The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-07-17

She smiled sour appreciation OF her
sarcastic sally, jerking her head back
ward to bring IIetty's face within range
Of her vision. The deft fingers we're
fastening strings and straps over tho
misshapen shoulders. The visage was
grave, but always kind to her difficult
charge.
You think that is irrevercnt," Hester
fretted, wrinkling her forehead and
bcctling her eyebrows. 1T isn't cir
cums;ance to what am thinking all the
time. Some day shall be left to my
self. and my bosom-dcvil long enough to
spit 1t all out. It's just bottling up, like
the venom in Macbeth's witches toad
that had swcltercd SO long under stone.
But for yon, cross-patch, all would have
been said and done long ago."
..You wouldn't make your mother I'M
happy II you could help it." IIetty sal,
checrily. And it isn't fattering to her
to compare her daughter to toad"
Hester was silent. As she sat in IIet-
tvs lap, it could be seen that she was
not larger than puny child of seven or
eight. The curved spine bowed and
heightened the thin shoulders; she had
never walked step since tho casualty
that nearly cost her her life. Only the
face and hands were uninjurcd. The
latter were cxquisitely formed, the feat
ures fine and clearly-cut, and suscepti-
bic to every change Of emotion. That
the gentle reproof had not wrought peace
able fruits was apparent from her ex-
preston. The misfit in her organiza-
ton was more painfully perccptible to
herself early in the day than aftcrward.
of her unlikcness to other people while
asleep, and to be compelled to readjust
mental and physical conditions every
morning. Hetty dreaded the process, yet
was hardly aware of the full effect upon
her own spirits, or why she SO often
went down to breakfast iadcd and appe-
titcless.
Il often ask myself" resumed Hester,
with slow malignity, rcpulsive in one
OF her age and relation to those she
conference.-the children ever really
honor their parents. We won't waste
ammunition upon Mn--but there Is my
mother. She is pattern of all angelic
virtues, and woman of remarkable
mental endowments. You have told
me again and again that she is the best
person you ever kncw-patient. heroic,
loving. loyal and so on to the end Of the
string! You tell over her PROJECTIONS
as a Papist tells her beads. The law of
kindness is in her mouth: and her chill
drcn shall arise and call her blessed,
and she ought not to be afraid of the
snow for her household while her sister
and her slave Tony are to the fore.
Don't try to stop me or the toad will
spit at you! say that this one would
think impossible She, the modern rival
woman-is weak and unjust and
Ietty interrupted the TRADE by rising
and laying tho warped frame, all
culver with excitement. upon the bed.
YOU'D better get your sleep out
covering her up. when you awake
again you will behave moro like
reasonable creature. l can not stay
here and listen to vulgar abuse of your
mother and my best friend"
She said 1t in firm composure, drew
down the shades, and without another
glance at the convulsed heap sobbing
under the bcd-clothes, left the chamber.
Outside the door she paused as ii ex-
pecting to be recalled, but no summons
came. She shook her head with sad
little smile and passed down to the
breakfast-room.
Father, mother and four children were
at tho table. Mr.. Wayt, in dressing
jacket. slippers and silk skull-cap, acup
of steaming chocolate at his right hand,
was engrossed in the morning paper. A
pair of scissors was beside his plate.
that he might clip ont incident or sta
tistics which might be useful in the
preparation Of his widc-awa.ic sermons.
lie made no sign of recognition at the
entrance of his wife's sister; Mrs. Wayt
smiled affectionately and lifted her face
for good-morning salute, indicating by
an expressive gesture her surprise and
pleasure at having found room and meal
in such attractive order. Long practice
had made her an adept in pantomime.
The boys nodded over satisfactory
mouthfuls; pretty Fanny pulled her
aunt down for hug as she passed: even
tho baby made mute rosebud of her
mouth and beckoned IIetty not to over
look her.
Mr.. Vayt's digestion was as idiosyn-
cratic as his nervous system. While
the important unseen apparatus carried
on the business Of assimilation, the rest
Of the physical man was held in quies-
cent subjugation. Agitation of MOLE
cnlar centres might entail ruineus con-
sequences. lie reasoned ably upon this
point, citing learned authorities in de-
fence of the dogma that simultaneous
fInctionation-s as animated speech
or auricular attention, and digestion
an impossibility, and referring to the
examples of dumb creatures to prove
that rest during and after eating is .
natural law.
He raised his eyes above the mara IN
of his newspaper at the chink Of TIC
chocolatc-pot against the cup in Hetty y
hand. The questioning gas met
| goodly sight. His wife's sister wore .
buff gingham, finished at throat ans
wrists with white cambria ruffieA
hemmed and gathered by herself. Hes
dark-brown hair was in perfect order;
her sleeves were pushed back from,
strong, shapely wrists. She always
gave one the impression of clean.
limbedness, elasticity and ncatness.
She was firm of flesh and Of will. The
| prettier woman at the head Of the
a,kEeAzg,&&e!b
| 4g|Af|2lk!{li(AzZD
| FATHER, MOTHER AND CHILDREN WERE
| AT TUE TABLE.