The Portland daily press., 1863-01-30

ly worked away at her sponge, the merry
smiles dmpling over her face, utterly uncOn-
scious of the Audience of one who was now con-
templating retreat.
But the adventures of the night were not
vet at close. As Aunt Miriam CROPPED
her way toward the path, lanenting the ptchy
darkness of the night and the cracking of the
crisp leaves as her not very classic foot shut
fed through them, every pulse in her frame
came to sudden pause OF terror, as pair OF
muscular arms were thrown round her, and a
noustache came in contact with her check.
Such kiss-Aunt Miriam couldn't remember
its like since the days when Peter Fenner
courted the beauty of the village. In vain she
struggled breathlessly to escape-whoever the
individual might be, he didn't do things by
halves, and evidently had no disposition TO re-
linquish his prize.
MY darling little Mily how did you know
/ was coming tonight"
Then came another kiss, before Aunt Mi
riam could excam in sitting accents
James Arnett, are you crazy? do let go of
me, and behave like a sensible creaturew
The arms unclasped with electric speed.
"Aunt Miriam! how on earth"
Hush! don't speak above your breath
There now-ifyou're going to laugh like that,
you'll raise the towns
81 can't help it, Aunt Miriam gasped
trying to check the gusts of laughter that
would come. "What will Uncle Peter say?
Who would have expected to find Mrs. Fen
ner. Vice President Of the Dorcas Society"
James, hold your tongue, if you don't want
me to box your ears. And if you breathe a
word of this to any living soul"
swell, won't, aunty-I won't, upon my
word; only the whole affair is so supremacy
ridiculous"
Nonsense" said Aunt Miriam, slipping
through the gate. "There, you needn't turn
back with me, you silly boy. Go in and see
Milly-l know that's what you prefer. And
Jamie"
swell, Aunt Miriam"
"Iv'e changed my mind about that little Milly
of yours. l don't believe you can find "a pref
tier wife, or better; so settle matters as soon
as you please and we'll see whether your old
Aunt Miriam has forgotten how to make we'd
ding cake"
"But are you in earnest Aunt?"
'Never was more so in my life"
"What has altered your convictions? surely
| may ask that one question:
That isn't at all 10 the purpose, young man.
But remember not word of this ridiculous
adventure"
you know how to administer brides, Aunt
Miriam" said the youth gaily, as he embodied
the old lady in his arms, and gave her yet a
tnifu Mss
Through the starless darkness she hurried
under the wind-tossed apple trees, and be-
meath the friendly shadow Of her own porch,
where Uncle Peters SHORES yet resounded like
mufiied trumpets.
what makes you so late, wife ?" demanded
drowsy voice from the inner apartment, as
she glided around, replacing shawls and wrap
pers. 1--WE been as fast asleep as dormouse,
l do believe-but did think heerd the click
of the bolt"
at must have been the kitten among the tin
pans," quoth Aunt Mriam-the nearest APP
preach to a flb she ever INDUCED in before or
after.
And in subsequent life, when the firm con-
viction seized her that James Arnett had i'm
parted her secret-in strict confidence of
course-to his pretty wife, she consoled her.
self by saying, mentally:
swell, / don't care If he has-for my part,
shall always be glad of that peep into Squire
Brownell's window"