The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-12
AWKWARD FOR TABITHA.

itself is encugh-Tabitha Dove. Can't you
see her in your minds eye?-a delightful
old maid, with bunchy curls and little
black silk apron, who will take the most
motherly care Of you IL I should be
obliged TO come back to the children.
shall write a. once"
The speaker-a mother Of many. rather
embarrassed by the care of a sick brother
just invaded from India-laid down the
paper, and drawing her writing-case to-
ward her promptly began to indite
ply. hardly waiting for any comment from
the suqine figure on the sofa. who only
murTured:
For heavens sake, ascertain that there
are no other dodgers; the one thing l can
not stand is row.
Eustace Harfield felt at the moment
tolerably Indifferent as to what became Of
him. He was only just shaking off the
effects Of a severe Illness, and was, be-
sides, IN a rather injured frame Of mind.
y few years ago he had taken leave of
q heartbroken circle Of sisters, Of whose
devotion he had been the exclusive object
since his babyhood. He had, Of course,
known all about their successive mar
riages, but had not realized the difference
1t would make to him till he had been
They all received him most affectionately,
but nobody exactly wanted him. He had
amused himself on the hOmeward voyage
by imaging how he could adjust their
conflicting claims SO as TO avoid rousing
the jealousy which used in the old days
TO be so ready to spring up, and behold,
now ne was here 1t appeared that Armies
house was hardly large enough for an
invalid, and Mabel's husband was exact
ing, and Kate was just going to take her
Garry, the youngest, made him very wei
come, but her soul was in her nursery,
and he could not stand the children
noise. and was bored TO death with the
continual talk of Tommy's school report
and Kitty'S teeth. JOey'S SCrapeS and the
squabbles of the twins. He was no longer
I'll enough TO be source of anxiety, but
sufficiently so to require, or, at any rate,
expect, a good deal Of petting and cosset-
ting: 50 at length Carry, finding herself
distracted between the nursery and her in
valid, determined herOically to tear herself
from her babies and take her brother
down to seaside lodgings TO recruit, re-
manning with him till he should be strong
enough to be left to himself or TO en-
dure the OverCTowded rectOry.
Mylton Pogis Is one of the few lucky
seaside hooks that have as yet escaped
the octopus arms of the railway. 1t lies
Struggled down among the steep hills or
the Dorsetshire cOaSt-a district practically
more remote from civilization and its
drawbacks than the farthest confines OF
Devon or Cornwall At the end of a -OnS,
hiIy drive the traveller finds himself de-
scending a breakneck High-st., with lrreg-
ular houses, apparently standing on each
others heads. and ending in funny little
town hall with a minute market place
lurking underneath
But don't you drive down to Marine
Parade?' demonstrated Mrs. Romer, on
being requested 20 descend from the top Of
., frl,
the observation-disclosures railway, at the door of
the hotel. My brother cannot wax far
"Oh. 1t is no distance at all, num-" said
the driver Just go through them postes
at the bottom and there you are"
Through the 'postes" they accordingly
went and found themselves on miniature
graveled esplande with the sands and the
b.ue sea on one hand and on the other a
succession Of about a dozen little cot
tages, each with its own individual freaks
IN the way Of bow window or veranda.
with steps up or steps down, thached roof
or ties. Their attendant porter with the
baggage not having yet come in sight, and
none OF the houses deigning 10 paint up its
name as though it could conceive Itself IN
known. they were somewhat at a Joss till
n passing baker boy. being interrOg2ted
laconica.ly tossed them Last house" with
jerk of his head toward the end Of the
row.
But when they reached the last house
=
dlgnlhed secluslon, standing back in its
morsel Of garden-such a ,Ook Of having
no connection with the adjacent lodging
houses, that they felt mistrustful OF the
good faith Of the baker boy; the more so
as there was a young .ady in mourning
in the front garden, cutting roses.
Il am sure this can't be Ivy Corner"
said Capt. Harfaid; I'VE had better try
back"
Thereupon the young lady came down to
the gate and opened t.
ION, yes" she said. This is Ivy Cor
ner- Won't you come in2''
she preceded them into the house, and,
opening the drawing-room door, showed
them in. Then, saying, Il will call the
maid" she vanished, hardly listening to
Mrs. Romer's profuse thanks and
apologies.
''Faithless Miss Dove" said Capt. Har-
field, sinking down on a broad, cushiony
sofa in the window. There are other
dodgers. What pleasant-lOO6ing girl
1T was very civil Of her 10 bring us in;
still l think it was rather oficious" was
Mrs. Romer's comment. She was a dis
clple Of Mrs. Grundy, and would not at
all approve Of pretty feilow-lOdger scrap
ing acquaintance with her brother and per-
maps endeavOrfng to set UP a filtration
with him.
Really, Miss Dove is a person Of taste"
remarked Eustace later, as they sat at
tea letting his eye rove around the room,
little Ike the ordinary seaside lodging as
could well be ina gined, with cool chintz
covers and soft India muslin curtains in
stead OF the starched denominations that
usually fence the windows-to say moth
Ing Of the pictures on the walls, chiefly
Water-cOlor sketches, with a few excellent
prints. He drew very well himself and
was something of a cOnnoisseur. He rose
and began to examine them more closely
These things are positively good, YOU
know, and that study of fshing-boats in
the twilight IS really an admirable bit of
work. / wonder how on earth the old
lady came by them"
Yes" said his sister, ''I was struck by
the refinement Of all the surroundings
when | went up stairs. What good taste
she must havei Look at that Indian lar
In the corner. with the rushes and pam
pas grass, and those bits Of blue def on
the chimney piece instead of the usual wax
horrors under glass shades. Ny idea is
that she must be an old servant and
probably had al the furniture and things
left her when her mistress died Nobody
Of that class would buy things either so
simple or so good"
The pleasant impression was maintained
back had been gathering yesterday ap-
thing was daintily served as Il could
have been had they been guests rather than
dodgers.
You were right about that girl, Eus-
taco" said Mrs. Romer. as she began to
pour out the coffee; "she Is evidently
lodging here. / went out IN the garden
u~n1