The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-07-25

old homestead and it's silent halls.
Why doesn't he go straight on to the
dear old homestead?'
ut is a rambling wreck"
$50 are We"
mot quite so bad as the Marstor
place, Jack. We've staid at home an6
kept the place up. We really look re-
spectacle on the outside, but furniture
will wear out"
"And pianos must be sold. Of course
he expects to find things just as they
used to be-
Mel sighed heavily and passed the re-
Vised telegram over to Jack.
Nothing is as it used to be. YOU
must get it Off as soon as possible
DEAR"
+ Jack read the economically worded
dispatch with a malicious twinkle in
his eyes.
":Don't miss lovely walk like
that You're cleverer than at it, Mel
Miss Henderson blushed guilty.. By
nature she was averse to subterfuges.
1--WE are going to borrow Cousin Sell
by's surrey while Teddy is here. But
it is all so sudden. Give me time
Jack"
"We're developing resources grandly.
Feed him on yellow silk dresses and
air him in borrowed equipages. How
about that boy who is to call for his
lordship's luggage? What IS he to be
evolved from?"
Mel pointed her blunt pencil point
mechanically at his vest buttons.
"He is already evolved-youv'
me? I'll be hanged if he isv'
'NoW, Jack, dear, see here"
Julia developed a sisterly solicitude
for the set of his cravat at this juno
ture and tenderly readjusted it.
"You know how we all lean on you,
Jack, in every emergency" 49,
"And you never have failed US yet"
said Nan.
ooh, lump it! l don't like to take my
physic in broken doses.''
ut won't be physic at ALL I just
know that you are the only one who
will extract moments pleasure out of
Teddy Marston's visit. 1t is going to
be unmitigated torture for us girls"
.'"Then he just shan't come" said
Jack stoutly. ''I'll make it my own af-
fair to intercept him at the station and
take him on to his own rambling
wreck"
In view of Mrs. Henderson's confirm
ed invalidism, her daughter INTELLIGENT
was the recognized head of the house.
hold. AS one in authority she quelled
Jacks INSTRUMENTATION with superb
wave of her long, slim hand.
"You will make it your business to
get that dispatch off without any de-
lay, my dear. That is all l ask of you
at present"
"The future has its potentialities, -
said Julia, with an accurate reproduc-
ton Of Mers gesture.
"a few kicks among them," Jack
flung back from the doorway, upon
whose knob he had deposited his hat
on entering.
| With Jack eliminated from the fam
lily council, harmony was once more
possible. A reflective silence held the
three Miss Hendersons for some mo-
ments. A groan from Julia was the
first audible sound. 81
"That hall carpet! 1t would take a
bale of cotton to cover some of it's
weak Spots"
"Oh, say, girls'-Nanny looked
from one to the other luminously-
"who was that Roman youth who
threw himself into gulf to save the
city,"
"Well, that is a digression!'
"Marius," Mel suggested tentatively.
mo; Pm sure it was not Marius."
Julius Caesar perhaps, or maybe
Mark Antony"
shocking! Poor Jack! We esteem
him lowly until we need him to pull us
out of the bogs of our own ignorance"
swell, you have no business dra gging
your old Roman into the discussion"
Even Mels patience had it's limitations:
Zone man at time, please, and Teddy
Marston is problem enough for the day.
What has your gulf jumper to do with
| him % >.s.r.-
"Everything. I'm going to emulate
him. am going to fling myself into
the gulf and save, if not Rome, dear.
er thing-our credit"
Perhaps Nan will kindly explain if
we give her time, Mellicent." Miss
Julia folded her hands with exaggerat.
ed resignation and fastened stern eyes
on her youngest sister,
"That's just what want, a little
time" And without further ado Nanny
futtered from the room, looking ex.
cessively unlike any Roman hero re.
corded in history, with her pretty blond
head and dancing step.
Miss Julia Henderson looked at Miss
1Iellicent perplexedly.