Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-04-14
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THE ZENITHS ENFAMILLE

In company Miss Stella and Miss
Morton witnessed the parade the next
evening After parade, the adjutant,
instead of following his custom and
gallopfng headlong into town, walked
with the young ladies as far as Cap
tain Zenith's gate.
The pathway followed was chosen by
Miss Stella. 1t lay across a common
traversing for a few rods a patch OF
low briars AS the party approached
this point Miss Stella quickened her
pace and of course her companions
kept time with her. Having thus be-
guiled them into a rapid walk she fell
into third place when they formed sin
gle file to enter the path through the
briars.
She quickly managed to entangle her
gown with the spiny shrubs. When
her cry advised them of her predica-
ment the adjutant returned to effect
her rescue and Bell never sus pected
that Stella's detention and her own
advanced position at that moment were
Joint results of ruse cunningly de-
vised and cleverly executed.
The ruse accomplished its purpose.
Before they rejoined Bell the adjutant
had obtained permission to call upon
Miss Stella that evening.
They parted at Captain Zenith's gate,
the ladies going within and the adju-
tant walking to his hotel.
Had their breasts been crystal and
their hearts in view and easily read 1t
would still have been difficult to de-
termine whether Miss Stella or the adj
tutant experienced the greatest gratifi-
cation in the progress they were re-
spectively making in developing the
acquaintance.
At the tea table OF the Zenith's the
adjutant was subject of conversation.
During his call on the previous even
ing the eldest of the sisters, whose
name was Mollie, had been very SEN
sibly piqued by the fact that Miss Stel-
la monopoliZed very large share OF
his attention. In fact, Mollie was old
enough to be sometimes jealous of her
younger sisters. In this case she was
jealous of Miss Stella. Continuing
the conversation the latter young lady
said:
81 rather expect him to call this
evening"
well, if he does come, as he may,
for last evening l invited him to do
So" said Miss Zenith, You will stay
out of the parlor, Miss"
Indeed? As fime goes on we will
see about that AIy present conviction
is that l will be a member of the party
assembled in that stately front apart
ment this evening. If you find the
sight of me there at all unpleasinS to
you you may avoid the pain of it by
retiring to the kitchen with our undo
mesticated enemy from Ballycrag. II
you yearn for solitude you might with
draw to the quiet precincts OF the bake
room and there as TRANQUILITY as pos
sible mediate upon the swift and sure
approach of old maidhoodi"
Miss Impertinence! | will request
Ma to send you to your own room if
you do not instantly apologize to her
for your insolence to mel"
And dear, sensible Ma will not re-
gard your officious request"
"Of late you have grown altogether
too forward. Every time we have
company you stick yourself up to en-
tertain them"
And succeed much better than my
ancient sister; eclipse her and win the
attention she covetsl 'Tis ever so;
youth always wins when it has to
compete only with age. Was it not so,
uIcll uNl AAlE N4lC past SNA4NAes
when you were q gtrl?
Ma, don't you hear that chit? Why
don't you send her TO the nursery?
I'm sure that people must think that
we are very common indeed 1t is
shockingly unrefned to habitually per-
nit the children of the household to
rush into the drawing room every time
any one calls, and precociously per- |
sist in such efforts to entertain them |
as disgust the guests and disgrace the |
family"
jealous? Really jealous OF oos
little sister?"
"If Lieutenant Jaquese calls on us !
this evening | shall see that you do not |
go into the parlor while he is there | |
have tolerated your disgraceful and |
hrmiliating precocity quite too long. |
Now | will check it"
Let me tell you something sooth-
ing. Lieutenant Jaquese will not call
on us this evening. He will call on
me and | desire that we be undisturbed
by the presence of obtrusive antigua
ted parties. Therefore at a proper
season, when you perceive that your
continued presence will become an un-
welcome intrusion, please accord us
The pleasure of your departure. You
need not hesitate to retire at your
earliest inclination"
Call on you! Pooh, Gentlemen do
not go about calling on children! Don't
make yourself so ridiculous by your
vanity. Ma, shan't Stell stay out of
he parlor when we have company"
But, Ma, dear, | have no objection
o doing by them as | wish them to do
by me. When they have company ex-
;lusively their own l am willing to
give them the benefit of their compa-
ly's exclusive attention. | do not and
shall not try TO absorb even one little
-ay of their social sunshine; | realize
hat | am not the only cucumber in
he garden! But so | want them to