The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-05
CHAPTER II.
ON APPROVAL.

ON APPROVAL
at can hardly believe it to be truer'
cried Molly. "I esterday at this hour
was preparing to trudge off to my
daily drudgery, poor little hard-work-
ed, ill-paid governeSS-yeS, auntie,
must grumble a little now, because it's
all over, and 1 have so hated my life
these last six months-and today I am
going to see a rich relation I never heard
OF before, with vistas of all sorts of
splendous opening out before me. 1 real
ly have to pinch myself to make sure
I am awake"
Another piece of toast, dear?" said
Mrs. Mackenzie, soberly. won't YOU?
I wish you had tod me you were not
going to eat any breakfast this MORN
ing and I should only have had enough
done for myself. Now 1t will be
wasted"
'Oh, bother the toast.' returned Molly
irreVerentiy. Make a bread pudding, or
something out of it, auntie dear. How
could tell you I couldn't eat till tried3s
It's no use, really" as the toastrack
came lowering over her plate again-''I
can't even TO please you. feel as if it
would choke me-
VERY well, Molly, very we'll" sighed
her aunt resignedly. Put back your but
ter then if you don't want it. AS for
making bread pudding, that would
really be false economy. You would have
me buy butter, and milk. and eggs, |
suppose to prevent the waste that might
have been avoided by just a little fore
thought. No, l know what 1 shall do
snail have that toast reheated for tea
shah be all alone so it won't matter. 4"
And she beamed on her niece with re-
p newed cheerfulness.
Just then there came ring at the beH
and Mr. Burke was ushered into the
room, apparently in a violent hurry, for
he impatiently waved away the chair
which Molly placed for him after the
first greeting, and stood in the center Of
the room, painting a little, and hopping
his face with a large silk handkerchief.
You must make haste, Molly" he an
nounced. as soon as he found breath
enough to speak. I've must be OF by
che IL o'clock train from Kinksbridge, YOU
knew; have great many things to talk
over with the old lady and must be back
in town tonight. Besides she is dying
to see you
Don't be afraid shall be in time"
returned Molly. i've had nv breakfast
and my wardrobe won't take long to
pack, assure YOU
Mr.. Burke turned round rather sharply
10 NIIs. Mackenzle 'HaSnt she got any
smart forgery? She must make the most
OF herself you know-everything depends
on the impression she produces on Miss
O'Nein. You must do what YOU can for
her-hunt up all your treasures-dress
her up fine!'
He waved his hands vaguely about his
own bald head and stout person. doubt
less to indicate the inhnity of adornment
required.
"And where am to get ell this. 1
should like to know?" cried Mrs. Mac
kenzie IN a shrill crescendo of consterna
ton. I'm sure my things are not very
fine, and If they were. they wouldn't do
for her"
ooh, never mind. pack 'em somewhere"
returned the lawyer, with a mans fine
disregard Of the difficulties that arise in
such matters. DO your best for her
that's all. You see it is important that
the old lady should take a fancy to her,
She is very capricious, and If Mollv
doesn't please her is quite capable of
packing her off home without ceremony.
In fact, l rather think that in my own
enthusiasm, I raised your hopes unduly
yesterday. Mrs. Mckenzie, and have been
reproaching myself since This is a
chance for Molly-just that and no more
A thousand contingencies may arise to
make the old lady change her mind. At
present she's very we'll disposed towards
her, hut if any descendant of the elder
branch We're to turn up, or even any
male representative of the younger, she
Wouldnt hesitate to throw~ker over"
L don't think I want to go at ALL said
Molly whose pretty face had clouded over
during this speech. 81 don't fancy the
Idea of being paraded before this old lady,
and making up to her. and being told
to show off, like a silly child, just be-
Gause she may leave me her money
"Pish, nonsense, rubbish interrupted
Mr. Burke. L haven't time to listen to
such stuff Hold your tongue, and be off
and get ready, and mind you meet me at
hVe minutes 10 IL, sharp, at Eingsbridge 3"
Il m not going to be a hvpocrite
though, l can tell you," cried Molly. with
tears of veXation starting to her eyes.
shant be bit more civil to Miss
O'NellI than l should to auntie-therep'
"A very nice little display of O'Neill
temper" said the lawyer, approvinglv.
You are true chip of the old block
my dear, there's no doubt of that,
Strangely enough, when you spoke lust
now, you reminded me of the old lady
herself. That frown, you know, and the
stamp OF the foot, exactly like her when
she is put out"
-
In Mortified tones, how very strange.
But anybody can stamp their foot. Won
know. What is Miss O'Nein really like %
Wei, she is peculiar, very peculiar
You never can tell what she will do or
say next. and some of her notions are
extremely eccentric. She has a craze.
for instance OF the subject of family.
Old blood, long pedigrees, ancient Gus
toms-you should hear her go on. She
looks on herself as sort of chieftatness.
and keeps up a kind of semi-regal state
most amusing! But she's charming
woman
so I should think" said Molly. sar-
castically
What, you are there still, YOU saucv
little MINK exclaimed her friend. Come
come, l shall be quite cross if you make
me miss the train. There is really mo
time to loose. Remember, five minutes
10 II at Acknowledgements a second later -
lie was gone before Molly had time to
eXposeu!ate further, and Mrs. Mackenzie
hustled her off to her room to pack and
get ready, with a peremptoriness that
admitted no delay.
DO as you're told, now, Molly-not an
other word. I'm just going to run out to
do little shopping, and Will be back be-
fore you start
Left to herself, Molly entered her roam
setting about her preparations for tbe
sudden journey to Castle O'NenI with a