Middletown transcript., 1909-02-27

/ O-nAN
! And ID the face Of her wither-
ing sarcasm the sisters were
silent.
But they did not go to bed.
They nodded ia their chairs, and
at midnight Miss Emmeline said,
wistfully, as she looked at Vic.
torine's supper, still set forth on
the silver tray, I'm hungry.
Miss Aspasia shook her head.
/ wouldn'teatany oft, she said,
Victorine may want it when she
comes.
It was two O'Clock when they
heard the rattle Of the cab on the
empty street. /;
/ She's here! they said, breath
lessly, and ran to let her ia.
She was paying the man, and
her low laugh came to them.
Oh! oh. she said. Did you sit
up, You bad little ladies? 1 told.
you to go to bed.
Something in her voice made
the sisters laugh in response.
They had never been called. ttbad
little ladies" in that affectionate
way, and they liked it.
Tell him where to putsit, said
the voice again, and then they
saw that the cabman was stag
gering under fat trunk, and
they made way for him.
And after the cabman came
Victorine, radiant, glowing, ex-
quisite- She kissed them, and
hugged Josephus, and cried, Oh,
it's lovely to be here! It was
perfectly ducky of you to let me
come!
Miss Aspasia held the girls
hand in allowing clasp, while Miss
Emmeline beamed on her, and
said, And now, my dear, are you
hungry
Hungry! said Victorine. 4
could eat a house!
Miss Aspasia dropped her
hand. We've saved you little
supper, she said. Perhaps we
should get you something more.
Victorine's quick eyes caught
the trouble in the old faces, and
she remembered what her mother
had told her of the careful man.
agement that had kept the two
little ladies from extreme pow
erty.
No, indeed! she said, quickly. |
If you'll just make a cup of tea
while I get into something COM
Portable. Then her arms went
around Miss Aspasla again. I've
just been pining to see you, she
said. Mother has told me of the
time when you were girls to-
gether, and how Miss Emmeline
liked tarts and you liked to write
poetry. And now that she isn't
here felt that I just had to
come to you and Miss Emneline.
Precious child murmured Miss
Aspasia. and wished that the
pink cushion was in place on the
mahogany dresser.
Please don't plan anything but
the tea, Victorine directed, as
she went upstairs. ! have son Q
things in the little trunk my
other trunks will come up in the
morning.
Miss Aspasia followed, taking
in, with fashion-starved eyes, the
cut of the tailored gray suit, the
bunch of yiolets and lilies of the
valley that frightened the front
Of it, the trim hat with the gray :
veil.
Victorine, on her knees, lifted !
out the tray Of the fat trunk. Iee
bought snch things in New York
the shops were perfectly ire.
sistible. / found this kimono for
myself, and she displayed one Of
faint mapve crepe, with wisteria
blossoms trailing over it, and
5hese l bought for you and Miss !
ii
Oh! Miss Aspasia quavered, as
she gathered up the exquisite i
pale blue garment, all sprinkled !
With cherry blossoms.
Miss Emmelinass was 9 cheer
Jul affair Of gray, with q fight of u
swallows across if, and q cherry q
'olored border of satin. b
Put it on, Victorine urged, and 2
'e comfortable. We win make q
hight of it, dear Miss Aspasia. u
And Miss Aspasia, with her p
Eyes shining like q girls, ran
lown to Emmeline. e
Oh, the lovely, lovely child, En- Y
neline! she said, Witha break in 4
Ter voice. She has brought ns !,
hese! =,
They put on the kimonos, sur q,
'eying themselves almosts stealth