The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-05-11

tiger-skin rug, hugging their knees and
staring disconsolately in the blaze--these
were the persons present.
"Hasty pudding and milk" 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 aud coffee. / wish l was
bank clerk"
"Do hold your tongue, Dollyn said
Margery. "Do you suppose it isn't as
hard for me to be poor as it is for you9
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
go, some one might fall in love with
youl"
Margery smiled a scornful smile.
"Stranger things have happened, =" said
she.
"Margery-" besitated Dolly.
"Well2"
"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 dressY"
Once more Dolly hugged her knees.
"Margery," said she, sit sometimes
seems to me as if the world were out of
joint. Our world, mean. Here we
are, as poor as Jobs turkey or a 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
clerk, to maintain us9"
because Arthur wants us to live like
ladies, ln the house where our parents
aud grandparents lived before us" said
Margery, curtly. because we can't do
anything else."
"Don't ladies ever work, Margery9"
"Dolly, don't ask such foolish ques-
tions. OF course they do-sometimes. "
Just then old Rebecca came in, bring
ing lighted lamp. She drew the faded
moreen curtains, put a 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 othem. Look at their
white hands. Look at the way they
carry themselves"
Half an hour afterward. Margery
reused herself from fit of abstraction,
to find that she was alone.
"Why, where has Dolly gonel" she
asked herself.
Aud in the same moment the door
few open, a sudden gust of perfume
freighted the air, and Dolly came in,
with candle held high above her head
like Lady Macbeth. roll of old drapery
under her arm, and basket of delicious
white-and- yellow narcissus in her hand.
"Where have beenl" she repeated.
"Why, everywherel Up garret, down
into the old greenhouse, into the land
of the possible and impossible! Smell
these flowers, MargeIy"
And she held the narcissuses close to
Margery's straight little Greek nose.
"Where did you get them, Dolly, at
this time of yearl" cried Margery.
''I planted them in the greenhouse
benches, last fall. l was determined to
have something to brighten us up when
the March whirlwinds set in. It's true
that the sashes are all broken, but |
tackled old blankets up, and made it
weather tight, and the sunshine pours in
like gold, aud the old Harrison rose is
in blossom, and there are lots of blue
eyed pausies, and all these sweet spring
stars. Well, I remember the story We