The morning call., 1892-09-24
A BOWL OF CRUEL.

'1tS DQrnEs sa!Q Nes
"Well," tartly exclaimed Adelins. Ut
burnt my hand, too; that Is, scalded II
6readfully when / was stirring In the meal
1t spluttered and dubbed up! But as Tor
the gruePs being burnt up, that's only your
notion. Pm sure didn't cook 1t long
"No." Uncle Joshua calmly rejoined,
''you didn't cook it long enough 1t tastes
raw. But the milk was burnt. And you've
got it too saltyl l can't eat il. 1t takes
knack to make good Cruel. 1t seems to me
that woman Of your age, Adelina-most
so, aren't We? ought to cook something mt
for a sick person to eat!'
An angry red burned on Adelina's cheeks.
She seized the bowl of condemned Cruel
and founced down into the dining-room,
where the rest of the family were assembled.
''Tll never cook another thing for him as
long as livep she exclaimed. Il do wish,
ma, that when Uncle Joshua sent word that
he was coming to visit Us, you had written
TO him that we were sick. or something, ana
that it wasn't convenientw
Don't be RASH" said Mrs. Dart, sharp
noSed matrOn, with calculating grey eyes,
folks say he's rich -
II don't believe it," retorted Adelina.'
"Nor do I - echoed her sister Blanche,
languid blonde IF he is worth anything
why does he dress so shabby? l almost
die Of shame every time he goes to church
with Us"
And to think of his homer continued
Adelina. THAT little red farmhouse with
its rag carpets, feather beds and windows
that wont let down at the top-lts awful
"WhY. | thought 1t was lovely place
with its slOping, moss-eovered roof ana Dig
elms around il, said Dolly.
We have mentioned Dolly last because II
seemed to be the fashion IN the Dart house
hold Ever since she was a tiny lass and
her father had fooiishly welded the Widow
Wood and brought her and her two grown
up daughters 10 his home, Dolly had been
very Insignificant person.
Papa Dart did not long survive his folly
and after his death Dolly was treated9 worse
than ever. She did most OF the work and
had least Of the pleasure. Adellna and
Blanche seemed TO have sort Of spite
against her. Perhaps owing 10 Jealousy OF
her beauty, for Dolly WAS very pretty.
Few Of tile fashionable set III the town OF
COnover knew anything about Dolly.
''She is such q mere child yet-tOo young
to 90 into society,"" Mrs. Dart would care
lessIy remark, adding, Il have AGelina and
Blanche TO chaperOn, and when they are
comfortably settled In life, why, then ii will
be time for Dolly to come out II isn't
likely that she cares much about il, anyway,
she's such a hOmebOdy!'
Dolly was a bomeb0dy, but like most
girls, she had longing for pretty clothes
and CAV festivities And when she heard
about the Christmas ball that was TO be
given down az Squire DelanO's, the nabOb of
the town. in honor Of the return OF his son
and daughter-Ihe former from a German
university and the latter wise young
Gamsel from NassaT-When she saw with
her own eyes the dainty cIeam-tiDted invita-
ti0n with Ter own name, Miss Dorothy
Dart" written on i, she wanted TO 60 very
much indeed. and, for a wonder, summoned
Up enough bOldness 10 manifest her desire
"Why, Dolly, what can you be thinking
OFF" exclaimed her stepm0ther You
know ! cannot afford to get you @ new
dress"
Il can wear MY white muslin," stoutly
persisted the young girl.
Your old muslin? That wouldn't do at
ALL You'd be real dowdy!'
"She might have my blue silk liked over"
suggested Blanche, who was not bad
hearted If folks didn't set her up to IT,
~ on said you were going 10 have your
blue silk coiorsd and made into g Vatican
wrapper" Adeijua remarked severely.
Yes. l did intend TO-" Blanche replied.
snhdued by the frOwn. aud Mrs. DAT
ended the conversation by saying deeld-
edly:
You see, Dolly. it's quite impossible.
What with Adehna's new wiHe-colored
satin and Blanche's silk l can't afford to
spend a penny more"
Now It so happened that Uncle Joshua
had never paid much attention to Dolly,
He had either thought she had too much to
DO and that he would not add to her cares,
or he had preferred TO have her half
sisters wait on HIM But he took kindly
notice Of her now, when, after her little
battle. she came upstairs bringing him a
bowl Of Cruel that she had made with her
own hands; for, wise little woman that she
was, she knew that the best way 10 cure her
own unhappiness was 10 do kind act for
ebOdy else
You made it, you say?" tasting It.
That's first ratel Neither too thick nor
too thin. Milk isn't burnt and meal isn't
raw Sailed all right, too! Rumphl Guess
you'll do If you are mere chill But what
makes your eyes so red, child? Been stand
ING TOO long over the hot stove for an old
ogre ike me? Mol I'll bet my best white
Cheshire Dig that you've been cryingp'
Dolly began to give little half-hysterical
denial. but the old gentleman was so kind
and sympathetic that before she hardly
knew It tie who story Il her desire and
Disappointment caue out.
Humphl humph! humphl Too bad,
chilII' was al that Uncle Joshua said,
while be slipped Lis cruel in BIZ spoonfus.
And when tie bow was empty he said,
Il wish you'd write note to Miss Amanda
Barlow and ask her If she wont come over
aud have game of cribbage with me-"
Now, Miss Amanda Barlow was one Of
the arIstoeratic spinsters of the town, but
she and Uncle Joshua had been old friends
and schoomates, aud, odd and old-fashioned
as ne was, she loved him like brother.
Accordingly, she answered the note in per-
son, and the cribbage cards were forthcom-
ing; but l imagine the game wasn't very
spirited one, for the old couple seemed to be
talking very earnestly about something else
and before she went home Miss Amanda
called Dolly one side and said in low tones:
80 YOU want to 90 to the party, do you,
my dearP Well both your uncle and my
self would like to have you go, for it is go
Ing 10 be very fine affair. AS for your old
muslin dress, just let me take it home with
me, Dolly. Perhaps, l may be able to fix it
uD with some lace and ribbons. Don't men,
ton this to any one. Well surprise Mrs
Dart and her daughters"
Dolly knew how to make other dishes for
the sick; and now that the rest Of tie fam
lily had let him fall into her hands Uncle
Joshua Jared sum- trously.
should think you'd trot your feet off p'
observed Blanche, eOmmiseratingly, while
Mrs; Dart added, with sigh of relief
Wen, IL mercy some one suits the old
man! don't know what we'd do if we had
to wait on him. now that we are so busy
getting ready for the partyl'
ne evening Tor the last mentioned event
came. Mrs. Dart and her daughters drove
on 10 state OF high satisfaction, and
hardly had the sound of their hired hack
uleu away DeIore MISS Amanda's private
carriage dashed up the road, For ali the
world Ike fairy godmother's pumpkin
coach! as Dolly afterward laughingly ex-
pressed It.
Miss Amanda herself alighted from the
carriage, stately in her black velvet and
diamonds. and bearing a large package in
her hands. Ii Contained not the fimsy
muslin Wnlch she had taken merely as a
Tnse TO get Dolly's measure, but instead an
elaborate gown Of white silk. brocaded
wlth tiny pink aud silver roses. pair of
dainty pink satin slippers, a huge fan Of
rosy, ostrich plumes, necklace Of ninlr
eoral set In exquisite silver flagree WORK
pleted the outfit. e''1-
For mew Dolly gasped.
FOR you'll! said Uncle Joshua. who had
hobbled to the door on his crutcb and and
stood peerlng 10 with kindly smile on ali ali
thls lnery: Thars to pay for the mica