Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1892-05-06

tiger-skin rug, hugging their knees and
staring disconsolately in the blaze--these
were the persons present.
"Hasty pudding and milkl" said
Dolly Peak. "That isn't much of a
supper. For my part, think Arthur is
lucky to be detained in town tonight.
The bank managers can't, in ordinary
decency, offer him anything less than
sandwiches and coffee. l wish l was a
bank clerk.
''Do hold your tongue, Dolly!" said
Margery. ''Do you suppose it isn't as
hard for me to be poor as it is for you2
When am the oldest, too, and the one
that ought to be out in society It's
enough to drive one frantic to be invited
to the ball at Skipton Court, and not be
able to go!"
Margery sprang to her feet and began
walking swiftly up and down the floor,
her black hair cleaning in the freight,
her thin hands clasped. Dolly eyed her,
half in sympathy, half in curiosity.
"Perhaps," said she, tentatively, "if
you had dress fit to wear, and could
20, some one might fall in love with
you2"
Margery smiled scornful smile.
"Stranger things have happened, said
she.
"Margery--" hesitated Dolly.
"Well?"
"Don't people hire dresses some
times2'
"Yes, if they have the money and the
opportunity, and no particular sense of
dignity. Do you think would wear
hired dress?"
Once more Dolly hugged her knees.
"Margery," said she, "t sometimes
seems to me as if the world were out of
joint. Our world, l mean. Here we
are, as poor as Jobs turkey or church
mouse, or any other of those proverbially
poor things. What business have we to
live in big house like this, with only
old llebecca to take care of us2 What
business have we holding our hands
while our brother is working hard as a
clerk, to maintain usl"
"Because Arthur wants us to live like
ladies, IN the house where our parents
and grandparents lived before usl" said
Margery, curtly. "Because we cant do
anything else"
'HDont ladies ever work, Margery"
''Dolly, don't ask such foolish ques-
tions. OF coarse they do-sometimes.
just then old Rebecca came in, bring
ing Il lighted lamp. She drew the faded
moreen curtains, put fresh log of wood
on the fire, and limped out again.
She was very old, but she had waited
on these girls mother before them, and
still liked to keep up the semblance of
attendance.
They're ladies, said Rebecca, proud.
ly, "every inch o'them. Look at their
white hands. Look at the way they
carry Themselves
Half an hour afterward. Margery
reused herself from tit Of abstraction,
10 find that she was alone.
'Why, where has Dolly gone" she
asked herself.
And in the same moment the door
flew open, sudden gust OF perfume
freighted the air, aud Dolly came in,
with candle held high above ker head
like Lady Macbeth, roll OF old drapery
under ner arm, aud basket of delicious
white aud yellow narcissus in her hand.
"Where have beenf" she repeated.
"Why, everywberel Up garret, down
into the old green house, into the land
Of the possible and impossible! Smell
these flowers, MargeIy"
Aud she held the narcissuses close 10
MargeFy's straight little Greek nose,
"Where did you get them. Dolly, at
this time Of yfaf" cried Margefy.
III planted them in the greenhouse
benches, last fall. | was determined 10
have something 90 brighten us up when
the March whirlwinds set in. It's true
that the sashes sre all broken, but |
tackled old blankets up, add made Il
weather tight, aud the sunshine poafs In
like gold, aud the old Harrison fose i
In blossom. aud there are lots Of blue.
eyed paaslez. aad al these sweet spllae
stars. Well, | ~ber the story .e