The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-10


undone in the way of broadening IL
moral horizon for her pupils had bee
rigidly excluded. Belhaven, as were a
the large plantations of the count,
was, perforce of its lordly dimension
isolated from it's neighbors. Isolatio
is the favorite ally of superstition.
The Bascom place adjoined Behave
that is to say that only five miles {
frequently impossible road INTERVIEWED
When old Tony had seen the inevita
Bile staring him in the face, he had Civ
en- his son Reginald this parting injune
ton:
"If ever you find yourself in tigh
place, boy, go to Merriman Bascom
He is a gentleman and good friend Q
mine"
But, with the colonel leading ga,
bachelor life on one place and Mis-
Monckton jealousy guarding her maid
emily reputation for reserved dignity OF
the other, intercourse between the twt
places had been but slight. Further
more, none Of the Belknaps had 81
far found himself Gin tight place.. ;
Marianne was the only one who had
real grievance, and that was not one
the colonel could remedy.
Maxwell's sex was his sisters griey
ance.
eff you had only been twin sister
or l had been twin brother, Maxey,
SO many things would have been easier
to SETTLE"
"What, for instance?"
They were sitting around the library
table, which was Uttered with books
and papers, Marianne refectively punch
ing holes in her French exercise with o
hairpin. Max laboriously smearing out
the miscalculations he called sums
which he meandered all over his slate.
"Why, we could go off to a young
ladies' seminary together, like the Potts
girls, or to a boys high school. am
getting mortal tired Of Monksey. be-
lieve she has taught us all she knows
already"
More toon' Max assented briskly.
"And l tell you what, Marianne, if
Reggie was to hear that rot about the
owl and the salt just know he'd send
her kiting"
Marianne glanced nervously over her
shoulder toward the door through which
Miss Monckton must return.
"Oh, no, don't think Reggie would
dare do that, but one doesn't like to be
made responsible for family troubles
just because the saltcellar tips over.
declare, I have been having goose flesh
shivers down my back all day."
The door had opened behind her to
admit Miss Monckton and the darning
basket she had gone to fetch.
My dear child" - she looked at
Marianne apprehensively-"pray don't
say you have been having goose flesh
shiverings all day."
what must say-'geese flesh shiv-
ers?'"
ooh, the expression is good enough!
But the omen-you have surely heard
what it means?''
mo IN, haven't, or if l ever have
I've forgotten. !
Miss MOnckton seated herself near
the lamp and sighed dismally.
at means that somebody is walking
over your grave
"Well, what of that, so long as she
isn't in it!'' Max snapped stirred to
wrath by the sudden paling of Mari
annes cheeks.
"The truth is" said Marianne, push
Ing her exercise book aside with an il.
ritated gesture, Reggie is the only
of this family that has any
common sense, and I wish he would
,ome home"
Max turned on her sharply.
"Oh, gay, now, sis I'd rather you
wouldn't be SO sweeping Just speak
or yourself and Monksey, please. 1
lont care if 40 white owls roost on the
ape jasmine bush every night, and
'ou may spill the salt every day of your
life SO you leave me enough to put in
ny victuals."
Miss Monckton regarded him severely
yer the gold rims of her pince nez.
'There is certain sort of courage,
faxwell, that comes from ignorance.
uppies and boys are usually lavishly
ndowed with 1t. would also like to
uggest that food is quite as expressive
nd much more elegant than vic
lals. -"
The boy laughed and resumed his
ork with slate and pencil. Marianne
as conscious of a coming goose flesh."
he was distinctly nervous. She got up
I'D made tour of the room restlessly, =
ruck a few desultory notes on the
ano and came back to the table to
an over Max's shoulder. He was dec
ating his smudgy slate with rather
ir likeness of Miss Varina, pursued by
legion Of small devils. 1t made her
ugh, but she passed her handkerchief
er the slate before going back to her
ace.
II say, Monksey, don't omens and
sns ever mean good luck?" she asked,
lth ring of genuine anxiety in her
ice.
"Of course they do
"Well, then, do try to think up some
at mean good luck to Reggie. The
18th is, whenever he goes away we
ow fanciful. l think he might have
itten as long as he did not come home
is trip Of the Red Wing. He certain
said he would be here this morning."
Miss Monckton looked solemn.
Business may have detained him,
he certainly could have dropped us
line. l agree with you that he has =
NJ most inconsiderate. L
oh, l didn't say that. Reggie is nev.
inconsiderate. He is just the dearest
low in the world. wish he never
to 80 away from home. The house A.
'mpty without him." Max looked at VI
with dancing eyes
Il don't know what you and Monk
will do when Reggie and go into
army
'Army' What army?" -
Ours, of course. The southern army.
leard Mr.. Potts and Mr.. Thatch,l
King about it when l went in for th,
Il this morning, and they say it jus
t be STAYED off much longer.
uidn't wonder if that was what was