Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-08-02

said Aunt Myrtilla, maliciously, "though
they do make such dreadful things nat
ural nowadays"
Bcrnice Nellis turned around with a
disturbed look upon her face.
"Annt Myltilla," said she, "if | be-
licved he could be false, even i'll one
single respect, l should despise him.
And she swept out of the room, leav-
ing the china only half washed. Aunt
| Myrtilla chucklcd to herself as she took
mp a milk pan of fresh cherries to stone.
"We'll circumvent him yet" said the
old maid to herself "Not that I've
got anything against Richard Elsley in
particular, but l don't approve of get
tin married anyway. Men amt worth
it; and if all the gals was of my opin-
ion they'd soon find their level. Berry's
good deal better off here to home,
with me and her uncle Eben.'
The tea table was just cleared off that
evening, and Bernice, with her straw flat
tied over her ears, and a little white
muslin scarf thrown over her shoulders,
was setting out for pleasant twilight
stroll through the fragrant aisles of the
cool July woods, when the accent of an
unusual voice in the keeping room
struck on her ear.
81 wonder who that is?' said Berry
to herself. cit must be, it is Desire
Dutton ?"
Just then the door opened and Aunt
Myrtilla called out:
Berry Bernice Where are you?"
81 an. here, Aunt Myrtilla."
"Just you come here. We've found
him out. We've settled him-me and
Desire"
"Found whom out 4? Settled whom q
questioned Berry, with singular COM
mingling of laughter and vexation about
her voice and brown and violet shining
eyes.
Desire Dutton, tall and lank old
maid, with tishy blue eyes, knot OF
hair pinned at the back of her head,
and wrinkles of exclamation and inter
rogation all over her long face, sat close
to the window with IL paper in her hand.
Fat, cozy Aunt Myrtilla, whose double
chin shook like a mound of Jelly at
every motion, bent over her. And Ber-
ry in the doorway, looked from one to
the other with mute inquiring glance.
"He wears wig y shrieked Aunt
Myrtilla "Thrce of EN-"
He wears false whiskers !' croaked
Desire.
ga designing villain wouldn't mar.
ry him not to be made Queen of Eng
land - breathlessly added Miss Desire,
whose general style would not have
added grace to the steps of a throne.
Z" But where is the proof of all this ?''
asked Bernice, a little bewillered. And
Aunt Myrtilla held up crumpled bit
of paper.
:" One of his bills !" she gasped. "De-
sire found it under the table. Pead
only read and you will be convinced"
And Bernice read:
To Joseph Mylette, Hair-dressor etc.
Mr.. Richard Gay Elsley,
To three wigs t:,. Ot
| To three pairs whiskers. .......... PIE
Received payment, J. MYLErrE.
''There,' cried Aunt Myrtella.
"There," echoed Miss Dutton in q
sort of gruif contralto.
"Well," cried Berry, tossing back hcl
ringlets, and hoisting the crimson sig
nal of defiance on both fair checks
"what of it? What is this to me ~
And the two old maids were tempora
rily silenced by this sudden turning o
their prey.
If he chooses to wear sixteen pairs
of whiskers at one time, and all of en-
false, it's nothing to me-" added Berry
And then, with a singular inconsistency
she began to cry.
You'll never see him again, dear,
said Mrs. Myrtilla, coaxingly.
No, never! never !" sobbed poo
Berry. "And believed him so good
SO true-so noble r'
did you really think that of me
dearest q
All three started at the sound of Mr.
Elsley's calm, perfectly modulated voic
Berry most of all.
"Go away, man y screamed Aun
Myrtilla, lowering over her niece like al
old hen over brood of hawk threatened
chickens.
"Take your false whiskers away from
here, and your wigs - cried Miss De
sire.
"Is this bill yours, sir % said Berry
with all the dignity she knew how t.
muster.
Yes; it is mine," said NJ. Elsley
coming up to her. "But I give yo1
leave" with a laughing tug at hi
brown, curly hair and silken beard, "t