Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-08-09

pressing h6r cheek a1fectl0nateiy against
her old mans head, shut perhaps you
will kindly just hold your tongue and
not speak till you are spoken to, or we
shall have to order her of to bed, shall
we not, papa dear2"
Brother Tom, who was fine looking
young fellow, but with an unpleasant ex-
preston of face and rather uncouth
habits, for which his sister frequently
rebuked him, laughed hoarsely, and Mr..
Dene, wh0 looked tired and ont of sorts
and rather ashamed of himself, glanced
at Maisie with frown Of dissatisfac-
ton that sent her flying from the room.
Or rather she was in the act Of flying
when her charming little mother-in-
law seized her by the wrist and drew
her back.
"You are not your own mistress here,
she said; "sit down agaiu, as your father
desires, and do not stir till you have
permission"
Maisie burst into tears. Her papa
looked very much irritated. Brother
Tom began to whistle. The ex-shop-
girl bestowed a kiss on her husband and
tripped to the piano.
Plenty of bills soon began to come in,
but Mr.. Conkham Dene, who had al
ways thought his former wife rather
wasteful in her household expenditure,
paid them without much murmuring.
His sweet Dolly had snch winning little
ways, and she knew" as he said "that
! II she leased him q little bit now and
then, she did love her dear old man so,
and he liked her to enjoy herself, didn't
| hep"
Poor Phil had rather rough time OF
it. He was not an engaging boy, and
the spirit OF mischief was to him as the
breath of his nostrils. He hated brother
Tom very heartily, and always had
plenty Of ingenious surprises In store
| for him, so that when upstairs Maisie
was grieved more than once by sound
as of carpets being busted, to an &C
compartment of sobs and shrieks and
savage growls.
And it was the more maddening as
papa had always been opposed to cor
poral pushment, or rather her mother
had been, but things were altered now.
When she saw brother Tom come out OF
| the room, cane in hand, oh! she hated
him, and told him so, but he only laugh
ed and said it would do the little beggar
goodl As for Phil, he rubbed himself
and made hideous grimace behind the
others back. But brother Tom de-
tected him by means of the looking
glass, aimed parting but playful flick
at him, styling, That's right, my lad,
keep your courage up, you shall have
double dose next time"
Dolly insisted on Maisie taking some
music lessons. "You can't play bit,
nv dear chit" she said, ''only lot OF
dreary stuff like five-fnger exercises.
You shall go through course with
Madame -, who taught me-"
Now Maisie considered that her
mamma-in-law played about as badly as
was humanity possible, and she pinned
her own faith to Mozart, but MADAME"
who was rather loud in both appearance
and manner, and who enjoyed glass OF
champagne, which now flowed like water
at Chesapeake Villa, indeed much more
frequently, agreed that all that old
fashioned sort Of stuff had gone out
with the flood; and Maisie, who was
now at the sensitive and self-complacent
age of 'sweet seventeen" was snubbed
and set down to "nice little snowy
pieces" as her Mamma said, (which
would count for something Of an even
ing"
Dolly protested to be very fond OF
''her Maisie." She called her "chitty"
and insisted on kissing her, and said she
was a quaint, .old-fashioned darling.
She insisted IN taking her out for drives
and to the thnater, whittier brother
Tom often accompanied the two, pro-
vided farcial comedy or burlesque were
the order Of the day; Mr.. Cookham Dene,
by the bye, generally staid at home,
and she insisted on improving her toilet,
but Maisie did not consider the rather
sweeping changes made an improve
ment at all. Indeed, she demonstrated
with her father on the subject, but he
frowned and spoke of perpetual worry,
and ingratitude, and rebellious chill
dren," so she retired in discontinue to
incur the raillery of her mother-in-law.
''Oh, you good, demure little puss," she
said, ''we are not going to let you dress
like an old trump; you are really quite
a nice-looking girl, or would be II you
were a little more cheerful. and l mean
that you shall have proper chance in
life"
Mrs. Dene was fond of going to races.
| So was Brother Tom-very, but he was
not always fortunate in his betting
transactions, though he prided himself
on his astnteness. They generally went
by road, and always took a luncheon
basket and champagne with them, and
invariably met many friends, like them
selves of free and unrestrained spirit;
but IL the fates were adverse to Toms
pecuniary success he was apt to become
ouarrelsome, especially il he had taken
quite enough refreshment, and once
savagely shook his fist in his sisters
face. But she did not seem much dis
concerted, though Maisie shuddered and
turned faint.
Dolly maintained that she took great
interest in Maisie. She spoke as IL she.
had deep sense Of mothers RESPONSE
bilities, and as II her daughter-in-law
were charming little simpleton,
which Maisie bitterly resented-know-
ing her own capacity, and that her new
relative was not in the least intellectual.
"You will make delightful little
bride. chit" she said one day, land we
will find you husband. You are quite
of marriageble age, and girls OF your
type do not improve by being kept on
hand. You would do capitally for
brother Tom"
And ever after this. In her playful
mock-serlous way, she spoke as If it
were quite settled thing. Brother
Tom took his cue and became very OBJ
jectionable. Then, too, Dolly would in
sist on taking such an interest in Maisie's
wardrobe, and Dolly's taste was In the
direction Of rather pronounced style.