The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-12-13
OUR GIRLS.
They Were Only Girls, But They
Achieved Success.


were at work: down in the valley one
could just catch glimpse of river that
wound in and out among the green
copses and level pasture lands.
''Yes," said Mr.. Desmond, who,
stretched out upon a bamboo reclining
chair, was smoking an Eastern chiboque.
cit is rather pretty for man who can't
afford villa on Lake Como!''
81 saw two young gypsies as came up
the hill,'' added the Major, cheerily.
''They were good enough to direct me,
or might have taken the wrong path.
One of them was riding bareback colt
in the pasture, the other was doing bat
tie with blackberry hedge and had a
very pretty mouth all besmeared with
stains"
Mr.. Desmond shrugged his shoulders.
''Our girls" said he. "You needn't go
on to describe them any further, Clip
petit. Every body around here knows
our girls!''
'"The poor girls" said Mrs. Desmond,
who sat by, in pale blue muslin, and
eyes to match. ''They are great dis
appointment to my husband"
''Indeed?" uttered ajor Clippett, SYM
pathetically. ''They seem to be nice
young things"
''Nice enough" said Mr.. Desmond, ap-
athetically. ''But girls! And I've al
ways so longed for boy. Some one for
whom you can chalk out a career; some
one who can make name in the world
0irls!'
Mrs. Desmond, who believed implicit
ly in her husband, drew funereal
sigh; Major Clippett laughed. And Ella
and Essie, who had heard it all in the
shades of the drawing-room curtains,
looked sorrOwfully at each other. Essie,
the youngest and rosiest, had washed
the blackberry stains away from her
cherry lips; Ella, the tall girl, who was
very Rosa Bonheur in respect to colts
and COWS and all the barnyard animals,
had put on her white dress and pink
ribbons to do fitting honor to her IA
theirs guest. And here they stood look
ing sadly into each others eyes. Side
by side ''our girls" went noiselessly up
into the old nursery, where they had
played as children.
81 always knew that papa wasn't quite
suited with US" said Essie.
''But I never guessed the reason
why!" said Ella.
''What shall we do?" said Essie.
'What can we do?" pleaded Ella. eve
are only girls!'
eyes, KNOW" said brave little Essie,
who from the threshold of her four
teenth year was beginning to take
shy peeps out into the world. ssBut
things are not as they used to be, Ella!
If we could only make papa say: 4 am
proud of your If we could only induce
him to look at us as if we weren't super
fluities in the world!''
'Do you think it is possible?" said Ella,
with frightening eyes and carmine
spots glowing on each cheek.
eve can try" said Essie. "Let us 90
down by the river and talk about it!'
"What!' said Mr.. Desmond, lifting his
bead YEARLY from the pillow of the sofa,
where he was composing himself for his
afternoon saesto. ''Our girls again? Can
they never be contented? Aren't thew
getting along we'll enough with their
gOverness?"
Eyes. know, DEAR" said little Mrs.
Desmond, meekly. ''But they want
wider advantages than Miss Millson can
give them. They want music lessons
from Salvini; and a course of French
and German at the Conseruatosre; and
Major Clippett says that his sister will
be delighted to receive them for a year
or two, if you don't object!'
"Object" repeated Mr.. Desmond.
drowsily. 'Oh, Idon't object! Let them
do as they pleased"
And Mrs. Desmond carried this verdict
to the girls.
Didn't he say he should miss us?''
said Essie, wistfully.
'Was he glad that we had some ambi-
tion?" asked Ella, whose hungry little
soul yearned for sympathy as a desert
wanderer signs for cooling fountain in
the arid sands.
mo, children" said Mrs. Desmond
pityingly. 'You know papa never car
be very enthusiastic about girlsl But
IL dare say he will miss you when you
are away"
So the two girls left Desmond Court
dismissed by their father with cold
kisses, like the touch of a fish.
Five years had passed away, and ssou1
girls" had not returned to the parent
nest. Mrs. Desmond grieved fo1
them, but her husband scarcel,
seemed to miss the sound of their laugh
ter in the dim old garden alleys, or the
echo OF their light footsteps in the
halls.
IF they had been boys, now," said he
lit would have been very different
Until at length he went up to town t.
visit his friend Major Clippett-
'sThe girls aren't here, eh?' said he
SWELL, - with yawn, 81 thought you't
get tired of them"
''Not in the least" said the Major
briskly. "But in the prosecution O
their life studies they have been Obliged
to leave us. You shall see them in da,
or two"
"Plenty of time; plenty of time" sait
Mr.. Desmond.
SWELL" said the Major, show shall
we amuse ourselves? Shall we 90 t.
the theater tonight and see the beauti
full young 'Ophelia,' over whom tn,
whole world is raving?"
Mr.. Desmond frightened up at once.
eyes. said he: sslet US 20. / do Hk,