The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-03-03

name Is he'lnBtOn-Jerusha Hevlngton.
| always thotght ii suca pity to spoil
such fine name as Hevington with Je-
rusha. hope she won't come; I'm sure
she must be perfectly awful ~
The two young ladies had been looking
at their mother in blank silence ever since
she had mentioned this unpleasant rea.
tion; Tom had gone off 10 fit of laughter;
so that Mr.. Fenton was the only one who
spoke
"Wcll if she comes, all we can do is
to make the best of it, aud treat her as
well as We know how
"0h, of course, said Mrs. Fenton.
Tom here looked at his watch, and start.
ed up, exelaiming that he should be late,
he had an appointment, and bolted off,
promising to be home early Then Mr.
EentOn settled down for nap; Mrs. Fen.
ton buried herself in Lorna D0one; and
the girls yawned over their japanese can
vass, fearing dull evening.
The air gently auttered the lace cur.
tains, the mellow light shone down from
the many.globed chandelier upon the fresh
white mating, the linen-draped furniture,
the pictures and statues, and three ladies'
in their pretty evening dresses, and the
old gentleman snoring away behind his
newspaper; all was as quiet as quiet could
be, when violent peal at the door ball
made them all nearly jump out of their
skins
"Who on earth is that ?" asked Mr..
Fentou, bouncing up.
Mrs. Fenton dropped her book and gave
a scared look into the hail.
suppose it's Mr. Vanderpool," said
Mabel.
"Oh, no, he necer rings like that, said
Florence
Their old colored waiter had opened the
door by this time, and loud voice was
heard inquiring, "Does Mr., Fenton-Mr.
Samuel Fenton-live here ?"
" Yes ma'am, he does" old James an
swered respectfully.
Wall, then, | guess III walk right in
i seen the folks through the winder," :"
and apparently before the old servant could
stop her, the owner of the voice did owalk
right into" the parlor--a tall, strong feat
ured woman, with iron.grcy hair, clad in
brilliantly lowered dress that bulging
hoop.skirt showed to advantage, aud a
shawl Of vivid red and yellow plaid. A
bonnet of the shape called poke was on her
head, and from it dangled thick green
veil. She wore grey cotton gloves, and
one hand firmly grasped lumpy carpet
bag, and the other fat umbrella. She
looked comfortable aud common from top
to toe. She peered at the group through
her steel-bowed spectacles, and tucking
her umbrella under the carpet-bag arm,
she extended her hand, "Wan, now,
s'posc yer don't know me. I'm Jerusha
Heyington-yer cousin, Jesusha Heving-
| ton.
The stricken family were dumb. Mr..
Fenton was the first to recover. lie took
the proffered hand, shook it warmly, and
led the lady to chair, begging her to be
seated he could not say that she was vel.
come, but he tried to make her feel as if
she were. Mrs Fenton then came for.
ward, and sitting down beside her, asked
some friendly questions about the journey;
and the girls, little conscious smitten,
offered to take her thugs.
Wa'al, | guess won't Jest now, thank
yer-lve got to go and see about my
trunk in minute; had it left in gro
Gerry store jest around the corner The
young man was awful pleasant when |
told him | was one Of your folks-he
seems to set heap by you"
3" Good gracious y thought Florence,
with shudder II wonder if she has
been going all through the city advertising
her relationship to US !"
Wa'al, Samuel began Miss Jerusha.
"Yer'ye got two likely gals they d oughter
help their mar a sight in doin' house.work
and sich. 1t must take powerful heap
o work to keep all them fussin's clear" =
with an admiring, rather awe-struck glance
about the room. Then she went on. "Is
them all the children yer've got, Maria ?"
Mrs. Fenton answered that she had
two more, son and a little daughter.
Mabel offered to send for her little sister,
thinking that a child might make converse
easier, but Miss Jerusha answered, with
such evident alarm aud disrelish, "For
laws sake, no! | cant bear children -
that she drew back, offended. Miss Fen
ton looked annoyed; but Miss Jerusha,
unabashed, began to complain of the awful
drought up in their place, while an awful
silence fell upon the rest. .m.f,
A quick light ring made the girls start
and fervently hope that it was not Mr..
Vanderpool-I am sure for the first time
in their lives. To have Mr.. Vanderpool,
of all beings in the world, see this dread
ful relative--Mr. Vanderpool, whose father
belonged to the Oldest Knickerbocker
families, and whose mother was an +.
4. "; who was so tastidious and refined
herself 1t took only a few seconds for
this to rush through their brains, when in
Mr.. Vanderpool walked. He was greeted
in rather embarrassed manner by them
al, and enveigled into seat as far as pos.
sible from Miss Jerusha, on pretence of
its being cooler by the window.
But Miss Jerusha didn't mean to be
left in the background-shc got up from
her chair and stalked over to the group.
who's this young man 2" she blandiy
inquired, indicating Mr.. Vanderpool with
her cotton forefnger. .t.
Mabel, with very red face, introduced
"Miss Hevington," mentally grateful that
the name wasn't Mulkins or Snooks.
Mr.. Vanderpool made an astonishing
bow, but Miss Jerusha held out her hand,
and gave his an unmerciful grip, exclaim-
ing heartily, "I'm real glad to see yer,
mister But see here, sis"--to Mabel-
al amt ashamed o bein' your cousin-yer
might hev introduced me as sich." Then
ordering Mr.. Vanderpool "to sct down on
the sofy," she took her place beside him
when he had obeysd. C3t)
"Wa'al now, | didn't spect to see sich
fne young jfelleEthe fust'nitsI eomS-
beau o yourn, spose2"' she said to
Mabel, in a loud voice. tsEs
Mabel wished that the earth would open
| and awaiInu Somo one nf tba ,a..y