Show Mrs Wilton’s Expectations By JANE RICHARDSON (Copyright by Short Mrs Wilton sat In consultation with her three daughters the day after her husband's funeral She had been a great belle In her girlhood — a large florid woman with an abundance of blonde hair The two elder girls Cecilia and Edith resembled her both in appearance and In the Indolent good nature which was their Susan mother’s chief characteristic the younger had been named by her father for his mother and the name suited her She reminded one of flower She some plain had been born with the instinct of helpfulness and all her life had been which others ready to do the tasks shirked or over which they rebelled and grumbled Her husband's sudden death had been an overwhelming blow to Mrs Wilton She was as helpless as a baby and the two elder daughters there was scarcely less dependent nothing by which either of the two might have added to their income “Cecelia might take up her music again and fit herself for teaching” she said “There are already 27 music teachers in Madison mother” Susan interposed he "There's your uncle Jabez is certain to help us He never forgets us at Christmas nor on any of your birthdays Though he hadn’t seen your father since he went out to California he was very fond of him when they were boys and he always meant to visit us” “No he won’t forget us” Cecilia echoed hopefully “We can’t depend upon that either” said the practical Susan “he may 'remember’ us and he may not” "You disapprove everything” said Edith “What do you advise— thaij we shall march in procession to the with mamma at the head?” "What I propose" said Susan unhesitatingly “is that wy'turn this house into— a boarding house” There was an exclamation of hor- ror They had always! prided them-selves— with all their I “Open the house to everybody and and they shook anybody— never" their heads vehemently “To anybody that is respectable — unand can pay” Susan replied abashed In the end she had her way The house was soon filled with the usual floatsam and that drift Jetsam through life content with or temporarily resigned to their homelessness the young rector of St Jude's Miss Vantage the principal of the high school a rich widow with her two daughters several young business men among whom was Richard Burrell to whom Susan had been engaged for a year All were tractable and reasonably well content except old Mr Worthington There was but one room vacant when he came a small stuffy chamber in the rear but after much faultfinding he said that it would do He was exacting about the cooking and imperious in his demands for hot water although Mrs Wilton said plaintively that she could not understand why since he apparently used so little But she grew accustomed to him as one gets used to a pinching shoe and turned him over to MIsb Vantage who played chess with him occasionFrom her he learned of their ally “expectations” and that their relative in California had really sent them the money with which to undertake the boarding bouse “More fool he” remarked the old man crossly as he protested against an unforeseen checkmate “They’re a worthless pack” “O don’t say that!” exclaimed the schoolteacher "I’m sure Miss Susan is as good as gold" “Well — she's all right maybe” he admitted tentatively making another It was- true: Susan unlucky move was as good as gold They had held their own and no more Susan had not expected to grow rich and was grateful that they had not fallen into debt But the house had suffered the furniture began to show signs of hard usage the carpets were growing threadbare and the profits of the business would certainly not enable her to replace them when they were quite gone And she She had insisted had other troubles upon releasing Burrell from his engagement arguing that his salary was not more than sufficient for two She would not consent that he should be burdened with the support of her as hundreds of mother and sisters other women had done before her Burrell who was superintendent of the electric light works had to admit that she was right and while he released her be did so with the clear Stories Co Ltd) understanding that he considered himself still irrevocably bound and should continue to do so as long as she lived or until she married some other man And moreover he came to board with them and found consolation in seeing her constantly and helping and comforting her in a thousand ways He was especially fortunate in being able to mollify old Mr Worthington listening patiently to his complaints and his interminable stories and he even relieved Miss Vantage at chess permitting himself to be beaten with the utmost amiability But his Indulgence drew the line at the old man's criticism of the house and its Not only did he stop management him but he intimated pretty plainly r rn expected arrival by some sort of in tuition Mrs Wilton ran upstairs after they had gone to see if any thing needful had been forgotten in the guest chamber On the threshold she detected an unmistakable odor of tobacco She opened the door and stood transfixed There sat old Mr Worthington in his shabby dressing gown lounging in the armchair smoking his pipe his slippered feet on the fender Newspapers were scattered about and he had been lying on the lounge as the disordered pillows made evident “Well really Mr Worthington!” said Mrs Wilton her eyes flashing — she knew him to be capable of anything — “I must say that this is unpardonable” She was always ladylike He turned and glanced at her calmly over his shoulder and did not stir “Sit down Arabella” he said at length “and don't excite yourself ” Arabella indeed! Addressing her by her Christion name! He had never been quite so Impertinent as this She walked across the room and stood beside him panting with indignation "I've a right here” he said with unusual mildness “I’m the man you’ve for and Susan will fixed up I’ve been not find me at the station in your house some time as you’ll allow” Mrs Wilton did not in the least comprehend what he was saying she she could not was so dazed that speak “This has been done before” he went on “I’ve read about it I wanted to’ tnake certain as to who and what you all were before entering into an Sit arrangement that I might regret down do” And thus urged she dropped limply into a chair beside him The truth at last dawned upon her but she could only look at him in silence “You’ve been really kind and patient— and I’ve tried you purposely I like you Arabella — and Susan She may have this house if you agree — it will be just the thing — and you and the other girls may go back to California with me if you have no better plan” Mrs Wilton had no better plan and it was so arranged Old Mr Worthington “I reckon I that he was ungrateful am” he replied gruffly “but I haven’t any patience with their fool talk about their rich kin I don't believe they have any” This however was to be at last proved beyond cavil Mrs Wilton received a letter from Jabez Wilton’s agent in San Francisco — he never wrote himself he always telegraphed The letter stated that Mr Jabez Wilton would start east that morning and be with them five days later Mighty preparations began at once Mrs Wilton insisted upon giving up her own room to Uncle Jabez and went to the expense of buying a new she also carpet and new curtains brought out the few remaining relics of their former prosperity — pictures embroidered and and cushions The eventful day came dull and threatening with a biting east wind A fire crackled in the grate casting rosy shadows upon the wall and ceiling of the cheerful room which was in readiness for its prospective occupant At the last moment Susan had filled a bowl with splendid yellow chrysanthemums and placed it upon a table by the window The train was due at four o'clock and Burrell and Susan had gone to the station hoping to recognize the New Musical Instrument There is something new under the musical instrument sun according to a statement in Vienna paper When Gustav Manler’s new symphony is produced thgre w’Atho in tlwj orchastra anwinstrument “wTiK:h no one has ever called musical” It is our well known friend the automobile horn — not the new many toned siren but the old basso profundo bark which at some time has startled us all But that is not the latest Paderewski’s new symphony will introduce the tentitu-owhich is an invention of the pianist’s It will take the place of the instruments which until now have been used to produce thunder sounds in the orchestra A Fresh Air Fallacy If you want to purify your blood it is of little value to Inflate your chest The blood in pouter pigeon fashion your lungs takes up just as much oxygen as your muscles call for and no more Exercise your legs Instead of your diaphragm and chest Even the inhalation of pure oxygen in diseases of the lungs has yielded disappointing results and is gravely questioned as to its theoretical basis— Outing Man Shows of Treatment Proper AppreAccorded Physician kept the doctor’s name permanently on the tablet of my memory and every year he gets the first and best watermelons that come to Baltimore At time he receives the “When a man in comfortable cir- Christmas cumstances is taken ill a long way choicest oysters that the Baltimore from home he expects to have to pay market can supply and in other ways the piper” said P S Snyder of Balti- I try to let him know that I appreciatmore at the Raleigh according to the ed the way he took care of me and hlr moderate charges” Washington Post “Some years ago I was traveling in Tide of Thirty-FivFeet western New York looking' into the The greatest tide ever known in fruit situation orchard products being my business when I was taken sud- the Pettitcodiac river since the terdenly ill in the village of Pen Yan rible hurricane of October 4 1869 and was laid up there for some time swept up the stream on October 1 1909 A local physician was called and derising 35 feet in six hours voted his time and talents to me for breaking down the dykes for miles ten days after which I left the town flooding the lowlands destroying the as well as ever was Before departhay crops and doing other damage to The full force ing however I asked the doctor for an immense amount my bill and I almost had a relapse of the violent tides of the bay of is thrown into the river twice a when I was told by him that for the ten or fifteen visits he made to me his day and In this case the wharves in charge was only $750 It was so un- Moncton were submerged and the usual to get treated so honestly that I warehouses and basements flooded Him by 4Ene Slosftess Chat on Interesting Topics of Many Kinds a Recognized Authority A Merry Christmas What better wish can be sent forth all the department readers than this one made by Charles Dickens bo many years ago? “Many many merry Christmases happy New Years unbroken friendships great accumulations of cheerful recollections affection on earth ind heaven at last for all of us” There it is all in a nutshell Just the ivish Mme Merrl extends to every one on the day of the Christchild’s birth when the joy bells are echoing their message of peace round this great world But to Insure “accumulations of cheerful recollections” we must begin 'this very minute to lay up our treasures by thinking of the next one who may need our ministrations rich is well as poor I was especially touched last week when I saw a deeply veiled woman whom sorrow has touched with a heavy hand having lost every member of her own family within a very short time leaving her absolutely alone making purchases of dainty trifles for children for servants and friends on both sides of the continent it took a stout heart to join with the merry throng and it was to me true bravery to even attempt to get away from what I knew her true feelings to be As I grow older I think the greatest art in the world Is that of We are so apt to think that we may be excused if we personally do not feel like rising to an occasion or entering into the spirit of this blessed holiday time There is a college girl who has had heavy financial losses making her usual gifts Impossible but to assure her friends that she does not forget she is writing the dearest notes on scarlet paper with gold ink sealing the envelopes with a to ' by Christmas emblem I think even the will smile overburdened postman when he delivers these bright mis- sives By the way how many of us ever think of the postman or ask if he has children to whom we could at least send a Christmas postcard? cakes fine marGifts of malades mince pies and cookies are to young housekeepers acceptable bachelors and college folk who may be unable to participate in the fesSpeak- tivities at their own homes ing of things to eat as nearly every one dines sumptuously in the middle of the day on Christmas this supper was planned to satisfy but the inner man who is generally taxed to the uttermost on feast days First there was an appetizing combination of fruits served in orange cups resting on a doily made of The mixture consisted holly leaves bananas of oranges grape fruit lemon Juice and grated pineapple sherry with sugar to sweeten It was chilled and seemed to be just the apThen came fried petizer necessary cold slaw oysters potato chips individual molds of cranberry jelly shrimp salad toasted crackers coffee cheese nuts and white grapes The salted nuts were-iboxes and little cards were tied to small Christmas tree boxes which were filled with bonbons wrapped in gilt paper MADAME MERRL 8tenciled Table Covers The arts and crafts are showing handsome table covers made up in dark intense tones of burlap with a heavy design stenciled over the surThese are face in an opposing tone excellent for the library and the sitting room Nursery Screens Inexpensive White Elephant Edition de Luxe What promises to be the most costly copy of Shakespeare’s works is at present in the making in New York This copy which will run into 40 volumes when completed will contain of thousands illustramagnificent tions and the binding is luxurious The value placed on each volume is $500 giving to the entire set when finished a prospective value of Feels Grateful to Doctor Baltimore ciation For A Daisy Top the nursery of each house is not an extra room into which NOWADAYS r furniture from other rooms and the rugs and Parents recognize the value of environment when their are children’s lives are in the impressionable Btage of development and playrooms to comfort for the little ones a view are furnished with giving beauty plus Screens are necessary to protect children from draughts for they are on the floors or very low down in their play hours These pieces of furniture are now decorated with pictures of animalB flowers and figures that bring days and are a joy to childish eyes They are exback to us our Why not decorate your own nursery screens! pensive if bought In the stores You know the special liking of your children and can buy plain forms upon which pictures can be pasted or painted Screens in two or three seo Denim is procurable in all staple shades tlons and of different heights are easily bought and the pictures you will sup ply yourself Animals are always interesting to little tots A clever older person ought The lines must be simple to be able to draw on white muslin an elephant for children are pleased with drawings which seem almost crude to us It ii an easy matter to cut other elephants from the first pattern and when you have supplied the eyes ears and a few flesh wrinkles paste the forms in a screen They will never be anything bul straight border at the top of your white elephants to you and your children Then there is the daisy top Huge white flowers with yellow centers and Yellow petals are effecton a blue background green leaves look very well ive on brown denim or a wooden panel at the top They should be arranged in grouped at one side a posteresque fashion with the flowers The possibilities are legion On plain screens which carry out the color made at home shine out in inexpensive glory Ing of the nursery let pictures You have no idea how well worth your efforts these simply decorated screens can be made They are scrapbooks on a large scale and give correspondingly and girls to little boys pleasure proportionate |