The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-04-15
CHAPTER /.

the greatest abOminat1On In exist
ence!" said Reginald, threading his
way through his innumerable broth
ers and sisters to the schoolroom
fireplace. A small sister had possess
sion of the best armchair, faded
chintz concern with ears to it. Reg
gle. of course, dislodged her and took
possession, while little Lefty, perfect
ly satisfied of the droits dame, made
no remonstrance, but squatted on the
rug.
They were all there Reggie, home
from Oxford; the beautiful Janet,
who enjoyed the privilege of being
grown up; Arthur, whose future fate
was not decided, but who was the
tallest, handsomest and most attrac-
tive looking of lads, though all unan-
imously declared that he had inher-
tied Saxon wit with Saxon beauty,
and would never do any good with
his brains. Little Lefty, on the
hearth rug. crept up and leant
against his long legs, sure of not be-
ing rejected there, even though she
might be an inconvc nience and al
ways in the way.
lola, an abbreviation of Ceneren-
tola, or the Cinderwitch, sat upon the
table; little sunburnt brunette of
seventeen, with curly brown hair and
eyes like diamonds; and she had chill
dren all about her. Tommy, Johnnie,
Mary Cilly, Jack Eddie! No wonder
the splendid Reggie looked down on
the herd with the outspoken expires.
sion of disgust, which nobody minded
in the least. {
Janet settled her hair before the
cracked old mirror. well, Reggie, :"
she saidH, having called family
council, what is the result? Are we
not all in committee?" !.
you know as well as do, !"
growled Reggie. We must resolve
L ourselves into Committee of Ways
and Means. There is something up. !"
Something down, you mean" said
Tommy, who was scribbling at
table. Mothers eyes are red"
That's nothing new, said lola,
sorrowfully, hugging the baby.
Don't jaw" said Reggie, giving
Tommy little kick, which extorted
"a growl of Shut up-dol"
l imagine" said Janet, coming
forward. and looking lovely. shat
the last remaining hope of the family,
the last diner at the tenants dinner,
has given notice to quit.
And like our first parents we shall
be reduced to living vaguely on the
fruits of the earth" said Tola.
And how to avert it,"
by putting our shoulders to the
wheel" said Arthur. @Of course, we
fellows must take whatever work
comes in our way"
Reggie" said Janet, timidly, II
have taken step already. I have
put in an advertisement offering my.
self as lady help, and have two
or three answers here, which kept
to open at our meeting"
So that was the secret of our daily
walks to Plumtree postoffice?" cried
lola. aQuick, Janet, do see what they
are about"
Janet opened the first two letters
and read them at first gaily, then
falteringly. The one offered intolera-
BILE conditions, and the second held
out no hope of any salary.
@Oh, dear! Oh, dear!" she sighed.
@This. win never do. Now for my
last hope"
The third letter proved to be only
an agents advertisement.
II am glad of it." said Arthur
Nonsense. Janet; mother would
never hear of such a thing. What
could possess you to imagine it? Let
us be serious. You can still have
Uncle Alfred's clerkship, l suppose,
Redge?"
II suppose So" rather sullenly.
@Sixty pounds year, after sending
me to Oxford, too. / wonder how he
has the facet"
II wouldn't despise sixty pounds a
year." said Arthur. Il wieh had a
chance of it.-n
II never said did despise it; only
when one has been brought up to ex-
pect everything to be so differ
emit"
4Hushl" cried Tola. as not that
papa calling?"
A stentorian voice rang through
the house.
Boys. say. boys."
Reginald rose slowly and went
downstairs
Poor boy! 1t is hard on him. /"
said Janet. s'I really did think
Uncle Alfred would have acted differ
emily"
II think it was very kind of him, I"
said lola: "and after all Reggie's
protestations, it seems that he wants
to give up the only chance any one
OF us has had, except Tommy
Tommy"
Yes, Tommy. No! don't frown at
me. did not mean to let it out, but
as have begun may as well finish.
Tommy has earned ten shillings from
4. - "a