Middletown transcript., 1900-04-21

could be married tomorrow, so" Clara
burst out with it all at once, while Bess
remarked quietly:
Eyes, they're real sensible, and
think James is nice, but when marry
want more than $40 month for can
dy alone. And, then, he isn't particu
larly handsome"
"He is, too" cried Clara. "And he's
good and brave and splendid, and I'd
rather have him than a thousand such
men as Lancey Cummings. Mother,
don't want money. 1t hasn't made you
happy"
"Hush, dearW Mrs. Hardy felt as II
blow had smitten her in the face
She was silent then.
Clara put her arms around her moth
er and whispered: "Forgive me, moth
eri / didn't mean to hurt you. But
am SO unhappyP'
Unhappy! And yet the girl was just
beginning to blossom out toward the
face Of God under the influence Of that
most divine and tender and true feel.
ing that ever comes to girl who
knows a true, brave man loves her
with all his soul. And some people
would have US leave this subject to the
fiippant novelist instead of treating II
as Christ did when he said, For this
cause"-that is. for love-"shall man
leave bis father and mother and cleave
unto bis wife,"
Mrs. Hardy was on the point Of say
Ing something when the sound of pc.
culiar steps on the stairs was heard
and shortly after Alice pushed the cur
tains aside and came in. Alice was
the oldest girl in the family. She was
a cripple, the result of an accident
when a child, and she carried a crutch,
using 1t with much skill and even
grace. The minute she entered the
room she saw something was happen.
Ing, but she simply said:
"Mother. isn't 1t little strange ia.
ther sleeps so sOundlyP I went up to
him and spoke to him just now, think
ing he was Just lying there, and be
didn't answer, and then saw he was
asleep. But never knew him to sleep
so Sunday night. He usually reads up
in the study"
Perhaps he is sick. l will go and
see."
Mrs. Hardy rose and went into the
other room, and just then the younger
boy, Will, came down stairs. He said
something to his mother as he passed
through the room and then came in
where the girls were, carrying one of
his books in his hand.
"Say, Alice, translate this passage
for me, will you? Confound the old Ro-
mans anyway! What do care about
the way they fought their old battles
and built their old one horse bridges!
What makes me angry is the way
Cesar has Of telling thing. Why
can't he drive right straight ahead in
stead Of beating about the bush SO!
If couldn't get up a better language
than those old buffers used to write
their books in I'd lie down and die.
can't find the old verb to that sentence
anyway. Maybe it's around on the 9th
er page somewhere, or maybe Cesar
left It out just on purpose to plague US
boys"
And Will SHE'D the book over to Al
Ice, who good naturedly began to read,
while that much suffering youth sat
down by Bess and began to tease her
and Clara.
What are you and Clara doing at
this time Of day? Time you youngsters
were going up stairs. Play US a little
tune, Bessie, will you? What you been
crying for, Clara We're de Vere|
'I should think you would be asham-
ed Of yourself, Will, studying on Sun
day nightsT said little Bess reproving-
ly and with dignity.
"No worse than sparkling Sunday
nights" retorted the incorrigible Will
81 haven't been," replied Bess, indig-
nantly. 1--WE been with Clara
"She doesn't need any help. does
sheT inquired Will innocently. And,
going over where Clara lay with her
face hid In the pillow of large couch,
VIII tried to pull the pillow out from
under her head.
LET me alone, VIII. l don't feel
WELL" said a muffied voice from the
pillow.
"Pshaw! you're fooling"
"No, I'm not. Let me alone"
"Coms here, or won't read your SEN
tence for you," called Alice. And Will
reluctantly withdrew, for he knew
from experience that Alice would keep
her word.
"Au right. Now, 60 ahead; not too
fast. Herel Wait q minute! Let me
write her down. I don't intend to miss
tomorrow If can help 1t. And old
Romulus will call me up on this very
passage, I know. Be just like him,
though, to strike me on the review"
At that minute the door opened, and
in came George, the elder boy and the
oldest Of the group Of children. He
hung up hat and coat and strolled into
the room.
"Where's motherT
'She's in the other room," answered
Bess. Gathers been asleep, and moth
er was afraid he was going to have a
fever"
THAT'S one Of your stories," said
George, who seemed in good natured
mood. He sat down and drew his little
sister toward him and whispered to
her:
"Say, Bess, I want some money
again"
lawfully :" whispered Bess.
eyes; for special reason. Do you
think you could let me have littleT"
"Why, Of course. You can have all
my months allowance. But why don't
you ask fatherT
"No; have asked him too much late
ly. He refused point blank last time.
] didn't like it the way he spoke"
"Wen, you can have all mine," said
Bess, whispering.
George and she were great friends,
and there was not q thing that Bessie
would not have done for her big broth
er, who was her hero. What he want
ed with SO much money she never
asked.
They were still whispering together,
L