The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-12-05


will come up into the sitting room we
will send for some cake and wine.
Why, Betsy Coverly, ain't you
ashamed? Do you mean to tempt
your aunt to become drunkard at her
time Of life? I'd give all the wine in
the world for one cup Of strong green
tea.
sYou shall have it, aunt.
wait minnit. l don't like to
leave my bandboxes down here. Your
help might open them.
'Our servants arc honest, aunt. And
even if they were not thought the
young lady, sthe contents of these
bandboxes would not tempt them very
much.
DO you call this setting room P
she asked. It's nicer than the squire's
parlor.
20, well, aunt, yeu know there's
difference between the country and
the city.
Well, 80 there is. I wouldn't live
In the city on no account said Aunt
Mehitable. tsa
Il hope not. thought her niece.
Well, gals asked the old lady, af-
ter having partaken Of refreshments,
which made her feel considerable bet
ter, have either on ye got any beaux
yet?
La, aunt, how can you ask such a
question.
Cause I think it's high time. Let
me see, you, Betsey, must be twenty
six.
20, aunt, how can you say so? Pm
only twenty-one.
'That's fib, Betsy. You was born
the very day your Uncle Abijah sold
the brindle cow. 1 remember it well,
and Sally is just three years younger
than you. That makes her twenty
| four.
20, aun', you are much mistaken.
You are growing forgetful.
sOld and forgetful, am L? Well,
seems to me that's just what's the
matter with you. But what's that pic
ter there?
Aunt Mehitable pointed to picture
hanging over the mantel. piece.
THAT, Aunt Mehitable. represents
the ancient Greek Foot.races. And
that building with columns is Greek
temple.
'Lor, is it? Well, 1 thobght it might
be the town hall. Them runners are
dressed outlandish, amt they? Seems
to me the head one looks like wo.
man in the face. How much does
such picter cost?
Father paid five hundred dollars
for it.
'Land sakel five hundred dollars
Why, you can most buy a house for
that up. to Huckleberryville! Well,
well q fool and his money is soon
parted, so they say. But didn't think
your father was such fool as to pay
five hundred dollars for such pictcr
as that.
1T is considered very fiue, aunt.
sI don't care if il is. 1t amt worth
You'll come to want yet, mark my
words!
what would she say if she knew !
had good prospect of becoming
countess2 thought Elizabeth. But 1
must not speak of that, or she will
want to be introduced to the count,
and that will spoil all.
About three o'clock the young girls
succeeded in inducing Aunt Mehitable
to lie down. you must feel so tired.
aunt they said.
'Well, do feel tuckered OUT said
Aunt Mehitable, 1 guess I'll foller
your advice. 3.
sAnd don't be in a hurry about get,
ting up, aunt. Be sure and get your
full rest.
YOU'RE good gals to be so keerful
about your old aunt said the old lady
suspecting nothing. Il guess I'll go.
About half an hour after Aunt Me-
hitable withdrew to her room, the bell
rang, and Count Stomboli was an
nounced.
The girls received him with radiant
smiles, congratulating themselves that
they had got their aunt off just in the
nick of time.
So glad to see you, Count Stom-
boli,' they said. 'Were you at the OPP
era last EVENING"
90, certainly, of course; adore the
opera!-
'And then, being in your native lam
guage, you have the advantage of us
in more readily comprehending it. We
are SO tied to the libretto that we only
half enjoy it.
sVery true,' said the count. You
can have no idea of the divine beauty
of the original, from the villainous
translations.
wish 1 understood Italian said
Elizabeth.
Some day, perhaps you may said
the Count, in significant tone.
Elizabeth blushed with pleasure.
She felt that the Count meant some
thing serious by this remark. AS for
Sarah, it must be confessed, that be-
ing her sisters competitor for the
Counts good graces, she would have
preferred to have had the remark ad-
dressed to herself.
Half an hour passed, when to the
dismay of both the young ladies, the
door opened, and the figure of aunt
Mehitable presented itself.
Excuse me, gals she said, / didn't
know you had company. 1 couldn't
sleep cause of the plaguey noise in
the streets, 80 l thought I'd come