The suburban citizen., 1901-06-01

BY Monday morning the family had
already fallen into the habit of linger-
| ing at the breakfast table. There was
much to linger for. Three times in
succession Mr.. Howard had put his
coffee down untasted, to laugh heartily
at lively slxirmish between Preston
Ellis and Jean Fairfax.
would you two mind suspending
hostilitles for few moments:"
QueTied Tom. 81 should like to plan
a little gadding. How about tally-ho
party for Thursday? We don't own
one Of those swell things ourselves,
but know of first-class one we could
hire, and pretend we owned it when
once we were out of town."
ooh, good" ~
Nell's eyes shone with excitement,
but Tom suddenly looked doubtful.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, sis, l really for
got you" he said contritely "Are
you sure you could stand il? It's
long ride, you know, and you might
find it firing"
"Why, Of course I could stand It'll
What nonsensep Nell turned to her
brother in incredulous astonshment.
"Well, If you really think it wouldn't
exhaust you," he said obviously. Then,
turning to the others he added, in
grave explanation:
"You see, Nells health has been
very delicate since her return from
school. 1 suppose she studied too hard,
but she seems all worn out-just hangs
around without any ambition at all,
and we want her to be in better shape
before she goes back"
He said it with such frank innocence
Of manner, and turned toward her
with such touchingly solicitous air,
that It was out of the question to take
exception to this remarkable state
ment. Nelrs cheeks burned as she
remembered that she had never looked
plumper and healthier in her life. She
felt hysterical desire to laugh as
Billy Ellis turned to her with a won
derlng, as that so? Why, now, that's
too bad" But after all, 1t was no
laughing matter. Billy was rejecting
that it was extremely disappointing
that Toms pretty sister should be one
of the eternally tired kind.
"Well, then, the tally-ho goes for
Thursday" continued Tom, equally.
"And Billy and 1 were saying yester.
day that it would be jolly to have an
all-day, out-Of-doors, dc-as-yOu-please
trip down the river, a sort of picnic
with modern improvements, and take
a load of things for the inner man.
How about that, mother? Is Katie
too busy? Would it be much trouble
to get us up some stuff for to-mor-
row"
"If it is going to make Mrs. Howard
any trouble" announced Billy Ellis,
decidedly, 'lt won't come off, and that
settles it,"
"Why, can do itp' quickly inter
posed Nellie. Mother needn't do any
thing"
Eyes, and I'll help. Mrs. Howard
mustn't do qN,pgle thing but sit in a
big chair and give orders. Nell and
l can do it ALL"
Jean nodded her head conclusively
as she made this statement, but Toms
anxious gaze was again bent on his
sister.
Don't be reckless, sis. There will
be lot Of extra cooking to do, you
know, and it might give you one of
your headaches. know you used to
make cakes and things, bur you're not
used to it now, and we don't want you
to oyerdo yourself"
80, Tom, how utterly ridiculous!
Why, l am just as we'll as-as you
are!"
Nell tried to speak lightly, but she
could have cried then and there. 1t
was too humiliating for a plump, rosy
girl OF nineteen to be held up before
strangers as q detected invalid.
Toms medicine was by no means
exhausted, in fact, he considered that
his heroic treatment was just begun,
but Mrs. Howard had keener eyes
than he for signals of distress, and
she felt that Nell had been punished
enough Her eyes conveyed a quiet
warning to Tom, who responded gal
lOntly and led the conversation
promptly to less personal topics.
When Mrs. Howard went into the
kitchen a few moments later, she
found her daughter and Jean already
there, attired in yoiuminous aprons.
Katie more than ever busy with this
houseful of young people on her hands,
had thankfully improved the oppor-
tunity to slip upstairs. Nell was busy
collecting materials for her cakes, but
there were signs Of n storm in her
flushed face and unsteady lips. AS
Mrs. Howard opened the door, she
recklessly dropped an egg and hurled
herself tempestuously into those ever
ready arms, which closed warmly
about her.
20, mamma, mamma, think Tom is
just too horr.dl 1 know I've been a
mean, selfish thing, and 1 just hate
myself, but l will help you all can,
and won't wear that horrid sack, or
come down late, or be lazy and care
less, or-or-oh, dearw