The Iola register., 1889-02-15

to go to the children's sociable to-
night" Mrs. Holt said on reaching;
home and she went at once to her own
room.
At six o'clock, when she met Mrs.
Delwyn at the supper table. she de-
clared herself thoroughly rested, and
an hour later, when Mrs. Delwyn was
seated in the parlor reading late
biography, and settled for a long, quiet
evening, the three children came in,
dressed in their best.
"We're going over to the church to
get acquainted" said little Jessie. who
was evidently much excited at the pros
pect of an evening out-a rare event
with her. That's what the minister
said. We must all get acquainted. So
I've got on my best dress" surveying
herself in the long mirror with childish
vanity. This is real fur on my
cloak"
81 wish mamma would come" said
BERTHE. well be the latest there"
''She hadn't begun to dress when
came down, said jessie "She was sew
ing on her embroidery"
Mrs. Delwyn tried to amuse the chill
dren with a story; but when half an
hour had passed and still Mrs. Holt did
not appear, she volunteered to go up
stairs and see what delayed her. She
found her sitting in an easy-chair before
an open fire. piece of embroidery in
her hands, over which she was bending
assiduously.
'.Why, Lucyw exclaimed Mrs. Del
wyn. "Have you forgotten that you
promised to take the children to the
sociable? They are waiting for you in
the parlor and growing very impa-
tient"
at won't hurt them," rejoined Mrs.
Holt "A child's time has no value,
you know. And, after all, can't 60.
| remembered just after they'd gone
down stairs that promised to send my
dress-maker this embroidered vest to-
morrow. She can't have my dress done
by Sunday unless she has the vest early
tomorrow, and there is good deal to
do to it yet. How do you like it?"
holding up to view piece of ashes of
roses silk heavily embroidered in pur-
pie pansies.
'It is lovely. You embroider beau
tifully," said Mrs. Delwyn. "But can't
you get up an hour earlier tomorrow.
and work on it before breakfast LucyP
The children will be SO much disap-
pointed if you don't take them to that
sociable tonight"
THAT won't hurt them. 1t will be
good discipline for them. They will
have plenty of disappointments in the
years to come"
Before Mrs. Delwyn could reply the
door opened and the three children
rushed in.
s'Oh, mamma" cried Berthe, look
of dismay coming upon his face as he
saw that his mother was still in her
Aren't you going to take
us to the sociable? All the other chill
dren will be there"
'.No; l can't go tonight. I'm too
tired, and I've too much to do. Now
for mercy's sake don't make fuss
Therell be plenty of other sociables
just as nice as this one. Come here,
Jessie, and let me take off your coat
and hat. Boys, you must either change
your clothes or go to bed. can't have
you playing around in your best
The boys gave evidence of their
anger and disappointment only by
finging themselves about the room and
But Jessie began to wall at
once, and was promptly punished, un-
dressed and sent to bed, where she
cried herself to sleep.
Mrs. Delwyn went back to the parlor,
but she could not fix her thoughts upon
her book again. She could think of
nothing but the grave mistake Mrs.
Holt was making in the management of
her children.
what respect will they have for
her word in the years to Gomez" she
thought. They will soon lose all con-
for the most bitter regret"
When Mrs. Holt came down stairs
little later, her embroidery in her hand,
to take seat by the parlor CENTER
table, Mrs. Delwyn longed to utter
few words OF friendly advice, but feared
to snap asunder the delicate strands of
friendship which bound them to each
other.
IF something would only make her
see," she thought, sighing.
Something did.
The next day was the last Of Mrs.
Delwyn's stay, and Mr.. Holt said at
breakfast that he would send carriage
in the afternoon that she and Mrs. Holt
might take drive about the city.
Send carriage that will hold four.
and Jessie and BERTHE can go with u.s."
said his wife. "lt is not often they get
a chance to take drive"
Cant / go, too?" asked Charlie.
'No, there will not be room," an
swered his mother, and the boys brow
shadowed at once by sullen frown.
When the carriage was announced at
two o'clock, Mrs Holt and Mrs. Del
wyn were engaged in the parlor with |
two ladies who had called to make the
acquaintance of the latter. As they |
rose to leave, Mrs. Holt asked them if
they were going down town, and offered |
them seats in the carriage.
Il can take you both as well as not"
Sha said cordially evidently cnnSider.