Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-03-04
A Little Mistake.


shady side of forty, and her niece, Miss
Hope Alexander, also single, bht on the
sunny side of twenty, sat in the pleasant
sitting-room of pleasant country mansion,
listening to the rumble of the afternoon
railway train, which was just arriving at
the depot.
'Mr. Harvey will be here in few min
utes, Hope said the aunt land you
must be cordial to him, unless it is your
desire to offend me-
81 wish the train had had a collision ="
was the rather vlndictive reply, though a
sly half-smile showed that the words were
hardly meant.
Hope" cried the other, somewhat
sternly. You are positively sinful to be
so malicious. Why should you hate a
gentleman you have never seen 2"
Il might in turn ask you why should l
love gentleman had never seen Z"
Nobody asks you to love him.
no. But you wish me to marry him. "
"Well, apologized the aunt, 81 would
like to see you as well settled as you GER
tainly would be with Walter Harvey. The
love can come afterward. | know you
will like him."
'Why, Aunt Minerva, you have never
met him YOURSELF
Not since he was little boy. But
have always known his parents, and they
are worthy people"
$50 were Hope Alexander's, l think, :"
poutingly said the younger lady. ''And
yet you see what perverse scapegrace you
have got for a niece.
Even Miss liinerva's grim features had
to relax little. But any further CONVEX
sation was cut off by ring at the outer
door,
''He has come" said Miss Blair 'You
must at least treat him civilly, Hope"
Indeed l will, aunty, for your sake, "
said the girl, with touch of good feeling
Miss Minerva went herself to admit the
visitor
''Mr. Harvey" she said to the dark
bearded, handsome young man whom she
admitted, ''it gives me genuine pleasure
TO welcome you to this house. | have
known your family so many years, that
you almost seem friend
''Indeed. | hope to. be one" was the
frank reply.
You must ret me send my niece to
you, y said Miss Minerva, as soon as the
newcomer was fairly seated. 81 am house
keeper, you know, and cannot neglect my
duties, but you will have substitute whom
you must learn to like"
'eYou would hardly say that if you
knew all, the gentleman remarked soto
UOce.
Il am afraid | have humored her into
being a little wilful, but she is kind
hearted and good.'
And with these pleasant words, the kind
old maiden lady left the room.
She was gone scarcely long enough to
allow the young man to collect his thoughts
ere she again stood in the doorway, say
ing:
''NIr. Harvey, | present my niece, Miss
Hope Alexander.
And slender, rustling figure was half
pushed into the room, where it stood bow
ing with a semi-haughty air.
Something like a smile was upon the
young gentleman's cOuntenance, and he
kept his eyes fastened upon the girls face
but she did not look up, waiting in silence
for him to speak Bet he too seemed
wordIess, and only gave vent to an embar-
rassed ''Ahem !"
Miss Blair wondered little, and
frowned little, at her niece's perverse be
havior But she wisely concluded to leave
them together. !.
Il must attend to getting supper" she
then said 81 will leave you together fol
time"
AS soon as she was fairly gone, Hope!
cried the young man. The girl raised hel
eyes at once,
ssArthur is it you? II did not expect
you. thought it was your cousin Walter
who was coming" ~
'It will require quite talk to explain
all, my Hope" he answered. ''And
almost fear your aunt may overhear U.s."
His arm went about her waist Sly Miss
Hope, not to have told her aunt the secre
this action implied! Wicked Miss Hope
! to deceive so good relative!
At present she was only charming Mis-
Hope to the only eyes that looked upon her
and in sooth she was flushed and very
pretty.
"We will stroll into the garden, Arthur
There we can talk without danger of being
overheard"
So they walked out into the pleasan
| paths of the home grounds, and over thu
| greensward, to the roots of great buck
eye-tree, where they found cozy seats.
"Have you ever told your aunt abou
me, Hope? 2"
II could not, Arthur. She has been 81