The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-01-07

aunt.
"Who is that strange creature?" asked
Hugh when he went into the house.
Mrs. Asher, mild little woman,
looked perplexed and grave. "Dr. Shen-
ley's sister," she replied, briefly.
Snow we are having an insight into the
family relations of your Fair Maid Of
Newburgh,' Hugh cried his cousin Ju-
liza, clapping her ringed hands. "That is
her aunt. She came to invite us all to
dinner on Tuesday. If the Shenley FAM
lily have strong point, it is social posi-
ton. There is nobody in the village
whom they could ask to meet us -wretch-
ed plebians all! O, we know all about
it." shaking her head gleefully until the
hooped earrings rang. II thought that
the charm of your village maiden lay in
her sweet simplicity? Why, the sanity
are leaders in style and fashion. Aunt
Miranda dirit"
Hugh did not answer his cousin. There
was reason why Julia should dislike
poor little Janet; and the lad, though no
coxcomb, knewit.
When she had left the room,his moth
er said to him gently:
"You have not asked Janet to marry
you yet, Hugh9''
"No, mother But
eyes, know all that you would say.
But do not be rash, Wait but for q
day"
"What is it?'. hotly. "What do you
fear, mother!''
Everything, where you are concerned.
1t would kill me, Hugh, to see your life
wrecked by sham. vulgar wife. Little
Janet impressed me as a true, noble girl.
But it seems impossible that any thing
genuine could come from such stock as
that. Only wait until we look further"
80, l will wait!' said Hugh. 'But l
am willing to stake my life On the re-
suit"
Now great chance Of social triumph
came in Miss Rensha"''s way. In this
wise:
On the morning of the dinner party
Alphonse knocked at her door. He car
ried a mysterious box. In it were a
quaint silver epergne and couple of sill
YER cups, all marked with crest. AL
phonse begged her to buy them, offering
them at one-tenth their value. 'Ole miss
is in Londeun gave them to me with my
free papers," was his story. ''Here, AL
phonse,' says she, you have served me
faithful, and it's all have left to give.
The Stuarts was dreadful impoverished
by the wal" ". @a
"Stuarts? This monogram has an 81
said Miss Miranda, cycling goblet care
fully. "J.S. 1t might be Job Shenley,
eh?" -"E.
Here was an addition to her dinner
table! The Ashers of course, would ask
no questions. They would take it for
granted this was the family monogram
and crest.
"Vely we'll, Alphonse I will take
the articles. Ny brother Dr. Shenley,
will pay you--some time. Direct Bar
bara to polish them with the rest Of the
plate"
The crest of the plate'' consisted, as
she very we'll knew, Of ha.f-a dozen spoons
and forks.
The momentuous hour drew nigh
Janet, half crying, half laughing at the
absnrdlty of her own figure, had been
forced into the gaudy new dress; hel hair
rolled and pulled after some astounding
fashion insisted on by her aunt her aunt S
paste diamonds hung in her ears; and
gigantic Scotch cairngorm fastened in
her breast.
mo matter how 1 lock-" said Miss
Renshaw, heroically, as Janet protested,
putting her objections SO as to hurt her
aunts feelings the least, but half shrink
ing from what she felt was a vulgar dis
play. ut is you who are to unite the
houses. You ought to wear the family
ijewelry-at least, for to-day
Janet, red, hot, and awkward, took her
post in the gay parlcr, but feeling some
times as if she would like to sink
through the floor.
"You car be turning over the leaves
of book when they come in. Elegant
leasure-that is the idea"
Miss Miranda surveyed the room com
placently as she spoke, and hurried to
the kitchen, where Barbara was dazed and
enras ed, struggling with dinner of six
courses.
The doctor had beer called to a country
patient, and would not be back until
night. For which Miss Renshaw secretly
thanked Heaven. James was hopelessly
ungenteel.
The gate clicked-they had GOMEZ
Miranda left the Kitchen. rushed up
stairs and struggled into her best dress.
Meantime below, the meat was not half
done, the fish We're burning up-the
soups!--
She hurried down, with that agonized
smile which belongs to housekeepcrs of
vaulting ambition.
Now Janet was sensible little soul
and keeneyed, as we have seen. She
knew exactly what that amused glitter
IN Julia's eye meant as it glanced over
the room and then rested on her; she
understood Mrs. Asher's chagrined, cold
manner, which she vainly tried to bring
back to her old cordiality. She under
stood Hugh's half defiant devotion to her
SELF More than ever she wished the
floor would open and swallow her
The poor little girl was not able, like
Epictetus, you see, to possess her soul
and look down upon these things.
Miss Julia tapped her paste diamonds
playfully.
GLOW becoming splendor is to vou!"
she said. "You did not dazzle us with
these in Baltimore.
s'Thev are not mine,'' said Janet. blunt