Sharp County record., 1877-07-27

kiss; she smiled, and then she walked
across the room to the other window
and began to meddle with the mignon-
cite and pinch the rose 'geranium' Aunt
Phemy waited-she was woman VINO
could wait-and presently Madge lifted
suddenly across the floor, and dropped
softly, as a little bird folds up into us
nest on to the brioche beside her aunt's
chair. and laid her head on its arm.
81 could not come up before, Aunty
Fee. Mr.. Schenck was down stairs" "
Miss Roper said nothing, but laid hor
hand tenderly on the rich folds OF halr'
and looked at that beautiful head like
q benevolent old fairy. She knew
when Madge called her "Aunty Fee "
that it was propitiatory; some thing
had been done or said that this way
ward young woman was not quite at
ease about.
"And-aunty," Madge went on
slowly, picking a carnation to pieces
as she spoke, "I-refused him"
81 thought you had done that long
ago, Madge," said the old lady, with a
certain trouble in her kind eyes,
$50 | have, over and over, but he
wouldn't stay refused. l think he will
now.n Here her voice rose and rang,
and her eyes flashed. The indignation
returned. 81 never will marry him,
Aunt Phemy-neuer! And l think he
understands it at last"
Miss Roper's eyes sparkled now; she
was old and wise.
"Don't be troubled about 1t, Madge
dear; nobody can harass you on the
matter. If you don't love man, don't
marry him, if he be king or kaiser.
Jacob Schenck is a good man and gen
tleman, but think he is far too old for
rosebud like YOU"
Oh, Aunt Euphemia! you too had
been q girl, and remembered it. A
little spark entered Madge's cool eye.
"He's not so very old, Aunty; fifty
isn't really old for man."
"No, it's not decrepit, but it is some
thing more than nineteen; besides, Mr.
Schenck is only forty-fVe. However,
we can afford to drop him now, since
Miss Positive 'never will ; marry him.
Madge laughed, but there was an un,
certain ring in her laughter, and Miss
Phemy went on.
care you going to Boston, my
dear?"
81 don't quite know, Aunty. rath'
er hate Boston; but 1 love Polly"
"Then you'll have to take your choice
between the love and hate, mademoi'
selle, and that directly, for you know
Polly is clamorous for an answer"
"I believe l win go; perhaps Boston
may be nicer than l think. 1t is awful
ly slow, am sure"
"Madge!
~ can't help it, aunty; don't know
what else to call it. Shall l say
tISte?"
"Foreign ahectation is quite as bad
as slang, and not half as natural"
"Oh, aunty, what two-edged swor(
you are! l must 60 to Bosten to puri.
fy my English, l see"
"Hello, Madge!" and small bo.
burst into the room with bounce tina
is native to small boys. "Oh, Miss Ro
per, such a lark! If you had hear(
Madge give it to him! She was stun
ming, 1 tell you," and wicked Maste,
Jack began his liltof "Highland Nora
again.
"You horrid little wretch! Come
away directly" shrieked Madge, color
ing to the tips of her ears. "You'l
kill aunty's poor head"
"Oh, indeed!" feebly squeaked poor
Jack, as he was hustled smartly out o,
the room, while Miss Euphemia laugh
ed till the tears stood in her eyes, and
said, softly, "Children and fools speak
truth, truly"
Jack went home the next day; he
was only school-boy cousin come fol
the holidays, and the luckless child had
abridged BIS own pleasure unawares
but the rare delight of tormenting his
beautiful cousin was temptation too
enticing to resist. And Madge was
teased; she hated the sight of the boy,
and made her journey to Boston the
l i 4 L !. Il