The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1890-02-21

ES C-A~ N8t JOAaNo "aIA JOh
carve the chicken Ard explain how Ill I
am-and how sorry to seem rude. If
Eleanor were only herel''
The moments were full to OVERLOOKING
with work. Norah's Affections proved
upon her memory to that extent that Anna
bel was on pins and needles lest she should
sweeten the cranberries with saleratus and
basic the chicken with baking powder.
Moreover the melancholy handmaiden kept
up an undercurrent of stifled snorts to
show her opinion of folks as come to
visit without no ~inyite,'
sack and Jill cannot come to the ia
BILE" decided Amabel. 'sTheir table man
ners would horrify Aunt Deb"
But at that Jack was furious. At his
time Of life to be banished to the nursery
was more than human nature could bear.
Il shall take my dinner in a basket and
go to the woods, and maybe I'll never come
home again, . announced he, with dignity.
Jill echoed the sentiment. "Me too, "
said she.
With Hurried haste, Amabel hustled her
self into her best white dress, fondIy hop
ing her guests would not discover that the
bunch Of asters in front was meant o con-
ceal a certain ga2 which had come from
~shrinkage in the wash
"As for the hole in our tablecloth. I'll
put the jelly over that. and the dish shall
not be passed. I'll just say: MAY I help
you to some cranberry"
The whistle of the approaching train
sounded. With flushed cheeks and beat
ing heart, Amabel went down stairs.
sIf they only won't find fault with dear
mamma thought she.
s'she need not be afraid of anything,
Because she Is the daughter of a King
The words flashed iuto Amabel's mind.
Why they soothed her she could not say.
but she repeated them again and again.
'"she need NOT be afraid of anything
She need not be afraid of-Aunt Hitty.
She need not be afraid of Aunt Deb. lam
doing my very best. Why should l be
afraid ?" thought she.
Because she is the daughter ola King
The idea was consoling. So ~consoling
that, to her own surprise, Amabel was able
to walk calmly to the gate to welcome
her guests. She explained, with a certain
sweet dignity that her mamma wasill.
.Ohi' said Auut Hitty, in q tone which
made Amabel's ears Jingle.
szs-f,a mad raF a. .fraSd ~ ar-@Is..- =.
The words were ike a strain of music.
Very erect, very sober, but quite at her
ease, this Kings daughter led the way
to the dining-roon. The honor of the
family depended on her. If she faltered.
if she was awkward, all the blame would
be given to her mamma. Anabel was well
aware Of that. So she sat up straight, too
full of loyalty and determination to leave
any place for fear.
There was IN ominous CHATTER in the adj
joining kitchen, but Amabel kept a steady
eye on her visitors and talkeda little faster.
The waitress having departed, Norah bolt
ed INTO the dining-room and set the pud-
ding on the table with an energetic, not to
say a vicious, tbump. Amabei felt the hot
blood surge to her temples; fora ome
her breath came quick. But the music
was in her ears:
.sshe need moi be afraid OF anything
Aunt Deb, / remember that you liked
citron, and I put a lot of it in the pudding
fer you"
Aunt Deb was pleased.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded on the piaz-
"a. Two faees-two grimy faces-fatten-
ed themselves against the window-panes.
The faces Of Jack and Jill, returned from
the woodland shades. If ever there were
a crisis in human events it had come now.
Amabel rose from her chair. With a
wave of her hand She directed the gaze of
the aunts to a picture of Eleanor's paint
ing, which hung on the wall opposite the
haunted window.
"Piease see how lovely the eoloring of
the sky in the background is, and don't
you recognize the old elm at the left??''
She knew the aunt would have to peer
c8UStly. uecausc oi utaT-atIGteu eyes.
That enabled her to get swiftly in the rear
to shake a decided hand in the direction
of the window, to launch a frown Of such
desperate command at the two reprobates
that even Jack quailed and skunk away.
"she need not be afraid
Il have learned a new song since You
were here. Aunt Kitty. viii you lisnen
to it?''
Why. Amabel would nave usually en-
dured tortures rather thar sing to musical
Aunt Hitty.
.'she need not be afraid-r
No, not even of four sharps. She struck
the chords firmly, and sang just as well as
she knew how. Ii would have killed her
once to have Aunt Hitty say:
That highest note was ont of tune. y
But to-day she was unnsoved. All thought
of herself had vanished. No matter what
anyone said to her. She had her mothers
honor in her hands. She was equal ia
anything in defence of that.
Give my love 10 your mamma," said
Aunt Deb, graeiously; aud tell her that /
say this. she has one child that knows how
TO behave. an pleased with you, ANA
BEL
They were putting on their bonnets-the