Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-09-21
A Happy Quarrel.
81 Nicholas.

Brandon Cottage is let
Miss Nicola Whyte came in from tho
= lIage. all in a quvcr Of newly-scqnir.
al information. 1t WAS always she
who brought N any stray bit Of news
Or gossip. John never seemed to hear
anything. As Miss Nicola sagely
observed. ''he always ! we'd with his
nose in book.
What does il matter to me- said
Miss Nicola what they did in the
das OF King Rameses or julius Cesar.
I'm great deal more interested in
what is go NJ on to day at Harling-
ham or Lizzie Bridge"
She was trim. neatly dressed
person of middle age, with beady.
black eyes short black curls that
danced and trembled with every move
ment that she made, and grea,
fancy for wearing pink or blue ribbons
"a sort of assertion. perhaps, that she
was not yet past the age OF bright
colors and girlish costumes To day
she carr ed little market basket in
her hand. She had been bu ing sweet.
breads and asparagus for dinner.
MIR. Whyte looked up from his desk.
He had an extensive correspondence
with Continental philologists. and was
preparing TO send out batch o.
letters by the next msil.
The Brandon Cottage" said he
rubbing his hand over the forehead
81 L.
gears. was still fair and smooth. oh
am sorry
80 am l." sad n cola. Nobody
knows how much I've enjoyed tn,
straw berr es out of the garden, anc
the roses fro m the great portico bush.
II wasn't thinking OF that" sale
her brother.
you never do think OF anything
practical" retorted Nicola, parcnthe
.lcally.
'But it's the quiet of the thing that
I shall MISS" sighed John, examinin Q
the point of his fountain pen. 90
course it's family with nine small
children at the least"
You're wrong there" observed hi,
sister. ITS a gentleman with on,
J
Tor his health. | saw an old woman
cleaning the front steps, as | came By.
and VIII te rabbit jumping about the
lawn"
Good for the rose-trees and shrubs
irily remarked Mr.. Whyte.
II shall speak to them. and bee
them TO keep the horrid little nuisance
on their own side of the fence" said
Nicola. II can't have my young plum.
trees and sweet-scented shrubs all nj b.
bled bare. They We got parrot. too
it screams awfuIly."
"Well. let it scream. II can't scream
louder than Mrs. Jcnnings's baby did
when they lived there " said Mr.
Whyte.
"Humph!' said Nicola. IL rather
think you'll find it can. I'm so sorry
the house is let"
80 am l." said her brother. How
ever, there's no use in going halfway
to meet ones troubles-so. if you
please. Nicola, l WI proceed with IN Y
letter.
Meanwhile, the dwellers in tho little
Gothic cottage, embowered with elm :
aud braided about with glossy trails of
ivy, were equally the subject of inter-
est and discussion between Mr.. Della
croix and Ia daughter Corinne.
Papa" said Corinne, i've seen
the neighbors-a single gentleman and
h sister. She looks dreadfully prim
and dried up, but he's quite hand
some. aid they have such "a superb
Irish setter"'
'Yes?' sad Mr.. DelacrO X.
lie was an amateur artist in n small
way. aud his present absorbing occu-
patton was the arrangement of can
vases, Law figures, aud portfolios in the
room he had selected for a studio.
But the dog barks every time Pa
quita talks; and poor Paquita is fright
ened out of her Senses" said the girl.
'Psquita must get used to it -
81 hope he won't worry dear tile
Bunny!" sighed Corinne.
bunny must keep on his own side
of the fence" absently observed Mr..
Delacroix
Corinne shook her head-a round
piquant little heal, trimming over
with dark curls. She had soft, lmpid
eyes shadowed with long lashes; a
straight, express We nose, and the
sweetest of cherry mouths which, be-
tween laughing, talking, and soil
quising. was seldom shut long enough
10 trace its perfect Cupid-bow Of scar
let.
81 wish we hadn't any neighbors!"
cried She
"My dear child" solemnly remon-
strated her father, "do you expect to
live on desert island?"
Corinne laughed.
81 don't mind for myself" said she;
but its Bunny-and Paquita-and the
dreadful white and tan dog. I'm sure.
between thom all. we shall get into
some scrapev'
CorInne's prophecy came true. They
had lived scarcely two weeks in the
Brandon Cottage when matters came to
crisis.
Paquita, escaped from the gildcd chair