Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-06-14

There was comical expression of
despair on the young fellows face at
this unpropitious beginning, but he
said nothing.
Nephew John, Pm disappointed in
you! l am not angry, but Pm deeply
grieved-n
Why, Aunt Barby!n The blue
eyes of her listener opened wide, but
she silenced him with q stately ges
ture.
"Please be quiet-I wish to speak.
| have done my duty to you,
John, there was a little trem-
bic in her voice as she said
this, but she went on grimly,) and
now you are just coming to manhood,
John was twenty-siX, and | had just
begun to trust in you little, and now
you desert me for a dell-baby.n
"She is not a doll-babyw said the
young husband Indignantly. "If you
knew her you would love her dearly"
"Nonsensew the black eyes snapped
decidedly. GAIL girls are fools now-a-
days; but no matter-you have chosen
between us. My will is made, and l
will not change it, but you will never
be to me what you have been before.n
There was real distress in John Bar
toms voice as he rose and stood before
her.
eff you will only let me bring her
to YOU" he pleaded; "Tm sorry you
are so displeased. Aunt Barby, don't
let this part us.o H4
"You have chosen" The SphynX
could not have looked more unmoved.
81 ordered them not to admit you
you need not come again.
eff you will only hear me"
"But / won't. Good afternoon
And so John Barton left her, with her
face turned away from him and her
hands still clasped before her.
Miss Barbara Snyder was proud.
Miss Barbara Snyder was wealthy.
Miss Barbara Snyder was fond of her
own way.
But she was still woman, and in
her heart of hearts she loved John
Barton, her handsome nephew, dearly.
His mother, her only sister, had died
when he was n little child, and his
father dying soon after, Miss Barbara
had, in fashion, adopted him. She
had INDUCED him from the first day
of his entrance into her house; she
| had watched over him and made him
the one object in life. He had been
the CLEAN of sunshine in her life, and
to his honor be it said he had never
been unworthy of the love and conf
dence which she gave him. "Aunt
Barby" was to him the only person in
the world, and although people mar
yelled at the affection of the bright
eyed young man for his grim old aunt,
it was genuine and true.
He had gone through college in a
thoroughly satisfactory manner, and
afterwards had settled down into as
steady and trustworthy young bust
ness man as there was in the city, and
for three years had behaved entirely
according to his aunt's wish in every
respect.
One day, however, the peace and
tranquility of Miss Barbara's house
hold were broken up by a rumor which
came to her ears-John, her John, was
paying attention to somebody! She
was at first incredulous, but as the
days went by she was forced to believe
it; for one night, John, sitting at her
feet, his yellow hair shining in the
freight, told her with much confusion
and EN- barrassment that "he was go
ing to be married"
Miss Barbara was good woman, but
she was very whimsical, little self
ish, and above all, very jealous of her
own dignity, and the knowledge that
John had asserted his own independ-
ence. and actually planned out the fu-
ture without consulting her before
hand, was hard thing for her to bear.
She was not patient nor forgiving, and
the result of Johns confidence was a
very unpleasant scene.
She who had never spoken harshly to
him before, overwhelmed him with
hard, bitter words, and then, when he
was gone, wept herself to sleep over
his "ingratitude,o as she called it.
When at last he was really married,
her anger knew no bounds, and his
first visit after that event ended as we
| have seen.
The days passed slowly after John,
with his bright face and ringing voice,
was banished, and Miss Barbara, half
regretting her harshness, was often
| tempted to send for him again; but her
obstinacy, or "pride,n as she called it,
prevented her, and SO she fretted and
worried, until Jane was almost driven
distracted by her irritability and un-
reasonableness. She was so cross, so
hard to please, and so lawful saw
age,' as John would have said, that
Jane became at last worn out, and one
day when her duties were unusually
hard, she surprised her mistress bv
packing up her movable property and
departing from the house. Then Miss
| Barbara was wretched. For three
days she sat in solitary state, and then
sending for her lawyer, directed him
to insert an advertisement in the lead
ing papers to the effect that she wanted
a "young, neat, and lady-like person
for companion"
No more old women for me,u she
said, savagely, in response to her law
yer's look of surprise, CATER the be-
| havior OF Jane, who has been with me
for thirty-nine years. and then au-
thorlzing him to examine each appli-
can't, she sent him away and waited.
Two days afterward the lawyer re-
turned, accompanied by tall, slender
young woman, who had come to see if
she Miss Barbara) would engage her.
Miss Barbara's black eyes looked
keenly at her for moment, and after
inquiring sharply into her anteced-
ents, references, and the like, Miss
Alice Worthington Gas the LAWYER
called herr was duly installed in the
| office of companion" and most de-
lightful companion she proved to be.
Miss Barbara was at first disposed
to be bit critical and captious; but
the young girl was so anxious to please.
SO sweet-tenpered and amiable, SO
nuiet and self fornntfnl thnt Nj