The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-05-17
(Copyright.)

VOL. "a.

Fred?"
I'm afraid 1 can't, thanks. I've
promised to dine at the Rag with Dick
Blount."
ITO luncheon tomorrow, then?"
Tomorrow? Let's see"
"See what?" testify. "Pn tell you
what's easy to see. Fred, that it is
your sister who Is asking YOU"
AS Mrs. Dalton-Herne says this she
gives an angry flick to her fan, and
lying back in her CHR, pouts little.
Just because I am your sister 1 am
nothing to you. You give me the
smallest place in your regardw Her
pOut grows more pronounced. She taps
her small foot upon the Persian prayer
rug beneath it, with some indigna ton,
and finally filings her fan on the couch
nearest her with petulant gesture.
You should always pout," says her
brother, with a laughing, amused ex-
preston, you do 1t so we'll. Lots of
women go in for that sort of thing, but
they generally fail. 1t suits you. You
are delightful when posing as the in
jured innocent" He looks at her SER
iously-"Do it again." says he.
"Ohl nonsense" says his sister, with
some slight show of impatients. I'm
not on exhibition; I don't do 1T to order
assure you. What a wretch you can
be at times, Fred"
"She mustn't call me names, Pussy,
must she?" asks Sir Frederic, who has
drawn one of his little nieces on to his
knee, and Is now amusing himself, or
her by saying. This little pig went to
market" on her tiny fingers. "Its SO
rude isn't 1t, Pussy?'
You haven't done de wee wee pig
yet" says Miss Pussy, oblivious to
everything but her game.
What a frightful omissionw says
her uncle. He catches up her last little
finger, And this little pig cried Wee.
wee, wee. l can't get over the barn
door"
did she ever get over?" asks Pussy.
''Well, not yet, at all events" says Sir
Frederic. But perhaps she will soon.
Who knows?"
DO put down that child Fred" says
his sister, land listen to me. You
know I am alone in the world Just at
( present. George is in Wales, and SISSY
has gone to stay with the Newtons. |
have no one to support me, and there
is guest coming to me, and-I do
want you to come so badly to dinner
tonight, and to luncheon tomorrow"
What? Both? I'm going up in the
world"
You know your own value If ever
anyone did," says his sister, disdainful-
Iy. You won't go anywhere or do any,
Thing to oblidge anybody; you give
yourself princes airs"
Good heavensl What have I done
to deserve all this?" says Sir Frederic.
He puts down his little niece and con-
fronts Mrs. Dalton -Herne with an air
tnat might have seemed contrite IL a
smile had not lurked behind it. And
what can 1 do to obliterate my un-
known sin?"
Come to lunch tomorrow"
This persistency awakes a sudden
fear within Sir Frederic's breast. He
looks hard at her.
who is she?" asks he at last.
Mrs. Dalton-Herne lies back in her
chair and laughs.
"Oh! If 1t is that you are afraid Of,
put 1t out Of your mind. It is not an
heiress, not even an American one.
For this time only, want you for my
self alone. am not dreaming of your
welfare-of settling you. I want only
your help. She is coming tonight,
and"
"She?"
"Oh. yes, 1t Is a grill And I'm sure
dreadful one. The more dreadful in
that she Is cousin of ours; and
quite dread the first two or three days
with her. Fancy having a country girl
thrown upon one In the height Of the
season."
What cousin is she?"
We'll, you know, one Of poor papa's
sisters married very badly-a clergy
man down in Wiltshire somewhere, I'm
not very clear where-a man of good
family, I believe, but an absolute pau
peru
rs he alive?"
Wen, 1t appears so, though he never
said so until last week."
.%Too miserable, perhaps, or else too
happy"
On. ridiculous! Happy!-on a pit
tAncel Well, this Mr.. Hastings who
married our aunt wrote to me last week
70 say that he would be glad II would
give his daughter-an only child, and
tne apple Of his eye, and all that sort
VI thing-a glimpse Of the world"
Cool request. eh?"
~ don't know" says Mrs. Dalton
nerne, with considerable detection.
I'm bound to say it was the incest
,e.ler It." reluctantly, was a charm
ns letter And in weak moment-I
asways tell George I shouldn't be left
iaione-I answered II and said 7 would
" oehghted to have the girl, and put
her through a season."
brother
Vh' you'd have done just the same, -
say she, with another pout.
cat Put up young woman In
a my bachelor chambersl Julia, you for
get yoarseD"
fou can laugh. you can iausA,'
says she. dolefully. "hut what csn ]