Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-02


81 don't know" murmured Patty
"She says l have neither discretion MOI
dignity, and she is right
"Now, Miss Martha, stop crying" said
the Major, gently patting her hand. "I
you think that / bear you any malice or
account of this mornings innocent bit o.
girlish masquerade, you are entirely mis-
taken. 1t is quite natural that half q
dozen gay young things should make fun
of an old fogy like me-"
"But You are not an old fogy p
"At eight and thirty? No? Well, PEG.
pie differ on such subjects And you are
not to torment yourself about it any more
do you hear? Why do you look so earn
estly at me ~ he added.
The long, dark curtains of lashes fell on
Patty's crimson cheek once more.
II don't know" she faltered. II was
thinking how good you are. Here comes
mother, and / know by the smell that old
Daphne has taken the tea biscuit out OF
the oven. And oh, / am SO sorry about
the umbrellaw
The Major picked up the umbrella,
snapped the slender standard in two, and
flung it composedly out of the hall win
dow.
"Therew said he. won't have you
fretting yourself so ceaselessly about an old
umbrella !"
Old Daphne, coming across the hall
with the cofiee-pot in her hand, stopped
short.
Bress an sabe US p cried she, 1" if de
spell amt done gone outen de house. Well,
it a pow'ful lucky ting for we uns. l
neber done feel easy while dar ar was
stan'in' round
Martha" said Mrs. Price to heryoung-
est daughter that evening while careworn
Prudence was examining the bakers book
down in the kitchen, "Major Carson has
been speaking to me-
81 know" interrupted Patty. with a
little guilty start. "He's going away-the
best boarder you ever had-and it's all my
fault"
"No, he's not going away. He
Then" cried Patty, she's going to
marry Prudence! And she's dear good
girl as ever lived, mother, but-but do you
think she is quite young enough for the
Major?"
"My dear child, if you would only hear
me out The Major"
Has got wife already in India p
burst out Patty" ian oliye-skinned
princess, with diamond as big as a hazel
nut in her tiara, and he wants to bring her
here. There are some things | won't
stand, mother. The emporium people are
going to establish a branch business at
Denver, and FL go out there with Miss
DAILY and the Wicklow girls. l don't be-
lieve-"
AT that moment there was an outcry in
the kitchen. Master Alonzo Price, the
youngest hope of the family, had Just
come in with bloody nose from single
combat with some neighboring youth.
Mrs. Price grasped camphor bottle and
rushed to the rescue, and Patty was left
alone.
wish [ were dead p sobbed she.
dropping her head on the cushioned arm
of the sofa. "Its all the evil spell of that
horrid old umbrella p
Has your mother told you, Martha ?"
asked gentle, reassuring voice close to
her elbow. And she started up to behold
the very subject of her thoughts.
Moves" she faltered " Please don't
go away, Major Carsonw
1t all depends on you, Martha, whether
| go or STAY" he answered, gravely.
"Does it, really?" Her heavy ewes
frightened little at this. "Then will
try to be good to her."
"To be good to whom?" said the Major.
with something of puzzled expression in
his face
"To the prin-to the lady, l mean,
whom you are going to marry"
p" l shall marry nobody, little Martha,
unless you will have me-" said the Major,
resignedly, Struggling his shoulders.
"I?p
Yes" spokeup Major Carson. II hardly
dared plead my own cause with you; but
since Mrs. Price has not delivered my mes
sage, | must even try for myself. / sup
pose, dear, | seem very grim and anti
quated to you, but my heart has never yet
been touched by woman's voice or woman's
eyes, and | have grown to love you dearly
Do you think, Patty, you could learn to
love me"
Patty has grown first red, then pale.
Her hands fiuttered as she glanced timidly
up and then answered:
''Oh, yes, am sure | could, because
because | felt SO miserably jealous when |
thought of the East India Princess"
"Of whom ?"
| mo matter-no matter" said Patty
And almost in second she was crying
and laughing on Major Carson's breast
| But the next morning she crept out into
the garden and picked up the pieces of the
Sacred Ibis head, lying out there in the
| dewy grass.
81 shall have it mended," she said, "and
keep it always. Daphne is right-it is ar
amulet, and it has brought me luck p
Saturday Night.