The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-04-09

''There are the wheels at last"
1t was Mrs. Dunield who spoke, and.
for wonder, it was Mr.. Duf1ield to whom
she said it. In the ordinary course of
normal existence, Henry's study was a
sanctuary not invaded by his wife; but
this was not day OF normal existence
1t was the day on which the Australian
niece was expected. The carriage had
g ne to the station an hour ago, and rather
than face the time OF suspense in solitude,
Mrs. Duifield had elected To beard her
husband III his den.
There are the wheels at last!'
Mrs. Dul1ield's first natural instinct was
to hurry toward the door. She had all
but reached it when she stopped short, as
though struck by a shot. A terrible idea
had Skinned across her mind
Henry" she said, in whisper that
was almost aweStruck. "SuppOslno she
should be stumpy!'
Somehow this terrible contingency had
not before presented Itself to her mind
it was the critical nature of the moment
TO which the thought owed its birth,
Il don't care what she is so long as she
doesn't talk to me-" growled Henry, with
his nose between his papers.
81 should like her to be pretty, of
course, but it is really not the face that is
the crucial thing-it is the figure | don't
know what trial | would not rather bear
than go into room with a stumpy girl
behind me-"
There was no further reply from Henry.
and Mrs. DQfiield, bracing herself with
an effort, Went OF, in a somewhat sub
dued state of mind, to see what fate had
in store for her.
presently there was a sweep of skirts
in the passage, and Mrs. Dutfield, enter
ing GREATNESS, threw herself, grooming.
into the nearest armchair.
"What is it? Is she stumpy?r asked
M INN al ft,cf -, -.
intrusion.
''She!'' echoed Mrs. Duf1ield wildly.
'Oh, Henry, it is they! There are two of
them.''
1.-TWO of them!'' Mr.. Duflield was this
time seriously aghast. as this Joke,
Alice?'' he sternly replied.
At this Mrs. DuffieId collected her fac
ulties and explained as best she couId.
1t seems that they wanted to send me
the prettiest OF them. Somehow they had
made out from nay letter that I don't en-
JOY taking about plain girls, and they
couldn't make up their minds which of
these two was the prettier."
"Well-and can YOU"
81? Good gracious, no! haven't even
properly disentangled them. One seems
TO be dark and the other fair. It's a
mercy, at least, that neither OF them is
stumpy." And Mrs Duf1ield heaved a
sigh of heartfelt relief. But | must saw
l think it is most inconsiderate of Hen
rietta."
"Inconsiderate? It's piece of bare
faced calcuiation-a clear case OF giving
the little finger and taking the Whole
hand. If we take one daughter off her
hands, why not two? That's her little
game. But she's reckoned without her
host this time. l dare say YOU were sur
prised at my conserving SO easily to your
hare-brained plan; but L knew what l
was about So long as there was only
one girl, you two would keep each other
quiet; but, the moment there are two,
there Is always the danger of one being
left on my hands; and what on earth
would then become of ali my trains of
thought, | should like to know? Hat
You must make up your mind at once
which of the two you want
But, Henry, l cannot decide by can
delight. You must let me look at them
by daylight first"
And so it was agreed that daylight
should decide.
But. alas! when daylight came Mrs.
Dutfield's perplexity was greater than
ever. There could be no doubt at all that
both her nleces were more than COM
monty good-looking. 1t was, as had
been said, entirely matter of taste. The
girls themselves seemed quite to see her
difficulty, and did all that lay in their
power to help her to conclusion.
" on see, Aunt Alice, +" ChriSSie said to
her after breakfast ON that first morning.
80 much depends upon what you exactly
expect. Carrie and L are very different
in some ways. Perhaps it would help
you if l give you a list of our respective
points. I'm the eldest, and L suppose it's
my place, and I'll do it quite honestly.
too, for l don't want to be kept ON false
pretenses. Besides, Carrie is here. and
can speak up if she thinks I'm under COL
oring her. Well, as for our outsides.
we're pretty much of size, but Won can
see for yourself that my hair is brown and
Carries tair. Everything else about us
is just about as different. I'm the ont
door one, you might say, and she the in
door one. Horses and dogs and garden
ing for me-pll pot your flowers for Won.
by the by, if you hke-and for Carrie. tea
parties and conversation and society in
general"
but can also bake cakes,n interposed
Carrie. You mustn't let Aunt Alice sun
pose that / am all frivolous. / can bake
very nice cakes-only sometimes they are
burnt she added sincerely.
''And as for accomplishments went