The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-12-17
SCOT what." queried Emily, with a

SCOT what:" queried Emily, with a
vague thought of measles.
{" My glasses. saw EN- in his breast
pocket when he stopped"
"Oh, auntie, please hush, You must be
mistaken. Well find those presently"
Why, child, tell you | saw EN- in
his coat. | should know those gold bows
anywhere"
But, auntie, what under the sun could
he want of your spectacles: He couldn't
wear them"
He could sell EN-" replied Aunt
Flayiila, impressivcly. you've no idea,
Emily, of the wickedness there is In the
world" And she groaned almost as
deeply as if she had had any idea OF ii
herself
But, auntie, he's gentleman"
" And he seemed SO sympathetic and
cleyerspoken" cried poor, weary, ex-
cited Mrs. Pressy in final quest thrust
ing her arm into her pockets violently,
as one might drive sword into his
sheath.
"Merciful Heavens, child, MY purse
is gone, too, Nor what do you think"
Il was too true. In vain they searched
the pockets of Aunt Flavilla's cloak and
dress; in vain they peered into muff and
lunch basket, and felt along the seat and
floor.
Well, | only left money enough in it
to buy some keepsakes for your Uncle
Jotham's boys; that's ono comfort" said
Mrs. PreSsy, who sOrely needed Conso-
iation. He won't get much there, but
he can make pretty penny on those
heavy ed glasses. | paid twelve dol
lars for EN-, and since then Colds riZ. "
Oh, auntie, | cant believe he'd take
them"
Hes done it, child, so it's neither
here nor there what YOU can believe
When | see a thing and know it's so, I'm
convinced. But of all the boldness, He
must have put his hand in my pocket
when | sat down right side next him. just
after We got in. and here hes been as
polite as you please on purpose to blind
Us, He's shrcwd one, Come to think
of it, he has eyed US from the first; that
looks dark for him; and didn't you see
hat long spry fingers he had?"
"Oh, hush, auntic, he's coming
He'll have hard work to get anything
else OF mine" msttcred Aunt Flavilla,
reaching forward for her travelling sachel,
which she secured upon her left arm like
a paddock
q Behold the signs of civilization,
ladies' said the deft-fingered gentleman,
Cheerily approaching with 70 cup of tea
in either hand Il have been foraging
in neighboring farmhouse, and beg
you'll rccept the spois"
We've no occasion for ANYTHING, sir, -
retorted Mrs Pressy, bristling with in
dignation. Did he hope to purchase her
favor by soft speeches, and stop her
mouth with "oolong' that might be poi
soned for anything she knew? He need
not flatcr himself; he could not Fribe
her Once safe at Brother Lewis, she
should take active measures to put the
law on him and repossess herself of her
! property.
The young man redeemed in angry sur
prise at her hostile tone and air, and
turning On his heel bestowed the rejected
tea upon two grateful lrishwomen across
the aisle, while Mrs. Pressy remarked
piously to Emily that she didn't be-
grudge him his peace of mind.
When the train moved On he did not
resume his former seat; and looking
| tuTtively over her shoulder as each new
station was reached Aunt Flavilla saw
/ him always in the same place near the
door, his head leaning upon his suspi-
cious white hand. They were slowly
nearing the terminus of the road; most
of the passengers had already left, but
he staid on, increasing the cstimable
lady's nervousness TO such a degree that,
AS she said aiterward, 1T seemed as if
she should fly; but she kept a stiff upper
| lip before Emily"
Only one station more, auntie, and
then comes Narransaucn
They approached the intervening sta
| ton; passed it; yet there sat their fellow
traveller, the picture of repose. What if
| he should lay violent hands on their be
| longings as they left the car. What if
| through some inadvcrtcnce Brother Levi
| should fail to be in waiting Tor them at
the depot What if
Narransauc" shouted the conductor,
| pcering in upon his handful of passen-
| gers.
Mind YOU don't lose sight of me,
| child, for the world" cried Mrs Pressy,
girding on her armor and sallying forth,
| rcsolute in spirit, but 50 painfully weak
in the knees that in descending the steps
she stumbled and would have fallen but
for the blond gUntlcman's timely aid
ALLOW me to relieve you of your par
GELS, madam said he, with frigid court
| esy, not forgetful of his late repulse
AS if you hadn't relieved me of
| enough already, sir" retorted she, thor
oughly eXasperated. "Tll thank you to
let us pass :" And grasping Emily's elbow
she hurried her on to the end of the
platform, where Squire Hanscum and
the longed-for Brother Levi" was seek
ing them by the light of an appraised
lantern.
We've got through it alive, Levi,
that's about all | can say" was her greet
ing, as bandboX and saChcl Collided be
l., 81, - y
count on seeing me- did you? But some
thing told me 'twasn't safe to send Emily
off alone, and ] feel to bc thankful that
| | listened to it,"
Dear grandpa, it's lovely to see YOU ;
| but why didn't you send Charley for US
this cold night?"
Fact is, the boy spraincd his ankle,
awkward fellow, And that reminds me,
He asked me to keep an eye out for his
old chum, John Kenyon, who promised
! to run down to Thanksgiving. We've been
| boxing for him all the week; but these
newspaper reporters are driven so that
Bless my heart, John, there YOU arcl"
! he cried in the same breath, as the youth
of the flexible fingers appeared at the
corner of the depot bearing Mrs Pressy's
| mutt, again forgotten in that lady's haste
We only wanted you to make out the
load. What, Flavilla, haven't YOU ever
met him. That's odd Make YOU &C
quainted with my sister, Mrs Pressy, Ken
yon; you've heard us speak of her And
this, John, is our little Emily Sorry
you didn't have il chance to be social on
the road"
Mrs. Pressy knows me by reputation,
| believe, remarked Mr.. Kenyon, quiet
ly, as he tucked the robe about her.
Aunt Flavilla deigned never a word,
but, shrouding her head in her cloak
cape, rode on, stiff and silent as a Jack
inthe-pulpit. Zenas Kenyon's son! OF
all things, She was prepared to believe
him light headed and light -minded-up
night after night, she had heard, at balls
and parties, and then writing about
them IN the newspapers-but light fin
gered! This was incredible of
Kenyon. His father had always had
the name of being square in his deal
lngs, and he came of good stock on the
mothers side. Still, there were her
glasses in the young mans pocket. How
could you account for it? On reflection.
they had had stories going years ago in
the church against Grandsir Kenyon.
She hadn't credited them; but there
might have been something in them, after
all, and Zenas' son might take after his
grandfather. Blood would tell On the
whole, though, perhaps she'd better
sleep on il before she mentioned this
affair to Lewis folks. In the morning
she might see clearer where duty lay.