The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-02

well, you don't anticipate being
able to entertain much, do your" asked
father smiling.
NO, of course mott" said I, with a
mental picture of my parlor in Old
Quaint Street still wildly before my
eyes.
And you can hardly go to all your
parties, my dear, and return alone to
your lodgings"
"Oh-no,' 1 assented doubtfully, with
another mental vision of a beautiful
new bah dress that had been sent home
only yesterday.
You have thought of all this? %
asked father.
Il had not quite realized it," 1 an
swered honestly.
Il fancy you have not realized many
things yet. my child" said father
"Oh, did not expect to have nothing
to give up I responded cheerfully.
"A pioneer does not tread on rose
leaves! Do you suppose 1 shall miss
all my engagements more than 1 shall
miss you, daddie?"
I know that l shall miss my little
daughter"
I felt my lips quivering but 1 man
aged to ask: What shall you do,
papa-I mean who will"
oh, I shall ask your Aunt Jane to
come and look after me while you are
away"
Now my Aunt Jane I thoroughly de-
test 1 know it is wrong; but 1 can't
help it. She does interfere so! Ever
since 1 came home from school. five
years ago. ii has been continual
struggle to show her that l prefer to
manage things in my own way, and
consider myself capable of doing so I'M
aided. Many is the tussle I have had
with her, and she usually has had to
retire discounted, with a sniff and a
muttered allusion to her young days.
And now to think that she would come
and be mistress in my house, and order
my servants, and-oh. this was the last
straw. But l made up my mind to
endure it. One can endure anything
for the sake of a principle.
l went to my lodgings at the end Of
that week. l will draw a veil over my
parting with my home 1 went round
and looked at all the dear rooms. and
at the books in the library, and at each
of my beloved things. l went last in
to my own little boudoir with its pink
hangings, and unlocked my box OF
treasures, and burned a quantity of old
letters. 1t struck me as curiously like
what Alcestis had done. | remem bered
that she had gone round her house and
said goodb by to everything. l think at
the last moment | would have given it
up but for the remembrance of that
quizzical look Of fathers, and of what
Captain Despard would say. / nerved
myself with thoughts OF this | had a
farewell interview with my old nurse,
Tabby. She has been with us ever
since I can remember She was strange
~ unfeeling.
I'm sorry. indeed, that you've quar-
relied with your pa about the young
Captain. Miss May Pa is arbitrary
But just YOU keep true, missile. and
he'll come round, as sure as they does
in the play"
so that was the version in the ser
wants hall, Well, I could not explain
so / let it be. 1t was perhaps unjust
TO father.
/ got into my cab and drove away
l took twelve boxes and cases. in all
besides several little pieces of furniture
and pictures. and odds and ends. Ny
biggest uIcSS pOA NOulu not go IN al
the door. and had to be unpacked on;
in the street, and sent back empty. !
could so easily have got into it and
been taken safely home again,
1t took me several days to pack and
then repack-because there was not
room for anything. Then l did up
my sitting-room, and put my books
about and filed the vases with cut
flowers and made the place look - well
better. But II was lonely in the even
ings. l went out in the after
moons and paid several calls or
several bosom friends. I explained &c
them about Alcestis, and how wrong
IT was for women to submit as they
did They all laughed at me, and
was glad to able to prove to them
that l was in earnest by telling them
about the lodgings That made them
open their eyes; but they were more
concerned with their own affairs thar
with mine, and soon ran on with their
chatter. How trivial 1t all was-the
flower show, the so-and-so's dance
Meta's engagement. / sat and listened
A week ago l should have Joined in
readily enough A week ago / was
certainly intending TO fill every one OF
the engagements they were discussing
ones How interested they all seemed
In matrimonyi as if marriage were the