Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-09-04
NO. 2o4.
AUNT MAGRUDER'S MANAGEMENT.
BY HARRIET PRESCOTT spoFFoRD.

"But that's different"
Eyes, that was /, and this you, said
the old aunt, with another gay chuckle.
"Oh no; mean-n
You mean you want to 90. You're
young-that is, you're not thirty-and
you're pretty. Yes, you're very pretty,
Sarah Ponsonby, with your soft rich skin,
so dark and clear, and your bright brown
eyes, and you're crown of black hair.
You're as handsome as any Roman girl,
and | suppose you know it. And IL /
could dress you in silk the color Of
damson with the bloom on, with black
lace and carved onyx, I'd do it."
"Oh, how you are making me blush,
aunt, she cried. laughing again. It's 20
long since anybody but old Mr.. Ellenbrod
has flattered me, that don't know how
to take it,
cts great shame.n exclaimed Aunt
Magruder. ''And if Jane had particle
of sense, and wasn't as selfish as q crab,
she'd attend to your appearance and to
getting you well settled in the world.''
"Oh, she couldn't. You know-you
know-that isl mean it isn't likely l
shall ever marry" -
"Hoity-toity! Why not, should like
to know? Are you going to be slave to
Jane and her children, for nothing and
find yourself, all your life ?"
why, Aunt Magruder, I love the dear
things!''
"And what if you dop If that going to
hinder you from loving anybody else ?''
"Aunt Magruder," began Miss Ponson-
by; and then the handsome color rushed
up and suffused her cheek, till she had to
hide her face.
Don't you know-didn't anybody ever
tell you-about Mr.. Sternberg ?'' ssd
NO" said Aunt Magruder, emphati-
cally, Nobody ever told me word about
it; and l always thought it was some
thing to tell"
so 1t was an outrage-on me. Do
you know Jane was SO determined that
should marry Mr.. Ellenbrod, and so con-
vinced that Sternberg's prospects were
not brilliant. that she wayfaid him"
Him? Whom p'' Il
"Mr. Sternberg. Waylaid him in the
hall asked him to discontinue his visits.''
"And he did?' s....
"He demanded to know if the request
came from me, and that wicked woman
said-she said it did! And he turned
about and went out, and I've never seen
him since. And, Oh, Aunt Magruder,
loved him as I did my life ~ And the
proud Miss Ponsonby with her burning
face hidden in her white hands, was cry
ing bitterly.
There there!n said Aunt Magruder,
fluttering her work off her lap, and going
over to take her niece's head on her moth
erly breast-''that's nothing to cry for;
that's easily made straight. Just let me
know where he is, and I'M manage it, III
go" .1.. ----...tr -
That's just what couldn't do-till yes
terday," sobbed Miss Ponsonby, ssfor I
didn't know myself He bade the Brue-
ners and everybody good-by-he was a
good friend of Mr.. Bruener's-and went
away. And, of course l never let his
name pass my lips, and I didn't know any
thing about it all till two years afterward,
when Jane told me in milf. And then
it was too late te do anything but bear it,"
said poor Miss Ponsonby, with more tears,
for now the fiood-gates were open. Eeb
"And suppose she thought you would
be SO indignant at his taking her at her
word that you would smile on old Ellen
brod" 9 MOO
.'He! he looks as if he had been rolled
in his own gold-dust ?"
We'll, and Mr.. Sternberg ?"
"lf anybody has heard of him in five
years, nobody has dared to speak to me
about it, not even the Breuners, who are
so fond of me. And yesterday-I said I'd
never seen him since; meant till yester-
day; for there he was in church. didn't
dare to look-I nearly died. l hurried
home, and my heart has been beating like
a tattoo ever since. Oh in that single
glance | saw him And he looks SO noble
and brave and beautiful" she said, hay-
ing thrown her old reserve to the winds.
MY love-" said Aunt Magruder, with
great dignity, 'now leave all this to my
I'm famous manager as
| told you. Sometimes I'm diplomatic, and
sometimes straightforward. but l always
Now shall Immediately 90 and
see Mr.. Sternberg."
"Oh. no! never, never?n
"And why not, prayp' ....
"Oh, he had no business to doubt mel"
said Miss Ponsonby, looking up with the
tears sparkling on her burning face. 81
"How could he help it?" said the
aunt, hotly. .when your sister and
guardian-a lady, supposed to be wo-
man of honor-gave him the message for
youP How was he to know Jane lied out
Of whole cloth2 That would have been an
outrage on you for him to imagine"
"You know Jane meant it for my good.n
"Jane's hussy!' si
"But wouldn't for all the kingdoms of
the earth have him know my sister told a
falsehood! Oh how could she do it? /
am sure that she thought it would be bet
ter for me to be rich, with Mr.. Ellenbrod-"
"What has become of him ?"
"Oh, he's about; it would take cata-
clysm to dispose of him! must have to
refuse to marry him at least ten times!
But he and Jane they'll tire me out /
don't know; I've sometimes thought that
Jane keeps me shabby on purpose, SO that
in sheer desperation l may possibly say
yes, and so bring million dollars into
the family. And that's what she wants.
Il don't see how it's going to be OF es-
pecial advantage to her" .st.t go
why, Mr.. Ellenbrod is generous, and
he'll enlarge James business and now
and then | fancy that there is distinct