The Press., 1894-03-15

Jane, with generous concession, eff he would fix up this place little. Put on a wing with two parlors and bedrooms above, and furnish them all up in modern style, and cut these windows down to the floor, and have a veranda across the fl olt, and new carpets and sofas and pictl B, and, oh . thousand things that we haven't and never shall have as long as we live.
 .No," agreed the mother. But it would be very pretty. l always did like a piazza. It's so pleasant to take your chair out and sit there when the sun is off; ; and we could have vines climbing up to make it shady, you know"
 "And hanging baskets" said Maria Jane. ''I saw the most lovely trailing plants at Huger's yesterday"
 And it would be such nice place for the fower-pots my geraniums and the .oleanders are quite wasted as it is."
 And we do so need new parlors and a spare bedroom" continued Maria Jane. .'This is perfect thoroughfare, and every thing in it so shabby and old-fashioned. A wing with rooms above would just give us what we want"
 "Yes," said the mother; ''and parlors | w pleasant 1 like to look through folding doors into the next room; it gives you 1 such all idea of space, somehow"
 That's partly due to the tall mirrors" explained Maria Jane; they almost double the size of an apartment.
 But they're terrible expensive, aren't they?" asked the mother anXiousiy.
 We can't help that-every body has them," said Maria Jane, with decision.
 "Well-do you like these little figures they have in Brussels now? ?"
 "Oh, mamma, think they're lovely! A green carpet-not grass-green, nor blue green, but just the right shade, and then g. small, bright pattern--oh :" and she clasped her hands in mute ecstasy, unable to express the rest.
 "You would want green chairs then, wouldn't you ?''
 Yes, and curtains, aud picture cords. J 1 "Wouldn't there be too much of it :"
 No, think not--we should have buff walls, you know. Buff and green are such pretty contrast"
 ''So they are, dear. And the bedrooms should they be green too"
 "Oh no.-don't let us have every thing alike. What should y0at say, mamma ?'
 My fancy would be maroon. Yes, the frontroom, which would be the largest, in maroon and the furniture rich and heavy to correspond. The back-room simpler say blue-and-white."
 "How sweet? And what sort of furni- ture?
 II like carved rosewood" said Mrs Raspton, who, once launched ill her ex- penditure, gave her imaginationfu full sweep Maria Jane was for a moment stunned, as it were, by the thought of such magniti. cence, but soon recovered. .
 "How splendid .' she said, with high appreciation of her mothers taste. "And in the back room we would have enameled it's simple, but very pretty"
 ."Yes, and that should be yours, my dear. You keep your things so neatly that you deserve nice rOom."
 "Thank you, mamma. And we would get wash-stand and toilet china all tc match"
 And bed-linen and blankets the very best quality" said Mrs. Raspton, with housewifely care.
 "There would be nothing in the other part of the house to correspond with it though,'' D said Maria Jane and as her eye fell on the brass-nailed sofa and the great octogonal figures of the carpet, the visiOr faded and she came painfully back to the relatives of things. "Where's the use o talking, mamma ?" she said, bitterly "It can never come to any thing, and WI know it."
 II suppose not" said Mrs. Raspton "still it's pleasant once in a while. Wher you were lying in your cradle l used to sit and fancy how nice it would be to have grown-up daughter by-and-by. Time has brought that true, and perhaps it vii do the same with these other fancies. So saying she turned the conversation adroitly into other channels, and Maria Jane's overloaded brow grew clear again
 The boys meanwhile had grievances O. other character. "How I hate sigh like that" said James to his brother Ar thur, as they walked along the street to gether. "A carriage all polish and sill and silver-plate, drawn by a couple of ol( crowbaits 1 wonder if the man thinks we can't count their ribs through those fine showy nets!"
 "Well," said Arthur, as the equipag' moved on, If you like to see things il keeping you've only to look at our owl establishment there are no such con traSts there. 1 declare 1 wonder m mother and Maria Jane are willing to ridt in the old shell. A pretty figure we make driving up to the church-steps, among all the handsome turn-outS. I alway! expect to have my face peppered witt mud, down there between the wheels" And all the new carriages are hung sC high n' continued James, with bitterness "It looks as if it had come oyer in thu , M0Htl0eoer. And as for our horses the. haven't even net to hide their bones. "And Jo Bright mas such a splendid ba! team that he'd sell any day at goo( . offer. 1 should think father would jump , at the chance; but no-he'll go on driving old Spavin and Wind-gall to the end O the chapter"
 'I tell you, Arty, we boys ought tc have horse apiece, and Maria Jane , pony. She's growing up a splendid figur of girl, and she'd ride like Di Vernon she's lotsof pluck. But she'll never hay : a chance, nor we either, while the Cover nor's term of office lasts'
 You may bet your head on that" wa the classic response-and the academ, gate shut off the colloquy.
 As time went on it brought new trial , to the young spirits. Maria Jane grey prettier with each succeeding day, an' Mrs Raspton felt that she might be mad ''an ornament to any circle" She sound ed the praise of boarding schools in MT Raspton's ears, and was met by the asser tion that no money of his would be waste, on such follies; if Maria Jane couldn' learn enough at the academy she mus remain in ignorance. Vainly, too, dit she suggest a term or so with the nadita de da7ase, who expounded to the villag youth the mysteries of waltz and German MT. Raspton at once defined his position and Maria Jane's performances on tn light fantastic toe had to be guided by he own taste and observation. And by-and by arose another source of trouble. Tn girls pretty, round face and hazel eye made conquest of Ned Brinley, the mos admired of all the rustic beaux Her SC envied her, and wondered at her goo