Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-18
THE ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN

The gate shut with click behind her. Phil
omel turned and waved her hand
wish me good luck. 1 am going to try" she
said, and John Elliot, who was passing, smiled
7 and lifted his hat
GOOD luck!" he said, cheerily, but, in spite
OF the smile, tiny frown between his eyes sug-
gested that his obedience cost him something.
Philomel walked quickly up the path leading
to the house.
A sweetbrier put out a slender finger and
tried to catch her dress.
But Philomel was too swift to be detained.
The syringa bushes nodded Good luckr' and
the polyanthus looked up so brisk and knowing
that Philomel actually stopped to pick a spray,
saying:
'Bless your little heart Who told you the
news?'
She ran up the steps of the ancient colonial
house which had belonged to her mother g
family-oh, for generations.
When middle-aged, reliable Judge Durant
married silly, pretty, helpless Philomel Sea-
grave, every one drew a sigh Of relief.
Now the poor child will have some one to
take care of her, and the Seagrave homestead
will be repaired" they said
But AIr. Durant must needs die only year
after his marriage, leaving little Philomel on
her mothers feeble hands. There was enough
money to keep the two from sinking. "A very
genteel insuffcency," our Philomel called it as
she grew to womanhood
Il wish we had little less blue blood and a
trife more yellow gold" she added. That was
the day when the rambling shed leaned lam
| guidly to one side. Like old weak-back
person looping over on one hip" declared
| Philomel As for the stable, long guiltess of
| horses, it gave up the struggle for existence as
a hopeless job and dropped to pieces In the
| last gale.
The house itself bore up bravely, but cried
aloud for fresh paint
As for Philomel herself, she had grown up
| tail and straight. like the Seagraves. But she
had the Durant way of putting down her feet
with firm tread, and her Seagrave hands had
a decidedly Durant fashion of taking hold with
a strong grasp; also her voice had the Durant
| ring. Her voice was ever soft-gentle and
| low-an excellent thing in woman!' l fear
Philomel might have shocked King Lear when
| she grew earnest.
| Mamma" she called. as she opened the
front door and came into the big hall.
Up the stairs she bounded, and burst into the
| room which Mrs. Durant always spoke of as
| The Boudoir." Here she sat to-day. mend
ing some old thread lace with exquisite
stitches.
Philomel paused on the threshold, alert. wide
| aWdhe, ner eyes SHINING ike stars.
MY pretty lady," she said, ANY one who is
over seventeen may try. l was seventeen yes
| terday. Wish ME good luckI'
Mrs. Durant dropped her lace with the puz-
zled look which her soft eyes often wore.
| Phiomel, life, the world in general, were
pulling to this pretty lady,
| Try what, my love?" she asked, plaintively.
| pray, Philo, speak more slowly. When was
young it was considered ill-bred to hurry one s
! words"
Philomel caught her breath.
| Il am speaking of the new public library,
mamma" she said, trying to curb her tongue.
| You remember l explained it all yesterday
The place of assistant librarian is to be filed.
Four hundred dollars salary. Competitive ex-
! animation. No one minus brains need apply
| "A certain general knowledge of books re-
| CURED, &c, &C. That's the way the notice
runs. Judge Akers and DR.. Loomis are the
| examining committee. Four hundred dollars
| would be very neat little sum to add to our
| income, my pretty lady"
| 'Oh, but, Philo, would you really be willing
| to-tO earn money!" exclaimed Mrs. Durant
holding up both hands, as if to ward Off a
blow.
| You know L must, mamma" said Philomel
! gravely. Since that railroad began to pass its
! dividends. we have less money than ever.
! can't sit still. dear. and see you go without
| Labns soap and silk stockings" she ended,
win faint laugh.
| Il was brOus At up to use sweetsoap Philo,"
said Mrs Dur,nt gently, land as for silk stock
| lngs, my love. really | wish YOU would consent
| to wear them, and economic on something
| else. The ladies of my family always wore
them. And oh. what would your great-grand-
mother have felt had she known you would go
into business? When she was at the court of
st. James King William himself danced with
her, and remarked especially on her beauty
and grace"
His majesty didn't happen to add. And
pray accept $4,000 for the use of your future
| great-granddaughter. did he? Possibly he
| didn't realize how much L should need new
rubber boots while my chariot was laid up for
| repairs"
Phlomel laughed her frank wholesome, girl
| ish laugh. But speaking of royalty, honey,
| couldnt you and l make over that green velvet
| dress OF great-grandmother's for the Akers party
on Thursday? Very pretty of you to leave your
gowns behind you, she added, nodding at the
portrait of the ever-young ancestress which
smiled upon her out of the heavy gilt frame.
When dress was the question, Mrs. Durant
was in her element.
Il had thought of that velvet, Philo. This
| lace will finish the neck and sleeves to per-
| lection. Ring the bell and send Norah to the
| cedar chest"
| But Philomel was half-pay up the attic stairs
| already. No clumsy maid-of-all-work fingers
| should NEEDLE with what she irreverently
called her ancestral toggery''
This particular gown was easily made to do
renewed service. Philomel and her mother
ueltly cOaNeQ q plalt mere or a 1OlQ there-MrS.
| Durant giving advice and Philo sewing busiy
| But the latter's mind was SO full of her library
| that it was difficult to bring down her thoughts
| to seams and gathers.
Turn that corner under and the lace will
cover the joining" Mrs. Durant would order
| her whole soul absorbed by the velvet.
And if l get the place." Phlomel would
reply, dreamily drawing her needle, Il shall
| buy dozen hens, and see if can't sell eggs"
| This ostrich plume just matches. 1t will be
charming on your hat, Philo."
THANK you, my pretty lady. You see there
are only three of us to try. One is Nellie Gill.
| She is aggressively stupid So is not Algeria
| Tibbets. I'm afraid Of her when it comes to
general information"
algeria Tibbets?" echoed Mrs. Durant
| feebly.
'.She lives in Lincoln Court" said Philomel,
smiling
''But, my dear, she must be very ordinary
| person, this Algeria"
| II don't suppose she ever had grandmother
not to mention great" confessed Philomel
| perhaps some day she will be an ancestress
| herself. The line has to begin with some one
| Algeria is frightfully intelligent. I'm afraid
she II leave me nowhere in the examination"
Come, Philo, GOMEZ
That was on Thursday, when Mrs. Durant
was all alive with excitement It was a long
| time since she had been to merrymaking. Her
| cheeks glowed with pleasure; she might easily
have been taken for her daughters elder sis
| ter. They were lovely-looking pair. The
| old-fashioned dresses, which on anybody else
| would have been queer, were enchanting when
worn by them. Philomel, in her ll-green