The Dolores star., 1903-10-16

leaves was Nbllcu uy uuuShcS VI sfokco,
currants, cherries, flowers, birds and
butterflies Then the inside was plas-
tered with blue paint. What was on my
tongue was never spoken, for the blue
eyes danced with delight at my sup
posed pleasure, and how could be
cross to Toms widow"
"Could you never get it on ?" asked,
pitifully.
"Never My vases were ruined. The
next really dreadful deed. varied by atroc-
tiles of minor Importance, was Daisy's
discovery Of my great-grandmother's
wedding-dress, white-brocaded fatin
that we cherished far more than any
old gold, but which Daisy ruthlessly
cut into p;ncushicls, embroidcring
each one and producing them triumph
antIy for Christmas surprise. The
girls were here-my girls-and my
sons and their wives, and there arose
such howl as sent the wee blue-eyed
mite to my arms in sheer terror. II
was at that party that Willie Norman.
whose brother is my kate's husband,
FIRST saw Daisy. Long after the Others
bad forgotten the pincushions, l saw
Willie in a corner with Daisy, evident
ly consoling her. Two babies, togeth-
er, my dear, though Willie is the dear
est fellow! He came over quite often
after that (they live at Fernwood, ten
miles from bere), and was kind enough
to discover all sorts OF latent talent in
Daisy for decorating everything with
in reach. What I suffered from the
decalcomania fever never can be de-
scribed.
"IAcan imagine it had five sisters.
and we were all smitten," said. What
started as beauty to cover unsightly
spots soon became frenzy! Ny moth
er came to the rescue at last and
scrubbed away every inch"
willie brought her all the designs
TO be found, and carried the china she
decorated (?) to be baked! Oh, my
dear. The tea set made in Canton for
Mr.. Craige's grandmother's wedding
present, with gilt nlnnograms and
quaint handles to the cups. all different,
was decorated, carried off by Willie, the
| horrible pictures all baked In and then
presented TO me for birthday gift.
| l could not tell you half, no, not the
| twentieth part of the dreadful destruc-
ton You can see, dear. that the house
is finished inside with oak, to which
| not a brush had ever been touched,
but years of rubbing, waxing and pol
ishing have nude like glass. We pride
ourselves, l assure you, upon our oak
| finish"
And we'll you may" said. II have
admired it more fhan can tell you"
Then you can imagine my consterna-
ton when / came home, after n fort
nights visit to my daughter, Marian.
to find Daisy was painting the doors
of the dining-room in, panels. Willie
had put on the flrst coat all over two
doors-white paint, my dear! The
panels were in red, blue, green,yellow
each q different color-and upon each
a different design. Such spiky grass!
such stiff leaves, that looked as II they
were cut out of tin! such wooden birds,
that looked as If their wings were held
apart with skewer! such staring roses,
aaring with red paint"
"'such an altogether quoted, as
the dear old lady paused.
II groaned in spirit, but consoled my
self by hoping that some new fancy
would spare my grand old oaken doors
And my hopes were verified. Daisy
tired of panel painting when the din
ing-room was finished, and last spring
had the doors planed down. They
are little thinner, but will polish up
to the old tone in time.
but after that day Willie was more
| Lar ~
though more devoted to her. She had
been with me then nearly three years,
and she had recovered from her first
grief. She was very young, not 20
when Tom died, and looking like lit
tie girl. So when she shyly ventured
upon white dress and some blue rib
bons, and came down to tea looking
frightened at her own temerity, said,
lovingly:
What pretty dress, and how pretty
my Daisy looks in it,
You don't think it is forgetting
Tom, do you? she asked, with quiver-
ing lips.
I am quite sure you will never for
get Tom, / said, kindly, for she was
trembling all over, but am as sure that
Tom loved you too well to wish your
young life spent in mourning, even for
him. 1t is natural for you to be joyous,
dear, and nothing gives me so much
pleasure as to hear you sing or see you
smile
"She had been wearing her blue rib
bons for some months when the scrap
picture and card-collecting lunacy
started. / bore my portion of the
inartyrdom as valiant1y as could. ]
saw priceless old Chinese jar that was
an heirloom plastered over with butter
flies and gtotesquc heads, and var
nished, and did not faint; I endured
patiently when costly Japanese vase,
q present from dear old friend, shared
the same fate; but at last the tradition
a straw was laid upon the camers
back"