The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-10-01
CHAPTER II.
ON ADpROV

ON AGffSCN AL.
1T can hardly believe II to be true:
cried Molly. Yesterday at this hour
was preparing to trudge off to my dahy
drudgery. a poor little. hard-worked' III
paid governess-yes auntie, must grum-
BILE little now. because It's all over.
and | have so hated my lire thcse laS'
six months-and today / am going TO sec
n rich relation | never heard OF before
with vistas OF all sorts of splendor open
ing out before me- really have TO pihch
myself to make sure / am awake.
another piece of toast, dear?' said
Mrs Mackenzie. sOberly. won't you!
wish YOU had told me YOU were not going
TO eat any breakfast this morning. and
l should only have had enough done for
myself. Now It will be wasted.
"Oh bother the toast" returned Molly
irreverently. MAKE a bread pudding. or
something out of 1t, auntio dear. 10"
could | tell you couldn't eat till l tried?
IT'S no use really" as the toastraclI came
lowering over her plate again-"I can't
even TO please you. 1 feel as If 1t would
choke me-"
VERY well. Molly. very WELL" sighed
her aunt reslgncdlv. Put back your but
ter then # YOU don't want IT. AS for
making a bread pudding, that would rear
lv be false economy. You would nave
me buy butter and milk and eggs. l sup
pose. to prevent the waste that might
have been avoided by Just a little fore
thought. No. l know what J shall do
| shall have that toast reheated for tea.
| shall be all alone. so It won't matter
And she beamed on her niece with re-
newed checrfuness.
Just then there came n ring at the bell,
and Mr.. Burke was ushered into the
room, apparently in a violent hurry,
lNstf-
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 n large silk handkerchief
You must make haste. Molly" he an
nOunccd. as soon as he found breath
enough to speak. we must be off by the
II o'clock train from Kingsbridge. you
know: / have a 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-I shall be In time"
returned Molly. i've had my breakfast,
and my wardrobe won't take long to
pack, | assure YOU"
Mr.. Burke turned round rather sharply
to Mrs. Mackenzie. Hasn't she got any
smart forgery? She must make the most
of herself you know-everyt hing depends
on the impression she produces on Miss
!
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 1 to get all this. 1
should like TO known" cried Mrs. Mac
kcnzle IN a shrill crescendo % consterna-
ton I'm sure my things are not very
hax hpV Ia
for her"
"Oh, never mind. pack EN- 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 fancy To her.
She IS very capricious. and If Molly
doesn't please her she is quite capable of
packing her off home without ceremony.
in fact. / rather think that in my own
enthusiasm / raised your hopes unduly
yesterday, Mrs. Mackenzie, and have
been reproaching myself since. This is n
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 well disposed toward
her. but if any descendant Of the elder
branch were TO turn up, or even any
male representative Of the younger. she
wouldn't hesitate to throw her over"
II don't think | want to so at all,
said Molly, whose pretty face had cloud
cd over during this speech. Il 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 because she may leave me her
money"
"Pish, nonsense rubbish" interrupted
Mr. Burke. II haven't time to listen to
such stuff. Hold your tongue, and be or
and get ready, and mind you meet me at
five minutes to H. sharp, at Kingsbridge.
I'm not going TO be hypocrlte'
though, ! can tell you cried Molly, with
tears of veXaton starting to her eyes.
Il shan't be a bit more civil to Miss
O'Neiu than | should to auntie-there!
"A very nice little display Of O'Neill
tenper." said the lawyer appro' tngly.
You are a true chip of the old block,
my dear, there's no doubt or that.
Strangely enough. when you spoke JUST
now you reminded me or the Ola lauy
herself. That frown. you know; ana the
stamp of the foot, exactly like her when
she is put out"
Dear mer' calculated Mrs. Mackenzie.
IN Mortified tones. how very strange.
But anybody can stamp their foot. you
know. What is Miss O'Neill really like?
"\Veu she is peculiar, very peculiar.
You never can tell what she VIII 90 or
say next, and some of her NOTIONS are eN-
tremely eccentric She has a craze, Tor
instance, on the subject of FAMILY. Ola
blood. long pedigrees, ancient customs
YOU should hear her go on. she looks on
herself as a sort of chieftainess, ana
keeps up a kind of semi-rcgal state-most
amusing! But she's a charming woman.
$50 / should think" said Molly, sar-
castically
what. you are there STILL you saucy
little mink" exclaimed her friend.
"Come. come. | shall be quite cross II
YOU make me miss the train. There is
really no time to lose. Remember. five
minutes to II at ACKNOWLEDGMENT a sec
ond later"
He was gone before Molly had time to
expostulate further, and Mrs. Mackenzie
hustled her off to her room to pack and