Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-03-14

usurper, SAID she.
s'Good for you'll" said Tom 'iDid you
see the new upright piano brought to the
house this morning2 There's plenty of
money to buy folderols for Mrs. Avenant,
but when | asked father sol /. par,os
organ, he said he couldn't afford it. Oh,
I'm of no consequence in the world!''
Juliet was the most impracticable OF
the three. She had such cold she
could scarcely speak, but when Mrs.
Avenant brought her cup of iaxseed and
lemon, after she was tucked up in her
crib, the stubborn child refused to drink
it.
81 don't want it," said she, hoarsely.
''But, darling, it will do your cold SO
much goodP'
"No, it won't!" whined Juliet. az
won't touch it! Mabel Duer read a
story-book once, where the wicked step
mother poisoned the poor little girl. Go
away' l don't want you'll"
Fanny stood silent for moment. Her
lip quivered. The quick tears started to
her eyes.
81 hope, dear, that you will under
stand me better one of these days, said
she. as she quietly left the room.
elbow shall ever win the love of these
preiudiced young creatures2" she asked
herself. stFor Richards sake. / must
and will Nor shall ever complain to
him of their caprices and vagaries. Oh,
no! it would be too cruel for me to con-
.otst f,fa IA r<f hn.
tween him and his dead wife's chill
dren."
And so, when Richard Avenant
pressed the question as to Mamie DALI
toms arrival at the manor house, she put
him off with some excuse as to the ne
cessity of finishing a certain course of
music lessons before leaving school.
She had scarcely been more than
week in her new home when business
called Mr.. Avenant suddenly to the
South.
81 am sorry to leave you so soon,
Fan" he SAID, tenderly. "Do you think
you can manage without met 1 shall
speak pretty plainly to Tom and Rita.
| don't approve of their manner toward
you; and as for Juliet, she shall submit
herself to you, or I'll know the reason
why"
"Don't Richard" coaxed Fanny.
tUse no coercion-only let me have my
own way. You will see. l am. sure
they will love me in time"
81 don't see how they can help it, the
young rebelsl' SAID Avenant. 81 dare
say the servants have been filling their
heads with nonsense"
"Did you see3" cried wrathful Rita.
tPapa kissed the usurper when he went
away; but when it came to our turn, it
was only 'Good-by, childrenl Be sure
you mind mammal"
Mamma, indeed!" growled Tom.
"Eell, If she'll let me alone that's all l
askp
"And l" said pert little Juliet, ''shall
do as l please now! She amt my NAM
ma, and I won't mind herl"
''What is she doing in the parlor2"
said Rita. '3Teddling and making and
changing all the furniture around. Well,
l declarem
She bounced into the parlor, her lips
charged with insolent circumstances;
but all of sudden her mood changed.
There, in its old place over the man
tie, hung the portrait of the first Mrs
Avenant.
"Look, dearl" said Fanny. 81 have
| had your mothers picture brought down
from the store-room. | am sure papa
will not object, and it seems almost like
banishing her memory to put so lovely
painting away. She must have had a
very sweet face"
Rta's hard visage softened. She MUIR
INJURED something inaudible and turned
away.
"Oh, it's all play-acting" snarled
Tom, when Rita told him. III didn't
think she could have pulled wool over
your eyes so neatly"
81 really think she meant it," said
Rita.
"Gammonm growled Tom.
But within the week Tom came into
the parlor to get photograph. Fanny
went to meet him.
''Oh, Tom, you are the very person l
want !" said she. "Come, play something
for me on the organ! Papa says you are
a fine performer"
son the organ!" repeated Tom, in
credulous of his own senses.
For there where the cottage piano had
lately stood beautiful organ reared its
double manual of keys aud glittering
array of stops.
81 am so fond of organ musicl" said
the young stepmother, "and l get so lit
! tie time to practice. Play Jerusalem
! the Golden, Tom. That is my favorite
hymn"
"B-but what will father say3" stam-
mered amazed Tom.
'Ill see to that" smiled Fanny.
heard Rita say that you had always
wanted an organ, and l do so want to
make you happyP
"Thank you," said Tom, sheepishly.
And in second he was seated on the
organ bench, absorbed in grand melo-
dies.
But little Juliet was the most obstinate
of all. She refused to play with the
French doll that Fanny dressed for her;
she would not say her lesson to the new
mamma; she was either immovably sullen
OF insufferably pert, until one night
when Pedro, the gardener, brought her
in senseless.
She had SLIPPED on the ice and broken
her legl
sob, my poor little darling7" cried
Mrs. Avenant, receiving her into her
tender arms.
And Juliet, slowly struggling back to
consciousness, frightened both arms
around Fanny's neck, and almost inau-
dibly murmured;
"Mamma!"
Mamie Dalton sat dolefully in the
prison school-room at Mrs. Midge'I
SEMINARY For Young Ladies" with
two big round tears in her two sea-blue
reyes.
| Everybody is going home for the
holidays" sighed she, sand haven't
any home to go to. Even last year wa;
better, when l stayed with mamma at the
cheap boarding house where the rooms
were so chilly, and we didn't get enough
to eat. 1 did think that when mamma
married Mr.. Avenant, we should have q
real home of our own, but"
ssVisitors for Miss Dalton. nlease2'