The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-05-04

indeed was the young gentlemen's
success that he began to wonder if ne
would not be making a mistake in Sc
lecting law as his future profession.
Meanwhile. Alice, Lille and Kate
had expressed their intention of COM
ing to their dearest Margery" on the
Thursday following, and added, as
a postscript, the formidable informa-
ton that they were to be accompan-
led by an old maid aunt. in the capacl.
ty of "chaperone"
AUNT Jane" was the young peoples
bugbear, and in their eyes she pos
sessed but one reIeeming quality
that of laZineSs. This. of course. is
usually deemed fault but in the
case of Aunt Jane ii was different
for this oversuling trait often prevent
ed her even discovering performances
which would have called forth tor
rents Of wrath had they not remained
a secret.
In the first place, Aunt Jane always
lay in bed late of mornings and if the
young people possessed sufficient ener-
gy to rise early there was no knowiug
IN how many frOics they might in
dulSe, undiscovered and undisturbed.
1t was one evening ut bed time that
the formidable arrived Being over
come with fatigue the elder lady
sought her own apartment at once.
and it was with sigh Of deep thank
fulnesS that the youthful crowd
p1uubt tho IoSf rIi,,onco Of ,I,o ..;ef
gray curls bobbing away upstairs.
1t was hours later, however, before
the girls. in their own rooms, had
whispered their last stealthy secret
and giggled their last giggle for the
night. Aunt Jane was to be the vic
tim of plot
1t was not a plot, however, that
dealt with poison or dynamite, but on
ly some minor details of etiquette
Aunt Jane would probably seek TO in
terfere with some of their arrange
ments, but they simply didn't intend
TO let her-that was all
At breakfast that lady failed 10 mt
in an appearance and all went we'll
That is the food march," after the
first course of fruit was finished. was
carried through much to the delight
of Alice, Lille and Kate. Several new
figures were introduced, and not one
of the boys was SO unfortunate as TO
spin syrup or gravy on any young
lady's treSSoS. OF might be well to eX-
plain. however, that there was no sy-
rup or gravy to Spill
At dinner, however, Aunt Jane was
sitting rigidly erect at the foot Of the
table, wien an ominous little bristle
of the stiff gray curls, as though
seeming mischief in the air.
/ She was unaccuStomed to having no
one to wait on the table, and ex-
pressed strong disapproval at Carries
dismissal How desert was to be
served she had not the remotest idea,
and when the first course was COM
pleted she was greatly startled by
sudden thunder of loud chords from
the piano, and in moment more sur
prised quite speeches. when the en-
tire crowd rose abruptly from their
places. seized their plates and began
a rapid march around the table.
Absolutely incapable of speaking,
the poor lady leaned back in her chair
and gasped, while the gay crowd
whirled and revolved about her, quite
ignoring her presence.
So great was the din, combining as
1t did the music, the clatter of china
and shrill peals of laughter that no
one heard the door bell ring time an
again, till at last the visitor, tired of
waiting, entered unannounced upon
the scene.
No one so much as saw him except
poor, wretched Aunt Jane, who
dropped her glasses. twisted her can
awry, and turned almost purple with
modification.
1t was the minister, an old friend of
both Aunt James and the Merrills.
Far from Mortified, however, that gen.
tleman stood watching the scene for
moment with merry twinkle in his
eye, then, catching the spirit of the
occasion he seized Aunt James plate,
and, joining the marchers, deposited it
on the sideboard himself.
The young people had triumphed and
Aunt Jane was completely defeated
After that there was marching be-
tween courses at every. meal, and all
declared that it aided digestion, be-
sides all its other good results.
Certain it is too. that Theo's plan
solved problem for Margery which
had for some time been troubling her.
1t had been her dearest wish to en-
terrain number of friends at a sty-
fish tea of several courses and she un-
derstood well how to order its prepar
alton. 1t was the serving which had
been the trouble. But now, what could
be more unique than to have the
guests all rise at the completion of
each course, and marching around the
table to the sound of music, deposit
their own plates on the sideboard and
return to the table?
a judge would be appointed TO
watch the performance and deliver a
prize each to the boy and girl accom-
plishing their duties most gracefully.
Margery's tea was an entire success.
and her guests declared that to the
original Theo a unanimous vote of
thanks was due for his bright sugges-
ton and merry and memorable ey-
ening.-Atlauta journal.
Queen Victoria still adheres to a set
of dietary rules and health prescrip-
tons given her many years ago by Sir