Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-06-12
Aunt Betsey's Adventure.

Miss WhlStleton-venomouS radl-
cal opponent to anything savoring OF
matrimony-a believer in catnip tea,
total depravity, and the approaching
end of the world. And above every
thing, Miss Whistleton detested man.
Little Elfrida Martin was totally
different. Elfrida was just seventeen,
with round, apple-bloom face, eyes
as blue as wood violets, and mischiev-
Gus dots Of dimples, coming and 60
ing, like the impress of cupid's finger
on her smooth pink cheek. And Ell
frida wore white dresses, with blue rib
bons futtering about them, and roses
at her belt, and read poetry sub rosa,
and believed in mankind--particularly
in Tom Castlewyne. ..
Consequently, it may be easily in
ferred that Elfrida led dolorous life
of it with her Aunt Betsey and her
Aunt Betsey's peculiar views.
This particular afternoon, Miss Bet
sey sat bolt upright, engaged in hid
eous piece of patchwork, which had
been poor Elfrida's '' black beast" eyer
since she was tall enough to WELD q
needle, and scolded her niece persist
emily.
Don't talk to me, Elfrida Martini
she said energetically-which was quite
unnecessary, for poor Ellie had not
opened her lips in a quarter of an hour
-" know perfectly we'll that it is oil
through your doing that Thomas Cas-
tlewyne and his riotous cigar smoking
friend, have come down to Merrifield
and taken the room next to ours-the
very next room! / should think you
would be ashamed of yourself, Elfrida,
to be walking about the piazza with
him, and the house full Of respectable
boarders."
Ellie colored up here.
"I am sure, Aunt Betsey, Mr.. Cas-
tlewyne is respectable"
ga pettifogging, dissipated, good
for-nothing lawyer-and Frank Ermine
is no better. Elfrida, il you don't stop
taking such long stitches I'll make you
rip it all out again. What I want you
to understand is this, that this love
making business has got to stop. /
won't tolerate Thomas Castlewyne's pre-
sumptious attentions-no, not another
day. I'll pack up and leave Merrifeld
sooner. Do you hear me, Elfrida ?"
Yes. Aunt Betsey, hear you,"
very well; then I'll trouble you to
heed. Perhaps you didn't think I saw
you lingering on the very threshold oi
their door this morning, talking non.
sense about the trumpery wild roses
you had been gathering. On the thresh.
old of young mans room! Elfrida,
don't know what you are coming to-"
81 But, Aunty. the door was wild.
open, and Mrs. Glenn was in the hall
and Isabelle Raymond, and Genera
Parker's daughters"
ct don't care if the twelve tribes O
Israel were there, it makes it none tht
less improper for you;" and here Aun
Betsey rolled up her eyes in fearfully
cataleptic manner. "Now stop drop
ping those big tears over the turkey
led joining of that quilt. I never saw
such baby in all my life-never.
"I'll be married soon as ever can,
thought Ellie with an indignant pout o
the cherry lips. :" If Thought I SHOULD
ever live to be an old maid like Aun
Betsey, I'd jump into the river
would a ii -as- lgt
And Ellie crept away for walk low
spirited enough.
'sI wonder where Elfrida has gone
to, = said the spinster Aunt. "Dowr
in the grove, flirting with that odiou,
Uastlewyne, I've no doubt--dear me
what o trial girls are, Castlewyne's
out somewhere, ]. knew, for the door O.
his room is half open. Now won
DER" ;.s..i.a t..,. ~ 1.f .
Miss Betsey Whistleton stretched hel
long neck curiously toward the neigh
boring apartment -she looked up til,
hall and down, butthore was not SOU
in sight. o B.
81 don't believe they exchange
notes" and Miss Whistleton, 'irs but i
they did--and it is really q very OK
cellent opportunity
She paused again and listened; still