Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-01-22
THEIR new NEICHBOR.

"Girisl" cried Mareery Kearney, "I'vs
seen himi-Clive Stcrlipg-our new neigh
borP'
In quite whirl Of excitement Margery
had dashed into the cozy room where hel
three sis, ers were sitting. She was shining
with rain, from tie hood of her silver gray
gossam@r to the very tips of her rnbbers
The fluffy brown curls across her forehead
were sprinkled with bright drops, and hel
cheeks we're glowing from her rapid walk
"You didl' interrogatively chorused three
eager voices.
II really didP'
SIS be handsome?' asked Janet, who ap
preciated all beauty as intensely as only &
plain looking person. can.
Intellectual look iup?" inquired Clotilde
who dipped daily into Emerson and profess
ed to adore Ruskin.
'Jolly?' queried little BERTHE, who was
at the age when jolly people seemed created
for her especial amusement.
"ND-no-nop' laughed Margery. ssNo
handsome, or learned looking or even jolly
He is simply the m"st awkward looking
mortal ever beheldw
And she broke into a peal of heartiest
laughter at the recollection of ker encOuntel
with their new Deig Dor.
'.You see it was this way, girls" jerking
off her gossamer, ard disclosing form at
tired in a dress of chocolate cashmere-s
form that was trim, slim and willowy al
that of sweet II is apt to be. 81 was run
ming home in great hurry-for it's chill
lier out than you folks imagiDe--and just
as came opposite the gate of 'The Oaks,
l stopped very suddeoly. For right there
was the most tremendous black dog eve
saw. 1 said: 60 awayv and he dtdn''
bulge. shook my umbrella at him 81,
wasn't bit afraid. l said: If you dom
get out of the way I'll hit you'll and he ac
,ually CRIME d. There was nothing to d.
but step out in the street-lt was SO muddy
too-and walk around him. But just tier
Il suppose my dilemma was apparent from
the house-down the path be came running
Oh, he looked 30 ridiculous! He is abou
as tall as Jacks bean stalk, lean as a lath
and brown as an Iudian F"
"Well," exclaimed Janet, che must b.
charmingW
"On!' cried Margery, going off into
fresh paroxysm of laughter, What, with
his glasses and his coat t-tals flying straigh
ont as he rushed to my rescue he looket
like same great curious, com'cal birdP'
"Birds don't wear glasses" corrected
Berthe. "Was his coat a swallow tail?
The appeal for information vas ignored
"Well, he called off the dog, and apollo
gized for the monster, and-that's ALL"
81 wish he'd offer me the use of his Ii
brary," sighed Ciotilae.
"They say sTbe o Oiks'. is a perfect pal
ace as far as furnishing goes," murmuret
Janet.
81 think I'n ask him to loan me the
lovely white pony" decided BERTHE.
Bnt this rash resolution was Iuthlessl,
crushed.
1.-THE Oaks" had beau shut up SO Ions
ever since the Kearneys had come tc
live in the gray green cottage near by. 1t
ow ner had gone abroad on the death of hi
mother, three years ago, leaving his hand
some honse in the care of couple of ser
wants. But now that the news Of his re
turn bad spread, curosity was rife in tht
fashionable suburb of Riverview Aud not
near neighbors.
A peasant room this in which the sister,
sat hOmelike room, even if the carpet
was tbreadbare, the chairs venerable, the
damask curtains darnt d-perhaps all the
cial service and experience.
Janet went on with her task of remodel
ing an old dress. Clotilde went over tt
the window and looked wistfuly through
the drizzling rain to the red brick chimueys
which rose above the house which held the
coveted books. Margery, obeyirg sud.
den impulse, had snatcbed up her ever ready
.ketch book from the table and was scratch
ing vigorously away. An eostatic giggle
from Berie who was peeping over her
shoulder, called the attention of the others
to her work.
ssWhat is it?" asked Janet.
Margery looked up with nod and a
smile.
"Wsit moment
On her brisk pencil few, the dimples il
her pretty cheeks deepening as her mischiev
GUS smile grew.
sThere?
She held up the open book. The others
hocked around her
ooh, MarReryp'
"He can't look like that!'
"What caricatureP'
Indeed, comical and grotesque was the
drawing of the long, lapk. figure, with the
spidery extremities, the flying coat tails, the
tremendous goggles.
"Oh. just trifle accentuated-not quite
a caricature," she said laughingly, as she
scrawled uader the picture the words: "Our
New Neighbor."
''The rain is clearing off" cried BERTHE.
II am going to run and ask mamma if
mayn't go out"
And cf she rushed.
Soon, with her kitten in her arms and hel
little spaniel at her heels, she WAS out or
the vet road. The rain had Qnite ceased
The afternoon sun, weary of sulking, was
coming out in splendid state. In its radi
ance every drop on every clover leaf was a
glittering jewel, and the pools in the street
reflected bits of the brilliant sky.
On and on wandered BERTHE, her scarlet
skirt blowing back ward, her yellow hail
tangliug fossily as tho breeze caught apd
played with it. As she passed "The Oaks
she paused to put her small. irquisitive fac'
against the iron railing and peer through
What grand, big house it wasl Ant
how smooth and green was the large lawn
all lovely with beds of blooml Aud hov
sweet the flowers smeIt after the rain--tb
geraninms and carnations, and sweetbrie
and yerbenasl
II should 40 love to see the funny maj
Sister Margery saw, "s,-she said to herself
And then. just as If she had had msgics
ring. her wish Was grati6sd. For out o