The Washington weekly post., 1900-03-13
4 FULFILLED PROPHECY
Humorous Tale of Three Pretty Girls Two Rambling Wrecks and
One Teddy Marston Problem
BY JEANETTE Il. wnLwoRTH.

intercept him at the station, and take
fdin on TO his own rambling wreck
IN view Of Mrs Henderscn's confirmed
/ infSiidism, he daughter MelIicent was
the recognized head OF the household. As
one IN authority she quelled Jacks insu-
/ Oordinstion with a luperb wave OF her
long. slim hard
! You viii make IL your business 10 get
That dispatch OF without any delay. my
dear That Is all ! ask OF you at pres
eni."
The future has its potentiali,ies," said
julia, with an accurate reproduction Of
Mers gesture.
"A fvw kicks among them" Jack flung
pach from the doorway, upon whose knob
! ne had deposited his nat on entering.
with Jack eliminated from the family
| council. harmony was once more possible.
/ "A reflective silence held the three Miss
( hendeTsons for some moments. 4 grOaH
/ from julia was the first audible sound.
That hall carpet II would take a bale
I Of cotton 10 cover some OF its weak
/ spots"
oh. l say, girls"-NGnny looked from
one 10 the other luminously-"whow was
That Roman youth who threw himself n.-
| TO gulf to save the city,
We'll, that is digressionr'
M3rids.' Mel suggested, tentatively
No. I'm sure IL was not Marius."
JULIUS Caesar, perhaps, or maybe Mare
Anthony"
Shockingi Poor Jack! We esteem him
ioWiy until We need him to null US out CT
the Dogs OF our own ignorance"
Wen, you have no business dragging
your old Roman into the discussion" D."
Even MeEs patience had its limitations
I 'Cne man at time, please and Teddy
Aarston Is problem enough for the day.
What mas your gulf jumper to do with
nim?''
Everything. I'm going TO emulate him
am going 10 fling myself into the gul,
and save, If not Rome, dearer thing
our credit"
Perhaps Nan will kindly explain If we
give her time, Mellicent." Miss Julia fold
ed her hands with exaggerated resignation
and fastened stern eyes on her youngest
sister.
That's just what / want, a little time -
And without further ado Nanny fiutte!ed
from the room, looking excessively un-
ike any Roman hero recorded in history.
with her pretty blonde head and dancing
step.
Miss julie Henderson looked at Miss
Nellicent perpleXedly.
What DO you suppose she IS up 10 now.
Mel?'
How can / tel9 Nanny is always un-
predieable. ] wish she would be serious
| about this. though. Ted's visit is going
to demand the united nerve force OF the
family"
If nerve force were all II demanded"
Il think We had best not get excited
dear. or Hurried"
OF course not, / never do over the in
evitable"
And then they fell easily and naturally
into a discussion about napkins and new
tLmblers.
The household toward which Mr.. Ted
ington MarstOn Was even then journey
ing, with no thought of being disturbing
element, was held in high local esteem
"hlle II came 10 frequently for criticism
Mrs. Henderson's doctor was OF the
opinion that. since Providence had seen
III TO circumscribe her view TO the four
walls of one room-she was paralyzed in
her lower limbs-it was folly TO hold on
10 that great house just because she had
gone TO it bride The place ought to be
sold. IL was white elephant ION the
Jack, by reason Of limited yea.s and
experience. did not count for much vet
| The minister, or. rather. the minister's
wife, wished she had the management of
| the Henderson affairs. As handsome as
| those girls were, she would marry them
all off in a jiffy.
And there were many who cast wordv
scorn at the emptiness OF that vanity
Which made them all cling together under
the moldering Old roof, which presented
such 4 line exterior, towering loftiiy
among the magnolias and spreading oaks
I While inside things were fast crumbling
to decay.
Inc discussion on ways and means
that is, napkins and tumblers-had
reached the climax OF an order for "a
dozen pressed glass tumbers, inexpen-
slVe quality" written in Miss Nellicent's
clerkly hand, when the dining-room door
was softly opened, revealing white can
ped and aproned maid standing demureIv
on the threshold.
Miss Mellicent suspended her pencil
midalr and stared. Miss Julia's stare was
OF slghter duration. Nancy Hender
son. what do you mean?'
The demure maid flung defiance ar them
Doth from under her quilted waitress,
cap. You don't suppose l am going 10
let MIN know that We keep only one SER
want q cook?"
but that Is all We do keep, Nancy"
We will keep a waitress while Mr.
LED Is here. Girls, am In the eulf How
DO you like Miss Quinticus Curtms II
Iha' was his name. ! never thought 70
put my private theatrical properties 10
such good use"
But he will ask for you. He knows
we are three"
can easily be away on a visit TO a
distant school friend"
Yes, but"
NOW, see here. Julia, and with tba
hght OF defiance blazing in her great clsar
oIaS eyes Nancy turned upon her sec
ohu slster-'you are just TO let me alone
lou remember the last letter mother Av-
er received from her cousin. Old Ar
Marston? Do you remember what he said
ABOUT the dearest wish of his hearr--that
ne hoped Tedington would return 70
America some day and rehabilitate the
dear Old homestead, putting one OF her
dear daughters-thats us-at its head as
mistress? Then he died. mournfully
And Teddy is returning to Ameries p,
10 fulnll prophecy"
Whether Nannys bold scheme for mt
ting a best foot foremost would have ra-