Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-07-16
IMP, OR ANGEL9


herself TO discover a secret, she never
rests until she has enlightened herself
down to its inmost recesses. When my
pretty friend Elizabeth Terry was hold
ing us all in suspense as to her inten-
tions with regard to the interesting wild
over who now speaks of her so affec-
tionately as g my present wife" (signifi-
cant not only of certain past, but of
a possible future), Aunt Urania invited
the wary Elizabeth to take a long coun-
try drive. 4" And, my dear, I'll have it
out of her, if we don't get back till
midnight she said. They were gone
only two hours, and my aunt entered
with triumphant face, the grays all in
a lather from the victorious haste of her
return, while in strong contrast was
Elizabeth's serene uncensciousness.
Z" How did you do itP" inquired, at
the first possible moment. "Did she
confess it alp"
"Confesh my dear, not a word. She
hasn't an idea that she has betrayed
herself. only asked her, quite casually,
how many children Mr.. Williams has,
and she answered, Three, with such a
look, such a sighl"
The event proved my aunt's acute
us all an object of admiration and ter
ror.
1t was rather unfortunate for me that
Aunt Urania put off her projected
Journey to Europe for six months-the
six months which decided my fate in
life. | should have enjoyed them much
more, and managed my affairs much
more smoothly, uninspected by her
krr haV. brnn
tongue. / shall always believe it showed
a very persistent stateof feeling both in
Harry and me not to retire discounted
from so watchful a sentinel.
eyes, of course, your attachment to
the child is very natural, my DEAR" she
would say, ''as said to Mrs. Dubois
only yesterday. Nothing | said, 'can
be more natural. Susan Bardmore,
Henry Bent's first wife, was like sister
to my niece; no friends could be more
intimate; and of course she feels very
much for the little boy"
"Iwish you wouldn't talk so, aunty!"
exclaimed. "Henry Bent's first
wife! / never heard that he had more
than onel"
"Oh no, not as get, my dear, but it is
only question of time; and pretty gen
orally very abrupt question, and short
space allowed for an answer. Of course
he must have somebody to look after
that child; l never saw in all my life a
child that needed it more. The most
saucy, spoiled little wretch-a perfect
little imp!"
"Aunty! Heis perfect little angel y
said l. I'As for care, Coralie keeps him
in beautiful order, and he is entirely
healthy and happy here in the country
And it is all very we'll to say, 'Ofcourse
he must have somebody to take care OF
the child, of course he must marry, when
you know that if he had no child, you
would say, 'Of course he must marry,
poor fellow! he is all alone if he had
even a child to care for, it would be diff
ferent' For my part,n added, 81
hate second marriages."
"Oh, you do, =" said Aunt Urania; and
then ensued pause, broken by u thump
ing at my door with little closed fists.
E'Let me in, let me in, Nora," SAID
the dear little voice, in just his mothers
old, sweet, imperative way. And the
dancing eyes that laugh up at me out Of
that fair little face are Susie's very eyes
81 want you, my own Nora," said The
darling "There is a little calf in the
barn, and papa says 1 may go to see it
but you must take me-"
Hoity-toity!'' said Aunt Urania
"That is pretty way to talk to a lady
Must take you, indeed"
"Papa didn't say Just that, did he
BardiePn 1 asked, annoyed to feel my
self coloring under aunt's keen eye.
"He said [ mustn't 90 unless l haC
the best of care; and I know he mean
you, because Coralie is very careless
he sand she was yesterday, when / go
my boots wet. And the old COW butt
at me if 1 go near her. So you mus
come, Nora, darling; Bardie wants yol
so badl"
Who could resist those eyesP-tha
coaxing voiceP had followed just sucl
eyes and voice all my life, and fol
lowed them now. i|
So did Aunt Urania, with her mos
investigating spectacles perched on he
nose.
"WeT, Bardie, ~ she remarked, cheer
fully, "if you say we must, and pap
says we must, why, we must"
Bardie stood stock-still, with an ey
look on his face.
"I didn't mean you," he said.
"Oh, my dear little boy, that WASH
polite, ,''I whispered; but he only CAV
me hug, and turned to aunt with
seraphic smile.
You'd better not go. The COW
quite dangerous one,'' he said, in
very civil tone. g And she doesn't liB
red things; they make her furiou
She just runs right at them and tossC
them.n
"What is the child talking about
Toss whatP I'm not a red thing,
hope"
"About your legs, said Bardie, vel
distinctly. " You hold your dress up
high that the COW will get mad.
shouldn't wonder if She killed you.''
Aunty vouchsafed no reply, but stroC
maiestically on, scorning to veil by on
half inch of concession the somewh
unnecessary conspicuousness of her loU
scarlet stockings. Bardie looked at h,
very hard
ga very cross dog lives in the barn,
he remarked. "He bites people. N
young ladies, Nora darling, nor childr'
-heh K real good to little boys; but 9th
people he hites."