Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-01
MADCAP CHARLIE.
I'M. &. ..
eva we're two sisters Of one rsce;
she Was fairess In Tho face

old ChAfei ana an ~ - 1891
her She has been of at boarding schooi
for ave months, but she will be az nome
tina evening. Papa has gone TO the tta-
tion 10 meet her, and j think ~ ~ hcarty
time they were here. / would nave gohss
after her, but knew you were coliins anu
And pretty Bessie Vincent gives shy
look AZ her betrothed, handsome fninp
Mortimer, which SAYS palmer than my
words that he is even dearer 70 her 'han
the absent Charlie. n,..oor
~ a s;ste Sb he saws: tell me what she Is
Nte she Is Younger than your"
"ohi Yes. u answers Bessie, hve years
vopngar She Is only seventeen, nothing
hut a great. spoilt, overgrown baby; put
IL Womb never do 20 tell her so. Tor she
wc,ld Tell Won with nm cir Of offended dlg-
r;tv that she was two inches taller than
BESSIE and ever so much bigger. expect
10 see her taller still when she gets BACK
and won't she crow over mef III uecIare
/ wish / could have grown little taller.
xs for what she looks like shall let you
see for yourself, and warn you. You had
better put on your arinor." -.
~ am inyulnersble." says Philip, eaten
ing her pretty hand and carrying II tender
ly 10 hislips {" am proof against any mum.
Der OF charms, for YOU have stolen my near I
and how can give IL 20 any one else
Bessie pulls her hand from ms Clasp nian
flushing cheeks and happy iaugm, . nv.
suddenly stops, and going 10 the "in"o"
looks out on the pretty lawn. , s,o
az believe they are coming now, sne
savs az hear the sonnd Of wheels. ana
she steps out Of the LONG window. wtllch
opens on the porch just "a pretty village
cart comes TO view around q turn IN the
drive. Philip follows her, ana an IN IN
stant later the vehicle draws up 10 ihe
door. Then he sees siim,, grav-o ts'i
figure leap from the cart ana oasn up '"o
steps; ou r,,,. radoap. Won will
srosL yonr neck" shouts her father.
"Don't fear. dad, she calls back sauciiy,,
"Tu take 'care of my precious meek. "
And Philip catches sight of wild,rose
face with big. laughing blue eyes ana niue
shining golden curls clustering under lne
brim OF her travelling hat as she runs
swiftly up the steps with outstretched
ANS. for an instant he almost thinks, and
rather homes. that she means to embrace
him but she catches Bessie IN her niue
voupp arms and sQueezes her until she
cries for mercy. ,.,,, .,.o,,
are equal 10 q grizzly boar"
How do you know demands the n
repressble Charlie; were you ever
Rugged 10y grizzly bearf" And she gives
her another hug and half dozen kisses as
she tells her how we'll she is looking and
how glad she (Charlie) is to be at home
once more.
Ressie turns. with an air of fond pride,
and presents her to Philip. She gives nm
her hand and says demurely: hadn i
better commence now to call you brother
Philip? Just to get used TO IT, you
know" ux -
Philip laughs heartily and says, Yes, by
all means": while Bessie's cheeks burn
until they bring tears to her eyes.
"Oh. Charlie" she cries reproachiuiiy'
are you as bad as ever -, ,....,.
Just as bad" answers Charlie seriously,
"worse, if anything" ., -.
And what shall I call you2" asks
Philip, looking with admiring eyes at her
lovely, saucy eyes. AZ
ut sounds too ridiculous to say Miss
Charlie; may call you Charlie!'
"Oh yes" she answers carelesslv,
"eyery one calls me Charlie. would not
know how to come by any other name.
Isn't il a dreadful name for girl =, she
asks with pretended seriousness. How
can be other than the hoyden am when
they call me Charlie?"
And for an instant she looks quite seri-
Gus: but it is only for moment, and turn
ing TO her sister she asks cheerfully:
Bessie, what nave you bO' AN4 "" AZ
Il nearly ready?"
"Why no" saws Bessie; "you surely
don't want tea this early in the evening.
have got high tea to-nlght-ham, cnlcken,
waffies, rolls, pound-cake. and lots OF
things. You see have not forgotten what
an appetite you possess. But 60 TO your
room and change your dress and come ana
get acquainted with Philip"
"Ohl my" SAYS Charlie, smackng neT
Inns. IL am thinking of that supper. l
haven't had such one since j LETT home.
Madam Dupont would never let us have
any meat for supper. She used to tell us
that young ladies should not eat meat ana
wanted us 10 live on bread and butter.
But can't wait for supper, | am hungry
enough 10 eat piece OF horse
Philip looks rather surprised at TINS
frank speech, but he soon learns that
Charlie spends most of her time in shock
ing and in frightening friends and relatives.
"rll bet ginger-cake," she goes on un-
concernedly. sally has got something
good for me-"
Now. Charlie" SAYS Bessie, don't eat
ANYTHING before tea, 1t Will soon be ready"
Charlie turns and looks at her with an
expression Of sorrowful wonder III her blue
eyes. =, ,o.
to prevaricate? A few minutes ago you
y
some time and you say 1t will soon be
ready. don't know what TO think, but &c
be on the safe side shall 60 and get some
She goes of, and her merry voice floats
back to them as she sings, "Bonny, Sweet
Bessie"
After awhile she comes back. She has
been to her room and exchanged her gray
travelling suit for dress OF some soft
fieecy. white stuff. which lights up hel
rosy skin and golden hair to perfection
and Philip thinks that with her hat of anC
her hair in great, soft coil on the top o
her pretty head, and clinging in little curl
ing iovelocks around her white brow, she
is lovelier than ever.
Her hands are full of tempting-lookinG
seed cakes, and she ensconces herself II
the hammock which swings at one end o.
the long porch and proceeds To swing anC
eat and talk IN tho most enjoyable manner
"Oh II" she says, Sally was so glad tC
see me she kissed me and almost cried
over me, She has cooked up cake.
enough to last me week, the dear ole
thing-and she seemed much surprised e
see that had not gone away to skin ano
bone.
Philip looks at her. and as he thinks o.
black Sallps thick lips on that dainty fac,
he almost shudders and wonders what
manner of girl Charlie is.
She looks up presently and catche!
Philips ewes on her face.
FOR goodness sake, Philip" she SAYS
tartly, "don't sit there watching me eat
Yon remind me of old Rover; whenever
am eating and he is around, and he gene
rally is-he sits and watches every mouth
full | take until have TO share with HIM
Come here and help me 10 eat these cakes
you shan't sit there watching me.
Nothing 10th, no goes and sits down by
her-not because he desires the cakes, but
because he wishes to talk 70 her.
Bessie looks at his dark, handsome head
as il bends close TO Charles golden locks
and thinks what a handsome pair they
are.
As she contrasts Charles fair, curling
locks and big blue eyes with her owl
smooth, dark tresses and brown orbs, al
most Involuntary the following lines pas;
through her mind;
1--WE are so unlike each other,
Thou aod /, that mono could guess
We were children OF one mothet,
But for mutual tenderness"
And ~ the conclusion Of Mrs. Brown
ing's pretty poem flashes upon her she
shiyers in the soft. summer air.
What's the matter, Bessier" asks
Charlie. who happened to look up just al
this moment, Is some one walking on
your gravefp