Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-06-07
UNCLE zABDIEL'S VISIT.

All the Barchester family had come to
the conclusion, separately and collect
lively, that BeSs looked like a princess in
her. white dress with the straight, cling
ing folds, the V neck and the knot of
roses at the corsage that looked so eS-
actly like real buds and leaves.
..Oh, Best" cried Honora, :" do wear
your hair in low coil at the nape of
your neck with just a few cunning little
rings escaping
Nonsense!" said Eudora g Do it in
a fluffy mass at the top of Your head,
with an amber dagger or a rope of Roman
pearls, The Greek knot is all out OF
date"
Will you hold your tongues, both OF
your" sharply demanded Bess, stamping
her foot. ''Oh, dear, how nervous
feel /! Madeline, dear, if the first even
ing we have ever given should prove a
failure, II shall commit suicide"
" 1t won't prove failure, said Made
line, the eldest sister of all.
Madeline herself was hopelessly plain
The hair that in Bess's case was Titan
gold was in hers dull orange-red. Her
weak, pale eyes We're red.lidded and
slightly crooked, her nose long and
sharp.
But, nevertheless, Madeline was gen
ius in her way. Old Judge Barchester
never could have tided over the rough
sea OF creditors, plivatiors and trials
that besct him had it not been for her
help.
Don't fret, papa, said the pale-eyed
diplomatic. That idea of yours of Civ.
III
nonsense. Who cares what the landlord
says2 Let him wait for his rent 1t
won t hurt him if he never gets it. Let
the tradespeople rage; they are simply q
lot of sharks. Here's Bess, a first class
beauty, and if she has a fair chance she's
sure to make the family fortunes"
" Everything is arranged'' said she,
composedly. "I ordered the supper os
Vanesse. had to pay something on our
back indebtedness, but 1 took care it
| should be as little as possible. Steiner
sends in the flowers. We've never or.
dered flowers there before and the poor
fools are anxious to secure our custom
Mr.. Bapper. the funny man, is to recite /;
Mrs. Vivyan engaged him for me And
Miss Dale will sing Scotch ballad
There are plenty of nicer people than
Bapper and Monica Dale, but every one
else wants to be paid in advance 40
Bess colored.
Oh, but we will pay them, Madeline,
when We're able!" said she. 1--WE don't
mean to cheat them"
Madeline laughed. @'"r
Don't be silly, Bess!'' she said.
Every one in this world is more or less
engaged in cheating everybody else
But, Madeline - burst i'll n shrill,
small voice.
Madeline Barchester uttered an excla-
nation of annoyance,
Without any ceremony Madeline
pushed Honora and Eudora from the
room.
Horrid little nuisances'' said she.
But here's letter, Bess, that didn't
show you
"Another tormenting creditorP"
Worse than that. It's from Uncle
Zabdiel Cooper, down at the Blackford
farm, where you stayed that summer
you had the whooping- cough Don't
you remember?''
Bess's eyes softened. A gracious dim
pie came out at the corner of her mouth.
'fWhat?" she cried" dear old Uncle
Zab2"
Very dear, - observed Madeline, con.
temptuously. "and very delightful Just
the person to make sensation at your
at home, under Mrs. Fitzalan's s eye and
raked by the fire of Mrs Aubrey Rock.
ingham's lorgnettel With his cowhide
boots and pepper -and7salt trousers and
his fringe of chin-wllisllers and that
chronic catarrh of his My dear Bess, if
we allow that old nuisance to cross this
threshold on Tuesday evening it amounts
to throwing up the game at once He's
written that he's coming ON that even.
ing"
Bess grew pale
''0h. Madeline, what are to dor"
Madeline laughed.
"I've managed it," said she. 1--WE
written back to him that we've moved to
IA Currant court. I've told Cousin Lucy
Ransom to make the best of the situa.
ton. She can personate you, if she
chooses always had a turn for pri-
yate theatricals. Or she can convince
the dear old bungler that he has made
some mistake. Anyhow, he'll be safe
until Wednesday morning. and we are
safe. too!''
/" Madeline what contriyer you are -
said Bess. but 1 do feel sorry for
Uncle Zabl'
Madeline shrugged her shoulders.
It's poor policy to feel sorry for an
one, observed she. And what doel
an old 1out like that know or care
whether he's snubbed or not. Bess?"
At IA Currant court. however, the
Widow Ransom was furious.
Depend upon it, Lucy said she tc
her daughter, who did plain sewing for
| livelihood, this is one Of Madeline Bar
| chester's sly, underhand tricks and I've
nothing to do with it. You personate
Bess Barchester, indeed! You're about
as much like her as a pumpkin is like a
| parsuip. If Bess is ashamed of her rela-
/ tions let her say SO candidly.
but, mother" pleaded meek Lucy,
what can we do2 Madeline has got
good deal of work for me among her
grand friends
/" An that don t make it your duty TO
tel a lie, nor to act it. neither. 10 suit
her whims, said the old lady.
And they're to have great party
on Tuesday evening. you know"
well, suppose they are2 Didn't
Bess and Madeline and the two girls
spend all the summer at Blaclford farm
three years agoz Uncle zabdiel didn't