The Lincoln County herald., 1870-10-20

fectly, aud Was an exact counterpart Of
himself, clothed in petticoats.
"My dear child, she exclaimed, hold.
ing up her hands in holy horror, "what a
terrible risk you ran in taking the wrong
carriage. The gentleman who called
upon Us this morning explained the mat
ter, and never was % much shocked in
all my life."
"Mr. Euswell 10 . gentleman" re
turned June, seeing that some reply Was
expected.
"Well hem yes, I suppose 30.
Bnt come up stairs now and take of your
things. To think Of your being alone
with q strange young man l know l
should have tainted"
June blessed her stars that her aunt
knew nothing Of what had really tran
spired-nothing save . mistake had been
made nothing Of the warm embrace and
kisses; and mentally thanked Fred Bus
we'll for his reticence.
"This is your room, my dear. When
you have arranged your toilet, your
uncle and will be happy to see you 10
the sitting room."
Everything bore the marks Of wealth,
but was as antiquated as its mistress.
The heavy, tall post, old fashioned iron
bedstead, with its quaint canopy and
curtains, must have belonged to the great
grandfather of Miss Prudence. 1t con
trasted grimly with the pretty French
one she had occupied With Eva Buswell /;
so, in fact, did everything. But the
room was large and pleasant; everything
was neat and arranged for ctufort, and
June soon became at ease and happy
At least she would have been if Aunt
Prudence had not so frozen the Buswe l.
when they called, that there was little
danger Of their attempting to repeat it.
The truth was. the old maid distrusted
the good looking Fred. She could not
but own to herself that he was gentle
man in every respect, but, as she had con-
cluded to adopt Jnne. she was not going
to have any horrid man around to per.
suade her into foolishly gettin married,
when she intended her to be the comfort
and nurse Of her declining years. Hence.
forth June, with all her lie, and youth,
and loveliness, was to be sort Of pris.
oner-never going out, save to ride in the
old barouche Of the Griswalds when the
weather was pleasant, with tho stern,
yellow face Of Miss Prudence, looking
older and more ugly by contrast with the
bright, dove.eyed. golden. haired girl who
accompanied her. Occasionally they
met Eva Buswell and her brother dash.
ing along in their neat lhmton, sur.
rounded by party Of friends, and June
turned away sighing, and with difficulty
keeping back the tears. But she dared
not give expression to her thoughts.
"The Buswells are nothing to you. my
child-never can be-" said Aunt Pru
dence, when they Glanced to be discours.
ing one day upon the manner Of her com
ing. "They did only what was proper
under tho circumstances just what your
Uncle Nathan and l would have done
but they ore frivolous, fashionable people,
and the sooner you cease 10 even recog
nize them tho better"
June thought, with q smile, of how
Uncle Nathan would look anG feel hugging
and kissing a blooming girl like herself.
But she only gave another sigh, thought
of what might have been, and answered:
"They were very kind, Aunt"
"Yes, know, and your uncle and l
wrote them q formal letter of thanks.
That balanced the obligation"
1t was the last time the subject was
mentioned between them, and ut length
they passed each other as almost stran-
gers. Not that Eva and her brother did
so until they found it impossible to keep
up the acquaintance. They reasoned cor
reotly that such state Of Affairs was not
according to the wishes Of June, to whom
they had taken great fancy, especially
Fred.
"Ths Ieucs take that old ogress Of an
aunt" he muttered, - he saw June pass.
ing, looking even more lovely than on
the night Of their 6rst meeting. II wish
the house would take FIRE, or the horses
run away aud upset them, aud che nearly
break her neck, or something happen 80
that I could gain the entree Of the
house.
He wouldn't have confessed. even to
himself, that be had fallen iu love with
the girl at first sight No, nothing Of
the Kind. He only pitied her on account
Of her close confinement. when, like
other girls of her age and beauty, she
ought to have been enjoying life, as a
bird does sunshine and liberty to Ai.
among flowers. But try ss he would to
think Of some plsu of visiting her, be
could determine on nothing, aud was
about to give up in despair wheu an
accident came to his relief.
In returnining home one evening from
ride, be saw . crowd gathered in front
Of the door, and upon inquiry was told
that an old man had fallen from stroke.
One glance revealed to him who the men
Was, and hs instantly ordered him to be
carried into the house, aud dispatched
his sister for Prudence Griswsld aud her
niece. They came. Physicians were
called, but all iu vain. Nathan Griswald
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