The Washington times., 1894-09-02

ter. Her fortune was equal to Marias, and
what she did not spend in charities she loved
10 sQuander on Marias fancies. Half the
rare old etchings that were Miss Maria's de-
light Mrs. De Forest had bought to surprise
her. She decked her sister with gems. She
insisted on undertaking all the drudgery Of
Housekeeping, albeit Maria really enjoyed the
care of house. She detested gayety, vet she
encouraged every little enterprise in enter
tanning that occurred 10 Maria. Only that
afternoon. on their way to the house. Mrs.
Allison had said TO Mrs Carroll, WINNIE sim
ply obiterates herself for Maria"
The answer of Mrs. Carroll surprised her.
1t was: She thinks she does, but l wonder il
Miss Keith has not 10 pay for it somehow"
Therein Mrs. Carroll showed her discern
ment. Happy and united as they seemed
(And on the whole were), there was tiny
cloud between the sisters. They never al
luded 10 il. The widow often wondered
drearily whether she could have prevented it;
sometimes she grew hopeful and fsnced it
was not there. And to do Miss Maria
justice she blamed herself for 1t and hid il out
Of sight. But during the last three months
circumstances had deepened this mere shadow
of tacit estrangement. Was il circum-
stances that played the evil angel with
the 1rebrand or was ii gossip? Mrs.
Allison and Mrs. Carroll could not help
questioning; neither could they help being
observant OF each slightest action of the sis
ters. There seemed nothing but a peaceful
domestic scene to study. Miss Maria mad out
her Seyres cups of the Louis Philippe period.
and the massive silver urn and tea service
that had come to her from old Gen. Keith
and the three genuine apostle spoons, each
one of which had a history. They were
drinking tea dried on rose leaves, and before
them smoked the English mullins that Miss
Maria's invaluable Janet. and no other in the
kitchens of the whole town, could fry TO per-
Wal nd
plum cake and Scotch short bread.
Its all Just as nice and indigestible as il
can be, said Miss Maria lubilantly, "do eat
q lot"
"But what do you suppose it will do to us?"
/ laughs Mrs. Carroll.
Nothing" Miss Maria replies firmly; ian
/ occasional spree like this doesn't hurt; take a
muffin; see how hot they are and the butter
just sozzling round. 1 wish dared offer one
| to those students going by
Mrs. De Forest, who had been composedly
/ hemming dish-towels-her work for leisure
! hours was always of the strictly useful type,
! and her single bit Of fancy was crccheIing
wash-rags-looked up, and glanced at the
little group Of young men approaching. The
men were ali rather shabbily clad evidently
/ belonging to the poorer class of students. AS
/ they troOped by another young fellow came
around the corner. He was of another type,
/ which was visible as much in his manner and
shirt. He lifted smart straw hat, with the
university gold and crimson about its crown,
! and smiled frankly while he bowed.
stranger would have seen that all four
| women eyed him with carefully suppressed
| eagerness. In the two visitors the interest
was purely vivid curiosity. but in the sisters
/ it had character of pain Mrs De Forest
returned the coolest recognition to his greet
/ ing. Miss Maria smiled and made the first
/ half of a gesture Of invitation, but dropped
| her extended arm, shutting the forefnger of
beckoning in with the others on TO the palm
! of her hand. and cast q swift glance that was
almost OF entreaty toward Mrs. De Forests
perturbed face. The Young man did not halt
/ He went down the street with swinging
elastic gait, as handsome and gallant young
/ figure as any mother could covet for her own
Il think that young Armstrong is the hand
! soonest boy l have seen in an age" Mrs.
| Carroll dropped the remark into her teacup
'Did you ever notice his eyes?" They are
/ real blue, like a sapphire, and he is so grace
/ full like to watch him.
do you think him handsome, Maria?" said
/ Mrs. De Forest. Commonplace as the ques-
ton vas kind of white heat of excitement
crumpled the muscles about her mouth and
! leaped out OF her black eyes; both the other
! women saw il.
But Miss Maria was making fresh tea She
! did not look up, and she answered sedately:
Yes, / think he is very handsome; he is a
] good boy, too.' There was something ugly
in the hush after Miss Maria's speech; one
| felt the electric throbbing of passion, al
though the scene was so peacetul-nothing to
hear at all and nothing TO see except the trail
woman whose face had gone quite white
sewing swiftly
'Do you like grass-cloth for towels. or
hnen?" asked Mrs. Carroll, desperately switch
ing the conversation into a safe channel. Il
was told yesterday that -four bags make the
most excellent towels
mo four bags in my birthday present
please, interposed Miss Maria; "those
towels are for my birthday. a dozen of them.
l told Yinnio l wanted different present for