedings she watched with the
livelest interest, brought the bread, which
Dorothy proceeded to cut.
"That amt the way to cut bread, /" re-
marked Patty; you'd ought to turn the
knife tother way
The blade at that moment entering one
of Dorothy's fingers, proved the truth of
Patty's observation But she was too
much in earnest to be daunted by slight
encouragement, and presently small pile
of uneven slices lay near he:.
'sThcy look horrid that way thick at
one end and thin at the other" she thought,
her cheeks beginning to grow rather hot;
"but, if they're toasted nicely, maybe it
won't matter. Now, Patty, get me some
thing to cook the eggs in. We must hurry,
or mother'll be down. Put the potatoes
on, while make the toast and break the
eggs. Mercyl they're beginning to cook
already. Oh, they're burningl they're
burning! Patty, bring me quick
to stir them. But what makes the poia-
toes smoke SOP Ought they to smoke ?'
'.No, they ougbtn't. You didn't put
enough grease in. Why don't missus get
breakfusq Is she i'll p
enc. I'm always going to do the
cooking after-Oh, the toast is blazingl
These eggs are stuck last! The potatoes
are burned What shall do?'
Mrs Maynard awoke with confused
idea that the house was on fire. Yes,
there certainly was smoke in the room.
- - ha.a cha hastily fhr,S