The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-03-30
Aunt Hetsy's Adventure

Miss Whistleton was an old maid
venomous-a radical opponent to any.
thing savoring of matrimony-a believer
in catnip tea, total depravity, and the
approaching end Of the world. And,
above all things, Miss Whistleton de-
tested-a mani
Little Elfrida Martin was totally diff
ferent. Elfrida was just seventeen, with
round, apple-bloom face, eyes as blue
as wood violetS, and mischieyious dots OF
dimpies, coming and going, like the i'm.
press of CupiPs finger on her smooth
pink cheek. And Elfrida wore white
dresses, with blue ribbon tluttering
about them, and roses at her belt, and
read poetry sub rosa, and believed in
Notwithstanding in Tom Castle.
wyne!
Consequently, it may be easily in
ferred that Ellrida led adolorous life of it
with her aunt Betsy and her aunt Bet
sy's peculiar views.
This particular afternoon, Miss Betsy
sat bolt upright, engaged in a hideous
piece of patchwork, which had been
she was tall enough to WELD u needle,
and scolded her niece persistently.
Don't talk to me, Elfrida Martinw
she'said, nergetically-which was quite
unnecessary, for poor Ellie had not
opened her lips in quarter Of an hour
Il know perfectly well that it is all
through your doing that Thomas Castle
wyne, and his riotous, cigar-smoking
friend, have come down to Merritield
and taken the room next to ours-tMe
very next room! / should think you
would be ashamed of yourself, El1rida,
to be walking about the piazza with him.
and the house full Of respectable board
ers."
Ellie colored up here.
81 am sure, Aunt Betsy, MIR. Castle
wyne is respectable."
"A pettitogging, dissipated. good-for-
no better. Elfrida, if you don't stop tax.
ing such long stitches I'll make you rip it
all out again. What | want you to un-
derstand is this: that this loye-making
business has got to stop. won't toler-
ate Thomas Castlewyne's presumptu-
GUS attentions-no, not for another day!
I'll pack up, and leave Merritield soOnerl
DO you hear me, ElfridaW
eyes, Aunt Betsy, L hear you."
"Very well; then Pll trouble you to
heed as we'll. Perhaps you think /
didn't see you lingering on the very
threshold of their door this morning,
talking nonsense about the trumpery
wild roses you had been gathering. o.
the threshold OF a young mans room
Elfrida, don't know what you are CON-
ing top
"But, aunty, the door was wide open,
and Mrs. Glenn was in the hall, and
Isabella Raymond, and Major Parker's
daughters-'
"I don't care if the twelve tribes OF
Israel were there, it makes it none the
ess improper for you"-and here Aunt
Betsy rolled up her eyes in feariully
.ataieptic manner.-"NOw stop dropping
hose big tears over the turkey-red join
ing of that quilt. L never saw such a
oaby in my ile--neyer."
"i'll be married as soon as ever L can,vv
thought Ellie, with an indignant pout Of
Lho cherry lips. "lf thought should
ever live to be an old maid like Aunt
SessiyIo ~ jump ' 'A' l''
And Ellie crept away for walk, low
spirited enough.
81 wonder where Elfrida has gone to-"
pondered the spihster-aunt. "Down in
the grove, flirting with that odiOus Cas-
tlewyne, I've no doubt-dear me what a
trial girls are! Castlewyne's out some-
where, | know, for the door of his room
is hall-open. Now, l wonder"
Miss Betsy Whistleton stretched her
long neck curiously towards the neigh
boring apartment-she looked up the
ball, and down the hall, but there was
not u soul i'll sight.
81 don't really believe they exchange
notes.. said Miss Whistleton, 'but i'll
thew did-and it's really, a very excel
lent opportunty@
She paused again and listened; still
no sound, save stray footsteps in the
hall below.
IL think it's my duty" said Miss
Betsy, setting her colorless lips tight
together, and advancing OH tip-toe into
the apartment Of Messrs. Castlewyne
and Ermlne.
81 never was in mans room BEFORE"
thought the lady, with little bride and
a shipper. "Dear ME, what variety Of
boots and slippers, tight in the middle
Of the floor! Is this brandy -and-water?
No, it's lemonade-a box full Of cigars,
as / live, and a novel! Oh, the depray-
ty of young men! 1 really hope shall
nosphere. And what's this curious
wooden thing? Oh, suppose it must be
! boot-jack! A dressing-case, too, with
chased silver shoppers to all the bottles
dear me, this cologne is really very
lice. | wish l had brought that empty
bottle along with me, don't
believe they'd ever miss few drops.
Pink pomatum, too, as l live and breathe
-and a housewife all tiLteds up with
needles and spools of thread. My good
ness me if it ISN'T lined with the very
3rocaded silk that belonged to my grand
nothers wedding-dress! thought that
pattern came short when | measured it,
20 make silk-quilted skirt! do be-
ieye, Elfrida took it to make this piece
If folly and nonsense with" j
Miss Whistleton elevated her eyes and
lands with pious horror.
"Two whole inchesl wonder if El-
rida ever thought what sin 1t is to
steal"
The inquisitive spinster tip-toed about
he room, peering into boxes, opening
,ottles, and looking behind sofas; but
still she found no condemning proof of a
between Mr.. Castle
yyne and her niece Elfrida. She was
ust turing to come out, rather disap-
pointed than otherwise at the non-suc-
less of the scouting expedition, when
Tom Castlewyne sprang up the stairs,
Two steps at a time, and strobe along the
lall, followed by his friend Frank En-
mine.
Miss Betsy made rush for the door,
Dut she was too late. Toms speed of
ocomotion had been greater than she
had calculated on, and with blind i'm
pulse of concealment she darted into
me closet and shut herself in, among