Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-10-01

laid down the letter and twirled her
pince-nez between her taper finger
tips. She wants Agatha to pay her
a visit. "Agatha!" exclaimed May in
astonishment. What does she want
with Agatha?"
May was the beauty of the family.
she does not speak word of
French or SPANISH" declared Ida, who
had gone in for the languages. Nor
sing motel" cried Grace, whose voice
was her particular pride. And the
three, in quite honest ignorance of the
ill-breeding their amazement implied,
stared across the table at Agatha. Her
mild little mother looked at her, too,
but with covert tenderness. Her faith
er lifted his gentle, absent gaze to the
countenance of his youngest and least
accomplished daughter And Harry,
the son of the house, paused in his
eager efforts to dispose of all the but
tered toast on the table long enough to
remark that Agatha could make
crackin' good cake, you bet! But this
eulogy passed unheeded.
Mrs. Ardell reread the letter of in
vitation, this time aloud. Nine. de
Villiers wrote that she had always en-
tertained delightful memories of the
visit Agatha had paid her when the
latter was quite a little girl If the
young lady was as dear as the child
she had been she would love to have
her spend few weeks with her.
I'VE called, you remember, mamma,
since she established herself in Chi
cago." May, faulty faultless" of
feature, and complacently conscious
that her new kimona was becoming,
looked languidly toward her mother.
"She has great, gloomy old barrack
of house don't believe there's a
bit of furniture in it less than a hun
dred years old. / wouldn't visit there
for the wori.!"
MY sister is trying to make her
northern residence as much like as
possible to the Louisiana home of
which she was SO fond, until unbear-
ably sad memories caused her to
abandon it," put in Dr. Ardell.
She has even bought lots adjacent
to her own that she may have a
walled-in garden, I've been told" sup
plemented Grace,
We'll, | shouldn't have gone had
she asked mel" put in Ida with decis-
ion. 'She has lots of money, but she
can't be expected to die for many a
year, and"
"1da!" interrupted the doctor, stern
ly.
She colored and became silent. Mrs.
Ardell spoke with amicable haste.
We have not allowed Agatha to say
a word. Do you wish to go, Agatha?"
Would II" glowing with delight at
the possibility. Indeed, yes | had
such lovely time when | visited
Aunt Helena in New Orleans. OF
course, that's a long time ago. was
only ten then. Now, I'm twenty
two"
Harry snicKered. That's three
years younger'n Grace, and five years
younger'n Ida, and"
Harry, leave the room" cried MAY
crimsoning.
But Harry only winked at her and
helped himself to more toast.
Agatha shall go if she wishes"
said the head of the house, rising
Even If the change is only from a
western suburb to the South Side, it
will do her good"
why, she is always WELL" Nav
lifted her brows slightly. "Aren't Won
Aggie?"
"0f course chimed in Ida. mo
studies to tax her mind"
mo long hours of practicing"
agreed Grace. I'm going to my les
son now"
MY Spanish conversation class
meets at H." said Ida rising.
20, I'd almost forgotten my ap-
pointment with the dressmaker!
calculated May.
Even Harry announced that he
was "goin' fishin' with a feller," and
disappeared.
Agatha, the little brown sparrow of
the house, the Martha who was soil
citous about many things" had been
gone ten days when old Dr.. Ardell
brought a young physician home with
him to dinner. His name was A fami-
liar one to the household. His fame
as the most promising young surgeon
of the city had been exploited. The
conservatism of the elder medical man
had mellowed into liberal praise when
he spoke of the intellectual power and
scientific achievements of the young
er. His welcome was assured He
was futteringly received by the three
! young ladies and their mother. Not
one of them, however, was prepared
for his dashing presence and personal
charm. May rejoiced that her hair
was deliberately coiffured, and her
gown cut to show her round throat
to advantage. Ida kept the conversa-
tion scintillating and rather unintel-
! ligible, by her brilliant remarks made
in different foreign tongues And af-
ter dinner Grace played her noisiest
and sang her loudest for his especial
delectation. But throughout the din
ner and the social evening that fol-
lowed, DR.. Ryder was frequently per-