The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-02

VI SoIts III ILLS mouse.
For nearly four years our cousin Ma
bel had been our step-father's wife; he
had long ago ceased to smile at her be-
nignly. and ceased to extol her virtues.
ssrhe toast IL tough he grumbied.
my dear. will you be good enough to
give little thought to these domestic
duties? There Is one Of your children
crying il that sydney agafn?"
Il think 50, dear, was Che gentle,
nervous reply.
II thought I forbade him to cry"
"Yes, but-but, you forget, Adrian.
He's snch a baby-too young to under
stand
Not too young to be ruined by in
diligence. After breakfast you can go
to the nursery and send Sydney into the
study to me-
Adrian, you are SO severe with him. "
ION the contrary, Mabel. am most
gentle. But one can not too early teach
ones children to understand the inev-
liable consequences OF their own actions.
When Sydney disturbs our comfort by
crying in q foolish and pcevish manner,
we disturb his idea OF comfort by seat
ing him without his toys for two or
three hours. with his face toward the
wall in the corner Of my study"
But
Enough on the subject, Mabel. Pray
do not become argumentative. my dear"
A painful silence ensued-a silence SO
heavy and painful that Alice, my
youngest sister. boldly broke it.
NAB. do You know that Ned Barnet's
going abroad? lie is. | heard it."
Alice suffered for her boldness; our
step-father looked slowly in her direc-
ton.
when was that frock Of yours clean,
Alice?"
Yesterday, papa.
so l imagined, my dear was the
mild-voiced reply. mo wonder the bills
from the laundress are extortionate.
You will wear no more washing frocks
| this summer. After breakfast you can
take of that dirty dress and put on the
| black serge you were wearing in the
winter You will wear nothing else I'M
til give you permission.
| Papa. there's the Harnets' garden
party to-day"
You can wear your black serge-or
remain at home
lie rose as he spoke. carefully brush
ing a speck of dust from his sleeve. He
had successfully depressed the spirits Of
us all, and his own temper had grown
almost placid; the creases in his brow
| had smoothed themselves out. and he
went slowly and contentedly away to adj
minister reproof to his three-year-old
son in the study.
I went out OF doors into the garden
| and there, half an hour later, Alice
| joined me. She was a pretty, graceful
girl OF sixteen. She came walking
slowly toward me with very woe-be-
gone countenance. The serge dress was
badly made and too small for her: the
material was coarse and thick: it was
last winters frock-and last winter
Alice had worn her skirts short. and
lately she had tasted the dignity OF
skirts that reached her ankles.
Look at me. Nab" she cried, the
tears in her eyes, her voice indignant,
yet pitiful. NAB, tell me truthfully, do
look absurd?'
1.-THE dress is hideous. but you look
pretty in spite of it, said lovingly.
Dear old Nab. Oh. Nab. | wish the
tables could be turned for bit and We
could be the tyrants. ] should like to
dress papa in q school-boy jacket and an
Elton collar, and make him wear his hail
long in ringlets."
We laughed. Alice linked her hands
around my arm, and we strolled SLOWLY
together down the garden paths between
the trim beds with their low, closely
cropped box-borders. longed to ask ;
question: simple question enough, bu
it was only with an effort, after mucl
deliberation, that ! asked it.
Alice, who told you that Ned wa
! going away?"
They were talking Of it at the Cedar
yesterday"
.Ah. it's true them"
J "Some scientific expedition wants hin
to come with them. didn't listen yer.
attentively-but they're going to explor
some place. Africa, or Australia, o
, some place. His mother was SO funny
: Nab! She's proud OF his being asked +
/. 60. but she wants him to refuse. Sh
says it's an honor: and then she forget
| the honor and says she has heard Q
tigers and rattlesnakes."
made no reply. After minute Alic
!. chatted on again.
/ Hell be away for year or two if b
goes. We shall miss him, shan't we?"
YES.
.Don't you think it's odd OF him t
wish to go?"
1T seems to me quite natural" re
piled, abruptly. almost sharply. Hi
scientific work is most absorbing to him
he becomes more engrossed in it ever
year"
"But he ought to settle down an
marry; he's getting SO dreadfully old"
Not very old. Twenty-Five.
Il wonder why he doesn't marry, NAL
Do you know what the girls have fan
cied?'
No"
They have fancied lately that h
;. meant to marry YOU"
turned sharply away. Bending owe
the sweet-peas, plucked sweet-scen'
ed. many colored handful.
nut ue Gail marry you II nc iHo1Se
s on getting eaten by snakes and croce
dies in Central Africa"
Don't, Alice!' / exclaimed, harshlJ
She threw her arm in IN impulsivt
> caressing way around my shoulder.
Poor old Nab! you're not cross?
she questioned.
mo. But don't talk like that
don't like it, Alice"
Alice regarded me in silence for mi
: ment.
u Wouldn't you marry him if he aske
your said she, in thoughtful tone.
y NO"
: "Really?'
I Really. Are you surprised?"
. well, yes; you see the girls all IA
y cied that you would"
The girls voices reached US from IL
} lawn. and after q few minutes Alice d
, serted me and ran across the grass, ar
J presently her voice reached me with tt
rest.
strolled on, away from the sound