Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-10-29

|
his hand.
What does this mean, girls :" be asked.
"Where is Susan 2"
Gone" wac my answer.
"Gone, actually gone," said he, land
leaving me only this unsatisfactory letter?
l really believe this is some silly joke"
"Ask Mrs. Ward. is you wish to be sat
isfed, said l. ''Susau went away very
unwillingly, but there was not even an
hours time TO lose, else she would have
waited till you came. She had time to write
only that letter"
"Couldn't her distant relative take any
other time to catch fever but the present."
| said Charles, with the nearest approach to
| i'll humor that | ever knew him to indulge
in. ''lps the most provoking thing that
ever happened"
Poor fellow 1 actually began to pity
him when l witnessed his terrible disap-
| pointment-but it was too late Cor me to
repent now.
1--WE are to have a visitor soon," said
Mrs. Ward, the next morning at the break
fast table. 81 expect tomorrow afternoon
an aunt of mine, whom have not seen for
many years. Though she is quite old, and
very eccentric, she is one of the kindest
hearted creatures that ever lived. / hope
you will all like her, and make her visit
agreeable, for she is very fond of young
people"
Charles, who was iu state of absent
mindedness, endeavoriug to balance his
spoon upoc the edge Of his cup, muttered
something which different people in;erpret-
ed different ways.
Mrs. Ward supposed Charles was OK
pressing his intention Of making Aunt
Hannah's visit agreeable, and thanked
him accordingly. Mary and | thought
otherwise, but then we were not sure about
the matter.
Are you nearly ready, young ladies ?"
was Charles question, the next day, as be
strobe into our presence, with the look of
a martyr. Mary and put away our work,
and prepared for walk, for we had solmn.
~ promised Charles that we would 20
down to the station with him to receive
Aunt Hannah.
As we approached the spot, the train
came rushing along and when it had fair
ly stopped, crowd of passengers poured
upon the platform. 10 vain we looked for
any one who might resemble Aunt Han
nah. Upon the face Of Charles there was
look eli exultStiou, but, as still observed
him, l saw his eyes suddenly fixed in one
direction, and the glow Of exultation faded
into look of horror. | turned nv ewes
toward the train, and there just emerging
from the last carriage of the train, was a
venerable figure surmounted by hideous
black bonnet The next instant Charles
sprang forward, and we saw him gliding
the lettering steps through devious ways,
toward the spot where we stood. Nothing
could exceed the attention and Difference
which Charles showed to Aunt Hannah
upon our homeward walk. And much did
the venerable lady need his care, for she
seemed exhausted with her Journey, and
leaned heavily upon her companions
arm.
'-IIave you had o pleasant journey, mad.
am 70 was Charles question, by way Of
opening conversation.
"a pleasant journey! Now, young man
what pleasure could a person of my age
expect in travelling? l declare think it
lucky thing | ever got so far alive"
And here Aunt Hannah in a very ener-
getic manner suddenly unfurled huge.
green silk umbrella.
The sight Of Charles, with an enormous
| old fashioned basket upon one arm, Aunt
Hannah upon the other, and the well worn
umbrella, which, owing to the unsteady
grasp of the old lady, had propensity for
ion, was enough to upset my gravity, but
! cOntrived to preferve sober countenance
until reached the solitude Of my own
room.
allow far is it to Mrs. Wards, young
mann" asked Aunt Hannah, turning her
gaze upon Charles
Charles informed her as to the exact dis
lance to Mrs. Wards, and the old lady
| continued in a musing tone:
when young, my niece used to be one
Of the busiest people ever knew-always
up and hard at work before other folks be-
| gan to think of such thing-and such
famous hand at cakes, and pies, and jellies.
Young man, are you fond ofjelles?"
This question, fired at him like ball
| from a cannon, was rather too much for
| Charles gravity. He blushed and STAN
mered, and muttered something that was
| inaudible
"Ha !" said Aunt Hannah, stopping sud
denly, and looking suspiciously at her com
| paDion, you've lost my basket"
| sight Of that article, however, quieted
her apprehensions, and the old lady resum>
| ed her walk.
| That evening, contrary to our expecta-
tions, Aunt Hannah appeared among Us
dressed in O well preserved silk gown, cut
in the quaintest fashion, and huge white
cap, the border Of which hung down over
her face. A pair of blue glass spectacles
through which she peered curiously, gave
Aunt Hannah an exceedingly venerable
look.
Hun, young man." said the visitor,
seating herself near Charles. for whom she
seemed to have taken a violent liking, and
as she seated herself, glanced sharply at
Mary and me, ''you seem to be fond Of the
society of young ladies'"
YES madam, and the society Of all la
dies, old or young" was Charles grave and
polite answer.
At these words genial glow overspread
aunt HaDnah's face, and she stroked her
dress comylacently. Then taking a huge
skein of knitting cotton from her basket,
she requested Charles assistance iu holding
1t for her, while she wound it into ball,
but SO slow were her movements and so
often interrupted by sage remarks, that the
long hours of that evening. which we were
to have devoted to reading an interesting
book, were passed by Charles holding his
hands in mid-air, watching the slow wind
ing Of the skein. and answering in mono,
sylables the old lady's Interesting remarks
A week passed by very happily Aunt
Hannah sewed and knitted, and seemed as
fond as ever Of talking to Charles But,
| strange to say. since the fret evening of
her arrival, Charles hsd shown marked
repugnance &c her society. He failed in
none of the attentions that are usually ex
pected from the other sex by ladies, and
elderly ladies in particular, but his man
ner was much changed. He had more than
once remarked to Mrs. Ward, that her aunt
was indeed very eccentric, and this had
been said in such peculiar tone, that we
had many secret misgivings. Il was evil
dent that Aunt Hannah also perceived the
change in her favorite, and was affected by
it, for ofteutimes we detected her stealing
anxious glances at Charles, and then hast