The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-06-30
GETAWAYS WORK.
'They are coming, Viney!"

"They are coming, Viney!"
| Miss Nancy Crowfoot tucked he
ball of blue yarn into her apron-pock
ct, and shading her eyes with on
hand. looked down the lane, where tai
mulberry-trees threw their long shad
ows on the velvety grass.
Coming, Miss Nancy!" echoed
sweet voice.
| And pretty Whey Mavis hastil,
showed gooseberry pie into the oven
and came out on the back porch, will
its. drapery Of pink and violet-cuppet
morning-glory vines.
| She, too, gazed eagerly down tn,
long lane, and SOON the sapphire blu,
eyes sparkled and the pink-tintet
cheeks broke into dimpling smiles.
! ITS them!" she cried. Il could tel
old Dapple's jog-trot mile away"
Whey had been up since peep Of day
when the. first touch of pink blushed
In the eastern sky, and when the
thrush and the cat-bird were thrilling
| SAOiA VoAAtCpI hoAulu6 pcdub.
She had MIXED the sleepy-lookine
cows, their dew-laps still wet from
contact with dripping grass, and had
breakfast ready just as the crimson
sun was peeping over the cloud-capped
bluffs, lining the shores of the great
Father of Waters.
1t was an extraordinary occasion, as
Farmer Mavis was going to the rail-
road station, twelve miles distant, to
bring home his only daughter, Octavia,
from the boarding school.
Don't you bother yourself about
breakfast, Whey" said the farmer,
good naturally, as he lighted his cob
pipe at the kitchen fire. II kin eat a
snack, and hev breakfast when we git
home"
But Whey would not hear to It, and
with her own hands she fried her
uncle's favorite pancakes, yellow with
eggs, poured his coffee. and set glass
Of fresh, sweet milk at his plate.
Dinner will be all ready when you
get back, uncle, SO bring a good ap-
petite" she said, kissing him good-by.
1t was happy family that dwelt at
the old brown farmhouse.
Farmer Mavis was good nature per-
sonifled, and Miss Nancy, the house,
keeper, was a sweet-tempered old
maid; not so very old, either. for
youthful crinkles still lurked in her
soft brown hair, and her cheeks were
as rosy as winter pear-main Just
touched by the frost. She was a dis
tant connection Of Farmer Mavis, and
had kept house for him ever since the
death of his wife, six years ago.
Whey was his niece, and was as dear
to him as an own daughter.
Great were the preparations which
were made for Octavia's homecoming.
Miss Nancy had secured the windows
and made up the plump bed, with fresh
lavender-scented sheets and pillow
slips, and the best homespun coverlet.
And Whey had cooked substantial
dinner-rJast chicken and cream bis
cult, new potatoes and green peas and
cauliflower, with custard and goose
berry pie for dessert.
In the meantime, Octavia was on the
cars, speeding along at the rate of a
mile minute. She was a sharp-feat-
ured, thin-lipped girl, with light hair,
and face as freckled as turkeys egg.
81 am going home to keep house for
my pa" she had said, affectionately, to
her girl cronies. "To-be-sure, he has
a sort Of relative keeping house now
an old maid-but shall soon set her
adrift. detest old maids!"
In due time Octayia reached home.
She bestowed cool nod on Miss Nancy
and touched Viney's finger-tips frig-
idly.
Mercy on us!" she cried, in thin,
high voice, as she entered the house.
Dinner at this hour? How horrid!
What does make pa keep such old
fashioned hours?"
Miss Nancy and Whey stood aghast
at this unlooked-for reception.
1--WE had it earlier than usual on
your account, Octavia," ventured her
cousin. 1--WE thought you might need
something"
NEED something, indeed" shifted
Octavia, with sheer on her thin lips.
"Do you s'pose I've been starved where
I came from? Besides, l had lunch
on the cars. I'm going up to my room
to take nap now" she added. 1T
will be soon enough for dinner after
that" and she swung out of the room
without waiting for reply.
oval, eff that don't beat ALL" grum-
bled Farmer Mavis, his honest blue
eyes expanding with surprise. "Ef
Octavy thinks we are goin' to wait for
her to nap afore we eat dinner, she
kin think so, that's all! Fetch along
the coffee, Whey"
II shall take the head of the table
myself now, Miss Nancy" declared
Octava, as she came down to break
fast, In pink morning-dress, not at
all suitable to her light complexion
and red hair. Pa can't afford to keep
a hired housekeeper, now I'm at home,
so you had best look out for another
situation. OF course we could give you
references for honesty, and SO forth"
and Octavia jingled the teaspoons In
the cups, and took her place at the
head Of the table with a flourish Of
trumpets, as 1t were.
Great was the surprise Of Farmer
Mavis when Octavia informed him that
Miss Nancy was going away.
Going away" he repeated, staring
half stupidity at his daughter.
That's what said, amt it," snap
ped Octavia, tartly. Going away. She
knows you don't need two housekeep-
ers; and now I'm here, Of course it's
my place"
So there was no help for 1t, and
Farmer Mavis harnessed up the horse,
and helped Miss Nancy into the spring
wagon.
THAT'S the last Of her thank good
ness!" muttered Octavia to herself
when old Dapple had trotted out Of