The record-union., 1895-01-12

hiHuly 10 MS vile:
Cynthy Ann, she's good, brave girl.
nope you'll make it as easy as possible
for her," And then apologetically:
ation.n
Mrs. Tillman Plumley gave her hus-
Dand quick look of inquiry and alarm.
he had never been so daring as this.
Consideration? oh. yes, of coursev
she whimpered. tits always consider
atom for everybody save your wife
that's toiled and managed and saved and
scrimped and made you what you be.
But that's the man Of it! Pll tend to her
case, Tillman Plumley."
And SO she did.
She marched straight to the nursery,
Which was now empty, as the Pluml ley
children were romping In the woods be
hind the mansion. On her way she me
Robert, who, catching a glimpse of his
mothers lowering face, stole softly af ter
her. She stormed through the nurs cry
and swept into Doras room. Despite
her anger she halted an instant at the
door, for the little nurse girl was upon
her knees i'll prayer.
THE mink is a hypOcrite, too!" she
muttered under her breath, and then
aloud: Miss, when you get through l
would like to have things understood"
Dora rose from her knees with a fright
ened face. She turned. sank upon the
=
nerve herself for the interview.
Stand up, miss! Don't you dare set
anywhere afore mei''
Dora arose and stood trembling before
the lady of the house.
"'Spose you want to get 'long here?"
"Oh, do, indeed, Mrs, Plumleyv'
"Oh, you do, indeed. Mrs. Plumley, do
you? Well, then, stop your do-indeeds
and take hold. Quicker we understand
one mother the better for you, miss. We
want more takin' hold an less prayin'
in this house. We don't want any airs,
neither!"
Dora was silent, but the tears began
gathering in her great blue eyes, so last
that she could only just see and UNDER
stand the pantomime of Robert behind
his mother, who was eXcitedly endeav-
Orlng to thus convey Ills assurance of
sympathy and the value OF a policy
non-resistance. Dim and misty as was
the look between them, it was enough to
seal their tates forever.
Very good, Mrs. Plumley,n she f.
nally faltered.
And don't you Mrs. Plumley me
neither! Say 'ma'am' to me, under
stand?"
"Yes, maam."
You'll eat arter my children eat and
take what's left. Understand"
Yes, ma am"
'em, and dress 'em and ondress 'enl, and
go TO bed arter they're gone to bed, and
get up nights and wait on 'em, and mend
their clos, and wash their clos and bed
dim, and teach 'em, and entertain 'em,
and go down TO the village and have them
curls cut of, and stop tryin' to look pur-
tier than anybody else livin' round my
men folksn'
Mother!-mother!" exclaimed Robert
desperately.
lie had tried at first to slip away un-
observed, but the very brutality of the
woman's torture fascinated and held
him; even drew him closer to the two,
and he was at his mothers elbow as he
spoke. But Robert Plumley never for
got the look OF terror and gratitude the
girl gave as the indignant protest es-
capped his lips.
You here? You BOBBY! Aha, this is
fine kettle OF fish. It's IiIlman Plumley
first, and Mr.. Robert PIumIey next!
Miss Prettyiace. you're a sly one, you
are!'
The girls eyes opened wider. Her
face grew white and flushed by turns,
Her bosom rose and fell tiuttering, and it
seemed as though the scared thing must
shrek out and tiy precipitately from the
pitiless indignity.
Mother, this is terribleI You shall
not abuse this poor stranger so. It's a
shame"'
"Oh! Aha! R-r-r-ob-ert PIum-m-m-
ley! on, you braZen thing, youi" This
to the girl. "Wouchm' Then she threw
up both her tat arms wildly, and col
lapsed into an asthmatic, suffering,
gasping III the middle OF the room, al
always her most violent, most dreaded re-
course. a series OF explosive sounds,
like those of a lusty hostler at his groom
ing, followed: 'St-st-st-st-st! St-st! ST.
st-st-st-st-st! And It's come to this!
Wouch, St-st-st-st-st-stp
These were Mrs. TilIman PlumIey's
most fearful Mysteries. They ALWAYS
lasted until Mr.. Tlllman Plumley and
the entire Plumley family were beside
themselves with excitement, and the
ambitious woman, precisely as with
many another woman like her, had
gained her point of the seeming that she
was sacrificed martyr to the entire lam
ily's general welfare.
Robert stood pale and silent beside his
mother, dOggedly offering her no assist
ance. Finally Tillman Plumley came
rushing in and all the young PIumleys
came tearing after. The former begged
Robert to withdraw, Dora not to mind it,
and his wriggling, screeching helpmeet
to mercifully compose herself, as, in a
storm OF ''st-st" and reminders OF
how she had thrust greatness upon him,
only TO be stung uy serpants in her own
house, she was partly borne and partly
pulled away, while the young PIumleys,
after their first fright was over, giggled
and snOrted at the, TO them, fortunate
diversion OF "a scene" and at once yari-
ously disposed themselves about the
nursery and the bedroom with the hi
Iarious project OF "brealzing in" the new
nurse.
This was inaugurated by Grace Gene
We've, who, giving Dora's brown curls
a spiteful tug, remarked tauntingIy:
Think your hairs nicer than mine,
don't ye?"
Dora stepped straight to the girl, placed
her little hand on her dark. kinkly
curls and softly asked her name. She
answered pettlshly, when Dora stroked
the curIs again gently and tenderly
with:
"Grace, I think you have almost the
loveliest hair l have ever seen. l will
always arrange II beautifully for you!'
While this sad little scene was going
on, Ramsey Ulmar had got behind the
stranger With one jerk of his chubby
hand he had unloOsened her apron and,
whooping and bowling, bore ii triumph
antly away.
Meantime Bulwer Lytton and Victo-
ria Geraldine had discovered her poor
bundle of clothing and had scattered it
about the room. a moment later her
most priceless keepsake, a picture of
dear old Grandma Brice, was being
kicked like q football around the nursery.
She rescued this, smiling a pretense of
endowment at the sport, when scowiing
Ann Elizabeth hlliped a tear from her
cheek, stood upon one heel, whirled her
self round and round and mockingly ex-
| claimed:
Nurses is no good! Why do all nurses
always be crying anyhow? Why don't
they be jolly like us?''
-.
caught the little torment playfully, told
her that her tears We're for her dear grand