Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-09-28
Vol. X.


work off on the shoulders of q smart youpj
son-in- Law"
Uncle Abner won't want his gals T.
marry any more than other folks, and
shouldn't be bit surprised if they was olc
maids after all"
A number of days passed, and Aun
Prissy got The notion into her head tina
there was mystery going on in the hous
= something to be hushed up and kept ou
of sight. She had heard her brother Bel
and his wife talking late at night; and Asa
her fayorite, seemed hardly himself. II,
hurried in to his meals. and was Off again
: appearing to have lost his relish for fur
) and jokes, although he was unusually par
ticular about his clothes. Nathan, the
/, younger brother, kept nudging and pokiDa
Asa; and twice he made him downrigh h
: yexed, 50 that Uncle Ben was obliged to
speak, Though the-e was = queer, dry
! smile curing round ms lips at the time. =
Aunt Prissy pricked up her ears and open
ed her eyes, and wondered what was to
pay, but she was too proud to ask.
81 should just like to know what Asa
brought home from Milton in that big pa
per bundle" said she, trotting out after
her sister-in-law into the sweet milk room.
"Why, did he bring homo bundle ??
inquired Mrs. Babbett, tsting off a skim
merful of thick, yellow cream, and looking
half guilty at her pretence OF ignorance.
eyes, of course he did; and you know it
well enough, Mirandy. There's some con-
juring going ON in this house, that you're
all trying TO hide from me; but, thank the
Lord, my curiosity woiit kill me !" And
she founced back into the sitting-roem
before Mrs. Babbett could devise an an
sWer.
In spite of her offended dignity, the old
lady kept thinking of that bundle and at
last she opened the chamber-door, and
crept up the stairs, and slipt into Asa's
room softly pulling out the bureau drawer,
for fear Mirandy should hear squeak and
| guess what she was about.
II yum p she exclaimed. almost loud
:'ifhere amt q bran-new suit of clothes
the finest kind of broadcloth, as smooth
and shiny rs satin, every bit good enough
TO be married in, and better than his father
ever had since the Gay he was born. The
extravagent dog I wander what he wants
of n white vest 2" i
Aunt Prissey let her investigations e1-
tend further. and discovered some tasteful
necktIes, evidently right out of the store,
and packet of what appeared to be gloves,
| although she did MT dare to open it, and II
bottle, she said to herself, "of that nasty
scent stuff folks nowadays smear onto
| their Observation-Disclosures. Pugh !" (and
she put it to her nose) "Id as soon smell
of pigweed."
When Mrs Babbett came into the sitting
room ready to slick up bit, after her
mornings work, there Aunt Prissy sat by
| the little cornering window, with the dim
ity curtain futtering in the fresh breeze,
and breaking the shadows of the morning
glory vines and balsams opening white aud
red in the little strip of brown bed be-
meath. The Jerome place looked just as
open and inviting as usual, with dew cling
ing to the pink roses about the porch
and a pair of tripping hands playing
merry tune on the piano. Aunt Prissy had
forgotten her tiff, and thought best to con-
ceal her discovery concerning the clothes.
Gland O. Goshen said she all of sud-
den, '.if there amt our Asa going in the
Jerome's front-gate. What aren't can he
have at this time O. day? And. Henry
Fisher has just hitched his horse by the
post. l think them girls ought to be ash
AIMED OF themselves. Uncle Abner is COM
ing out now, and Mathildy has run out
after him, with that rag-bag stuck on the
back of her head, all frizzled and frowzied.
don't see how anybody can call that girl
purity. She a fussipg round the old man
brushing his coat, and quirking up his
hair, and be looks pleased as Cufy. [ do
believe Uncle Abner is getting childish.
Mercy on us. Melindy, Elder Halleck has
just arruy ii his shay; and they've brought
some chairs out onto the stoop, and Uncle
Alb has gone round the house with him.
I've as good mind as ever | had to eat to
happen over and see what it's all about
Couldn't you trump up some excuse for
me, Melindy? You know I don't want to
have it appear rs if mistrusted anything"
''You might borrow nutmeg" replied
Mrs. Babbett, demurely, looking down at
her work. II thought should make some
cake, and we are lust olt'
That's the talk" said Aunt Prissy. So
she put on her shaker, and trotted across
tue road. The moment she was out of the
hoRse, Mrs. Babbett burst into a hearty
laugh; and Uncle Ben, who appeared to
have been lying Concealed in the wood
| shed, came in an /, sitting down, went off
into . regular gut'sw.
"The cats out of the bag by this time,
GIelindy," said he, when he could manage
to speak. "And won't the old lady steam?
| should just like to SEQ her."
II am afraid we have carried the thing
too far" returned Mrs. Babbett. "She
won't get over it easy
| Meanwhile Aunt Prissy had tfaversed
the pleasant, shady door-yard of the Je-
rome place, and mounted the front steps.
The front door was standing wide open.
| She walked in with neighborly freedom.
aud tapping at the parlor door, which was
| slightly alar. A low, murmurous, hum
ming, buzzIng, cOoing sound appeared to
issue from the apartment; but still no
voice said "Walk in." The old ladys i'm
| patience grew apaee; and at last she gave
the door push, and entered the room un-
hidden. Good gracious what sight met
her eyes. There sat Harry Andrews
''snuggied, as she afterwards expressed
it, close up to Tilly Jerome, with his arm
tucked costly round ner waist; while the
young lady herself looked fustered and
rosy. with the obnoxious rag-hag some
what dIseomposed,
''Aiut you ashamed of yourself, Matildy
jerome" cried Aunt PrisSy, pointing her
long finger, with righteous indignation ex-
pressed on every feature, ito be sparkling
With young man right here in open day-
light ?"
''And why shouldn't we be sparkling ?"
cried Harry Andrews, es bold as brasz.
holding lilly little tighter. when we
meau to be married tomorrow ?"
Aunt Prissy was stunned and dazed.-
DIG ielt ds II SLs hau Deeo suddenly taken
with the blind staggers. Without another
word, she walked out OF the room as
strai 2ht as candle. Her ideas were sc
completely ob40-cat that, instead of 20.
ing out of the front door, she proceeded
down iittle passage way and on TO a back
porch that led into the vegetable garden.
Behind a screen of lilac and snowfall
bushes voices were issuing and peals Of
merry laughter
Those were the tones of Asa Babbett
her iayorite nephew. Aunt Prissy's hear
stood still, and then it gave great jump
The Old lady don't suspect thing,
said he. ''There never was such com
plete sell. Won't she be Knocked up wher
l introduce you as her niece?"
I'm almost sorry you played such /
prank; for / want her to learn to like me-
Ii was Sophy Jerome's voice that uttered