Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-07-24


And there were many who cast
wordy scorn at the emptiness of that
vanity which made them all cling to-
gether under the moldering old roof,
which presented such fine exterior,
towering loftily among the magnolias
and spreading oaks, while inside things
were fast crumbling to decay.
The discussion on ways and means
that is, napkins and tumblers-had
reached the climax of an order for 90
dozen pressed glass tumblers, inexpen-
sive quality" written in Miss Melli-
cents clerkly hand, when the dining
room door was softly opened, reveal
| ing white capped and aproned maid
standing demurely on the threshold.
Miss Mellicent suspended her pencil
midair and stared. Miss Julia's stare
was of slighter duration. Nancy Hen
derson, what do you mean?"
The demure maid flung defiance at
them both from under her quilted wait
ress' cap. "You don't suppose am go
ing to let him know that we keep only
one servant, q cook?"
"But that is all we do keep, Nanny"
1--WE will keep waitress while Mr..
Ted is here. Girls, 1 am in the gulf.
How do you like Miss Quinticus Cur
thus, If that was his name. never
thought to put my private theatrical
properties to such good USE"
But he will ask for you. He knows
we are three"
81 can easily be away on a visit to
distant school friend"
Eyes, butt
Nov, see here, Julia"-and, with the
light Of defiance blazing in her great
clear gray eyes, Nancy turned upon
her second sister-"you are just to let
me alone. You remember the last let
ter mother ever received from her cous-
in, old Mr.. Marston? Do you remem-
Der what he said about the dearest
wish of his heart-that he hoped Ted
ington would return to America some
day and rehabilitate tlfe dear old home
stead, putting one of her dear daugh-
ters-thats us-at Its head as mistress?
Then he died." mournfully.
"And Teddy is returning to Amerl-
cap
ITO fulfill prophecy"
Whether Nanny's bold scheme for
putting a best foot foremost would
have received the final sanction of her
more conservative sisters will never
be known.
The front doorbell rang, or, rather,
sent an intermittent wheeze through
the great bare hall, and, being nearest
the door, Nanny answered the sum-
mons.
| The low murmurs Of strange voice
sent two of the Misses Henderson
trembling toward the open door, where
they crouched out of sight with the
ayowed purpose of housekeeping.
please say to Mrs. Henderson that
l changed my plans about stopping in
New Orleans and followed Immediate
ly on the heels of my telegram. hope
she got the telegram"
"Yes, sir. This morning, sir, heard
the young ladies say"
Mellicent gasped. Julia clutched her
fiercely by the arm and Kissed in her
ear:
'There's no help for it now. We've
SOt " SOS ACl lulOuSus leuSG uOu
get Mysteries, Mel"
"Only this morning. There must have
been some delay" the guest was say
ing. 81 am afraid, them
"Oh, it's all right, sir. Just step
into the parlor. I'll tell the ladies'
The boy'll take your bag up" With
which the eayesdroppers could hear
Nanny patter officially across the hall
to open the great mahogany door to
the seldom used parlor.
Miss Mellicent fell white and limp
into the chair nearest her.
"Well, we are in for it. shall have
nervous prostration before the day is
over.'
Julia looked wrathfully at her and
quoted:
81 think we had best not get excited,
dear, or flurried."
| Here white frilled cap was project
ed into the low voiced confab.
Girls, he's just splendid-a great
big, handsome, manly fellow, with the
sweetest smile. Remember, he is here
to fulfill prophecy. Now, don't let my
sacrifice go for naught." She was
pouring out glass of water. "He's
been used to white capped mattresses.
Called me my good girl with the most
urbane composure. After Tve watered
him Pm going to take him into nam
mas room and give you girls chance
to primp."
Miss Mellicent protested.
"But 1 haven't said word to Aunt
Joliff about dinner"
Nanny stamped her foot in man
ner out of all keeping with her cap and
apron.
leave Aunt Joliff and the dinner to
me. There must be some ladies' to do
the entertaining"
With which she disappeared, carry
ing the tray with its glass of water
upon it as deity as if her experience
of maids duties had extended far
beyond the boards of the private the
atricals she SO ardently affected.
Miss Mellicent often declared in aft
er years that she felt that day as If
they were all playing in private theat-
ricals, OF, as Jack lucidly put it, "Ev-
erything was SO exactly as 1t wasn't"
Their inconvenient guest alone was
calm, self possessed, well groomed
reality when they all assembled around
the dinner table, with Nan standing de-
murely behind Miss Mellicents chair,
tray in hand, ready to pass the soup.
Later on, when, after an evening de.
voted to reminiscent talk chiefly, Mar
ston had followed Jack to the stately
chamber assigned him. that young
man briefly summarized his own view
of the situation.
II tell you we're lot of frauds. He's
got enough man in him to take us in
the rough"
mo one can take us in the rough,
Jack"
"Well, then, just as we are. Some
body's going to let the cat out of the
bag
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