The morning call., 1890-05-11

Il could not have found better name
for her," Brenda repeated. The bright
brown eyes, her sleek, silvery hair, and shy
quick movements remind me irresistibly of
pet mouse Tom and Trot had in Calcutta
And she is a singing mouse, too, for she has
the sweetest OF voices-not powerful, yet
fresh and joyous as lark's.'
But how puzzled you look" she added,
laughing saucily at her silent companion
" 1t is possible that you DO not know to
whom am abiding to?"
Not the young lady who dined here yes
terday?"
And who talked you into a headache {?
No, mol My Mousie has nothing in com
mon with handsome, self-sufficient Sarah
BellaTs. She is not even beautiful, accord
ing 10 the pink and white, blue-orbed, lam
gushing beauty your sex always appre-
ciates.
There are exceptions to every rule
Miss Lisle. 1 do not admire blonde bellies"
in the presence of a brunette" added
Brenda, demurely. ''Of course, you could
not be SO rude as to disparage my few
charms in my hearing. But MOuSie is
neither one nor the other, She is not pretty
enough to be painted, and her glance at
Claude Essilton proved that she had de-
tected his occupation - nor attractive
enough to win train of adorers; but she is
just Mouse-shy, sweet and loYable, and l
am delighted with her."
And who is Mousie2" the Young Baronet
queried.
''She has been here three days and yet
you ask me that! she is a dear, little
cousin of mine, of whose very existence |
was ignorant until a fortnight ago. This is
the worst of holding colonial appointment;
you grow up stranger to your nearest and
dearest ties"
''The worst or the best?" smiled Sir
Damer 40 own a host of relatives, who
inlet themselves upon you at unreasonable
tlmes-feel atfTonted if you do not help
them, and ungrateful if you d0-does not
always prove agreeable"
Il suppose not but" and Brenda's voice
took lower, sadder tone, 'yet. since our
coming home II has cost papa a good many
pangS-0f course 1t was of him | was think
ing, not myself-to learn how many old
friends and valued connections have DROP
ped into the grave or out OF sight during the
twelve years he has spent in India. He was
very much attached to the sisters of my own
mammal (Sir Damer knew already that
Brenda was not the daughter of the pretty
delicate, insipid little lady who sat at the
head of Mr.. Isles table and did her best to
spoil Brenda's frolicsome lf-brothers);
"of these sisters one is dead, the other has
become-peculiar. A girl-my namesake,
and the image, papa says. of sweet, young
mother-is all that remains of an ill-starred
marriage, and Mousie was pining under the
tyranny OF her SpinSter aunt when papa
swenped down upon the fortress and eman-
cipated her."
Again Brenda laughed provokingly.
she sat opposite TO you at dinner. Oh,
Sir Damer. witty and wise though the world
acknowledges you TO be, you are not keen
eyed enough to discover a woman's perfec-
lions unless they are pointed out to your
Il have no Partially for perfect women"
was the gay reply. 81 prefer one who lee
lures me or deserves to be seolded herself
twice or thrice in every hour of the day.
certainly did catch a glimpse between the
flowers in the epergne of my vis-a-vis, but
thought she was the governess."