The record-union., 1895-05-04

L
than flags and flowers, I fancy. eh.
Kath?"
But Kath was glaring after the retreat
ing figure with wrathful eyes.
AZ will sing at the concert now, and l
won't make a muddle Of itV she burst
out, stamping her small foot on the grass.
"Pil go through with it and come out
triumphant just to spite her! oldn't :
mean to sing at all. I would have braved
fathers anger and stayed away altogether;
but now-now 1 will 60 through with
itr'
What little shrew it isn'
ST don't care! Hernia shouldn't say
such nasty things"
Neither she eshould-neither she would
if she could sing herself. and take the
hearts of the male population OF Alches-
ter by storm. But she can't, SO she's
jealous, and wreaks her vengeance on
you"
"Oh, Brian, suppose break down after
all p
In spite of the determined pluck Of q
moment ago, Kath's heart failed her at
the thought of what might possibly come
TO pass. She had pretty voice, sweer
and clear as birds; it was her one great
gift, and she used it we'll. But she had
mover sung in public before, and the or
deal in prospect did cause her to feel a
You won't break down." Brian re-
assured her, in a brotherly fashion. III
you do Ill come to your aid with my
full, rich baritone" Brian's voice was
about as musical as a frog's, and his ideas
of harmony about as vague. Cheer up,
partner; keep up.a good heart, and good
by till tea-time"
"Dinner-time," corrected Kath, holding
him back as he was preparing 10 vault
OF inn
know, in honor of Mr.. TrevOssO."
$50 it will 5e! What joke! Two din
ners in one day! What mercy the Gov
ernor's telegram didn't arrive till we had
consumed the frst!"
Greedy pigr' exclaimed Kath, as she
watched her brother sauntering down the
road with mis- hands in his pockets, and
his cloth cap perched perilously on the
back of his head. HE doesn't under
10 Esther-to all of US, for that matter.
We shall have to live on resurrection
pie and suet dumplings for whole week
after this.'
Money was not over-plentiful with the
Ivesons. The head Of the family was
something in the city," but the extent
of the income he derived from ofhclating
in that capacity was to his sons and
daughters an unknown quantity. ALI
to keep up" though what that position
was Mr.. lveson never exactly specified.
Mr.. Iveson left home about 10 o'clock
each morning, faultlessly attired from
the crown of his silk hat to his we'll
brushed spats and snow-white wrist.
bands; and the little villa saw him no
more until late at night-so late, indeed,
sometimes, that the villa was the only
thing that did see him; for the other oo-
of of no n n n
the land of dreams before the sound OF
his key was heard in the hall-door. On
state occasions. however, such as the
half yearly concert in the Alchester read
ing-room, Mr.. lveson, being one of the
committee, felt that it behooved his "po-
sitiOn" to put in an appearance earlier,
and therefore returned from town by the
afternoon train, which set down its pa
irons at the Alchester station about 8
O'Clock.
"And it's nearly 4:30 o'clock alread y
and the dining room not busted, the best
knives and forks not looked out, and
neither OF US dressed" sighed Esther
Iveson in despair, glancing up at the old
kitchen clock. kath was perched on
the dresser putting the finishing touches
to q couple of vases OF flowers that were
to be placed on the dinner-table.
s'Pn not going to change my dress be-
fore dinner"
kathe, you must. You can't appear
before visitors like that" Esther glanced
critically at the crumpled blue and white
cotton frock that had been decidedly
darker in hue before it paid visit to the
wash-tub.
"Visitors! There's only one. thank
goodness, and he's man; men never
notice what girls have on."
"Don't they, indeed W
Father doesn't. We might all walk
about in rags or brown paper for all the
notice he would take"
"Ah! there are not many men like
father.' Esther had feeling OF thank
fulness for the same. You really must
put on a decent dress, Kathie."
'And spoil it for this evening? Esther,
dear, you know l have only one decent
dress beside this"
"Oh, you call that decentv' smiling
obviously. "Well, hope Mr.. Trevosso
will think so, too"
"Bother MIR. Trevosso! If he is COM
ing to see our clothes he had better have
his dinner in the bedroom, with the doors
of the wardrobe wide open"
ITO spy out the 'nakedness Of the
land'?"
HE can feast his eyes on Hernia: she' 8
dressed already"
Trust Hernia for that" Esther
pretty lips curled contemptuously. She
was tar from being blind to her second
sisters foibles and follies, although she
seldom complained or made any COM
ment on them. "What dress is Hernia
wearing?o
"The brown velveteen, with mothers
| Irish lace. Oh, Esther, she does look
| lovely; l wonder whether Mr.. Trevosso
~ Kath looked dreamily out upon
| the broad sunlit garden. Esther, do you
know how old he is?O
Haven't the remotest idea, little sis.
ter. He may be anything between II and
70. Why?"
"Oh. / was only wondering whether he
| is young enough 10 fall in love with Her
mia"
| Mr.. Trevosso came, Mr.. Trevosso saw
and was seen-and Mr.. Trevosso con-
| quered. Conquered the hearts of the
| girls by his handsome face, his kindli-
ness and pleasantly; conquered the hearts
| of the boys by his interest in their games
and hobbies, his easy freedom. and great
! good nat..te.
| kath almost repented of her resolve
and wished she had changed her frock as
| she sat between Brian and Bert at the
| dinner-table. and noticed how often-and
how stead iastly-the eyes OF their guest
were fixed upon her.
''He is wondering what business have
at the dinner-table," she thought, and a
merry twinkle stole into her dark blue
orbs, He thinks am the little nurse.
| girl who looks after Lal and Rob, or the
| kitchen maid-we don't possess such
| Injuries. but then he don't know that
| Oh, dear! there's father pressing him tc
| take some more claret, and l know thai
other decanter has nothing in 1t but cur.