Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-10-10
HER THREE DAUGHTERS.


There never was such an unhappy
mother since the world began as /
ann said Mrs. Yardley, rereating be-
hind her handkerchief.
The three Miss Yardleys exchanged
guilty glances. Flossy pouted, Lilith
shrugged one pearl-white shoulder,
and Kathleen went on with her
drawing, quietly, disregardful of her
mothers plaintiye words.
WELL sighed Mrs. Yardsley, 1--WE
done my BEST that's one consolation. !"
Yes" said Kathleen, serenely,
you've dragged us to every ball and
dance. every tennis tournament and
garden party in town. We've been
ticketed "A desirable bargain in
wives MS plainly as il the piece Of
paste-board were hung around our
necks. And nobody has ever asked
the prlce!'
Lilith, the beauty, raised her al
mond-shaped black eyes to her
mothers face with a certain vlndic-
tiveness.
"Iim sick of the whole business, :"
said she. II wish | was a milk maid
or a salesgirl back of somebody's
counter"
Everyone in society knows the
three Miss Yardley's by heart" said
Flossy, sullenly picking a rose to
pieces and feeding the petals to a
huge parrot, whose hooked beak was
not unlike her mothers nose.
The matron rallied to the occasion.
well, well, girls" said she, this
is all nonsense. OF course you all eX-
pect to be well married. and nobody
knows but myself how hard | have
worked to secure good matches for
you. Madame Merit will be here at
ono to try on your new dinnerdresses,
and Mr. Lyon will be among the
guests at the Arvillion dinner-dance."
"Horrd old poke" remarked glossy,
fiinging the mutilated rose into the
scrap-basket.
"a gentleman Of wealth and stand
ing" slowly enunciated her mother;
land if you girls manage we'll"
Manage! / hate the very word
mnrmured Lilith.
'-He win be sure to propose to one
of you" added Mrs. Yardley, with
emphasis.
Lets fling up coppers which shall
be the happy one" satirically OBJ
served Kathleen.
Mrs. Yardley rose and stamped her
foot on the floor.
Girls" said she, ''Ill have no
more of this playing fast and loose.
It's making an old woman Of me be-
fore my time. We're overwhelmed
with debt and surrounded with emu
barrassments and you must SETTLE
yourselves at once"
The three girls looked obviously at
one another, as their mother, sump-
tuous modern Juno, swept impress
sively from the room.
Mamma means it," said Flossy.
''She's dead in earnest this time
indifrerently remarked Kathleen.
Il never saw anything 50 ridiculous
in my life" said Ililith.
"KathIeen's idea isn't bad one. :"
Observed Flossy "If one of lis has
really got TO be sacrificed to old Lyon,
let's decide the matter by lot. Here
are three slips Of paper, the longest
for freedom, the short one to be de-
voured by the old Lyon. Draw, girls.
Kathleen, dove-eyed, sweet-lipped
girl. with lair of pallid Scotch gold,
and blue, dreamy eyes, cautiously
pulled one Of the slips or paper from
between Flossy's slim fingers. Lilith.
who was dark and brilliant, like Il
new Lala Rool1h, followed suit with
4 laugh, leaving the shortest In poor
FlosSy'S possession. She pursed her
cherry-mouth into whistling shape.
"The decree of Fate" said she.
well, there's nothing to do but to
accept 1t. The Lyon Is mine. If he 50
chooses It,"
The three Miss Yarlleys never had
taken life an serieux. and conse-
quently they were still giggling when
Madame Merit. her assistant and
pile Of big paste-board boxes were
ushered in. The dresses We're per-
feet fit, and Mrs. Yardley appeared at
the great Aryillion dinner party Ito
81 followed ~ one Of the dances Of
the season. with her three lovely
daughters. herself looking almost as
young as they did And Flossy was
the most brilliant Of all.
Mr. Seaforth Lyon was there also, 4
stout. middle-aged man, with three
immense diamond studs, and a smile
which revealed an expensive set Of
false teeth. He took Lilith Iardley