Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-10-31
AT THE JUNCTION,

ing herself INTO the easiest chair in her
younger sisters room, half laughing and
wholly vexed
tWhatf' said Carrie, vaguely.
She stood at the window, looking
down upon the customary panorama Of
a good-sized summer hotel-the pretty
view, the wide lawn, the rustic seats, and
the tennis court and the croquet ground.
''Mrs. Mitchell, of course, said Isa-
bel, warmly. "Shes been at it again.
It's absurd, Cad-it's ridiculous! She's
talked about nothing and nobody but
that nephew of hers since we've met.
Her nephew What do | want with
with him. l shan't speak to hun when
he comes.
"But supposing he is nice!" said Car
RE, eneouragingly.
Carrie was fifteen, aud mild dispo,
sitioned.
''Nicel' Isabers very pretty face was
flushed beyond its usual warm brunette
coloriDg. He's horrible. and | know
it; and I'm just sick to death of him.
His looks and his age, and his education
and his habits, and his money aud his
business, and his yachting and his shoot
ing and his drving-I know them all,
know them thoroughly, aud | know
them in detail'
"But you know why sue does it,
Carrie veuturcd, soothingly.
"Whv3" Isabel der anded.
She knew why, and therein lay her
wrath.
because she has taken such an awful
fancy to YOU
~ don't want her taking fancy to
met
"But she's nice and agreeable. Isabel
everybody thinks SO, Carrie protested.
"Wel, and she thinks there's nobody
like that nephew Of hers that's coming,
and so of course"
$50 she wants me to marry him, said
Isabel, scorn in look and gesture. aShe
wants me to be dazzled beforehand, pct
rifed by all his advantages and posses
sions and utter Projections, and then
when he comes to fall straight in love
with him, and follow him around smrk-
ingly, aud say Yes before he's got the
question out Of his mouth ~
"Butit's a compliment, Izzy,n Carrie
pleaded, laughing. "Mrs Mitchell is
paying you great compliment. Why,
she thinks you perfect. She told
mamma
'But she needn't be trying to dispose
of me to her nephew OF anybody else, :"
said Isabel, less warmly but with cid de
cision. "Of me- Why, its atrocious
Me to be labored with for hours about
some horrid, strange man, and bored to
death Ne TO be badgered and persc-
cuted, and then presented to him for
leisurely Inspection and approval and
can't talk about it, and / won't; nor
think shout it. Mrs Mitchell is too bad.
As TO her nephew, know he's abomina-
ble--l feel 1t. ! shan't look at him
when be comes. l don't think | shall
allow myself to meet him at all, p said
Isabel, calmly.
Carried swallowed a gig9le.
''Whats his name?n she wondered.
"James Osborne"
lsabel's tone was frigid.
''When is he coming?"
''In two weeks. Don't mention him
again. I'm going for drive, if Caesar
and the dog cart aren t in use, and strug-
Gle TO forget about him. viii you go3n
No, Carrie had engaged to make a
fourth at "A feminine tennis game.
She watched her sister with gentle
smiles as she snatched her hat-a mar
Vicious, broad, beflowered affair-threw
on her jaunty blazer, aud marched off,
her head haughtily high.
Carrie supposed that it was allowable
for queenly girl, with starry, dark eyes
and rich, dark roses in her cheeks, and
wonderfully cut mouth and chin, and a
naturally high headed manner-that 1t
was fitting for such person to be easily
displeased and proudly resentful, and
altogether prettily unreasonable, when
she chose to be.
And Carrie felt some pity for Mrs.
Mitchell and her Inflated favorite
nephew, James Osborne.
Isabel sought the hotel hostler. No.
the dog and Cesar, the handsome
chestnut, were free; and five minutes
later the bostler was standing in staring
admiration to see the prettiest girl the
Claremont House had boosted for many
summers, driving off in the nattiest rig
il could produce.
The day was fine, and Isabels spirits
rose with every rod down the winding,
grass-cdGed, bough-shaded road.
She looked eagerly and cnloyingly
this way and that, far and near, and
smiled and hummed and admired eyery-
thing, and was glad she had thought Of
coming.
Her rebellious annoyance as to Mrs.
Mitchell's obnoxious relative sank peace
fully into past; the faint frown which
had fingered in her brown eyes disap
peared by gentle degrees.
Where was She She had driven con-
tentedly on aud on, till things began to
look unfamiliar. II was charming her,
though.
She keep on, upa curviug road, till
the whistle of locomotive startled her.
A clump of balsams ha hidden the rail
road, upon which she presently came
plump. A short train of cars was Just
pulling away, not from a station, but
from bare Loneliness.
ooh, yes-McCoon Junction." Isabel
unused. "Have come four miles?n
1t was not entirely lonely at McCoon
Junction, though, GU second inspec-
ton.