Middletown transcript., 1880-04-10

Diane if you suppose anything of the
sort Dear me! I'm not allowed to
walk on any street where anyone else
walks"
"How cruel!" he responded, sym
pathetically.
isn't it? ?" said she, being an invet-
crate chatter-box, and glad to find
some one who would listen to her.
q might as well be a prisoner, and
idle around in the japanese Tommy.
How would you like to have your
aunt always following you about ?"
81 should like it very much" ans
wered George, boldly, ''if she we're as
charming as some people | know "
"But Aunt Diane isn't" said Mimi,
confdentially. Though" she added,
her conscience shifting her, "She is
very nice and good. But she always
will keep on saying that people
oughtn't to maryland that is such
nonsense, isn't it?"
"AbsurdityP' George cried, warm
ly; and after more conversation Of
like nature, he rose to go, saying, 81
hope this will not be our last meeting,
Miss Legrand. May l call on you p
"Oh, myp cried Mimi, aghast,
Don't try it. Papa would be SO
angry, and Aunt Diane would bite
your head off,
George seemed quite cast dove for
minute, and then said, II wl4f say
goodbye but it shall not be forever"
"Au reUoir," said Mimi, dropping
her long black lashes.
AS soon as Aunt Diane Came home,
Mimi told her about, Mr.. Wolfe, and
gave her the packagescf papers
"You went down to see him !" ejac-
ulated the spinster, "89ne-without
chaperon! What we'd behaved girl
ever did such thing? What an un-
precedented boldness! What will
your father say when | lell him ?"
Don't see what I've done," pouted
Mimi, "and why did you always tell
me men were SO frightful and wicked
l wasn't bit afraid of him."
misguided girl !" groaned her aunt,
"you will bring my grey hairs in sor-
row to the grave. What-what will
your father say?"
"Her dyed hairs, l guess she means"
thought Mimi adding aloud, why,
he'll say you ought to have been at
home to receive the papers-that's
what he'll say"
Miss Diane reflected that this artful
remark was true, and not caring to
be reprimanded by her brother, she
magnanimously said, "For once,
will consent to spare you, Mimi, but
never let it happen again "
"Oh, dear, no p said Mimi, with a
virtuous air; and that evening she
prattled as artlessly as ever to her un-
suspecting papa.
Several times after this, as Mimi
was peering through the shutters, she
saw George Wolfe, and each time, the |
audacious youth kissed his hand to
her.
Having little else to think about,
he was continually in her mind, and
the warnings other guardians defeated |
their object, by making her realize
that stolen waters are sweet.
While this was going on, an old
aunt of Miss Diane, from whom she
had expectations, was taken very i'll,
and Miss Diane flew to her succor,
leaving Mimi to the care of her father.
who, fearing no danger, took no pre-
cautions.
One afternoon, Mimi, taking advan-
cage of her new-found liberty, went
out to carry some soup to poor in
valid in St. Anthony's alley, and thi,
being done, fingered in the Square.
By a strange coincidence George
Wolfe sudjenl, appeared from be- |
hind a eucalyptus tree and Mimi
turned as rosy as an April dawn, at
sight of him.
Il had begun to despair of ever see
ing you again" he said, "and almost
made up my mind to brave the dra-
gon."
"hunt Diane is away on a visit,
now," she replied demurely.
'That accounts for your being out
Of DOORS" she said. Il have often
seen you at your window, like Gagged
bird"
"a jaiI-bird, suppose you mean.
! might as well have been in prison.
How nice you must find it to go about
by yourself?"
Il know some one 1 would like to
go about with me, all the time.''
"Who is it?' questioned Mimi
II am afraid to tell you
"Why should you be? 1 won't hurt
you"
"You give me permission 20 tell?"
"Why, yes, of course. Who is it ?"
"You, MIN! y /
"O-oh!' she cried, opening her eyes
very wide, Would you, really ?"
''Yes, indeed
"But you might get tired, some
times"
"With you, Mimi, could go on for
ever, and ever, and"
"Walking forever? l think l would
like to take a street-car, occasionally
"Now, you're laughing at me, Mimi.
I thought you liked me better than
that"
Discreet silence on Minis part.
perhaps, though. you don't like
me at all"
Still silence.
"Do you, Mimi ?"-very urgently.
"Ye es," she murmured, hanging
her head
Hands clasp, eyes meet, beneath the
tree-and "the old, sweet
story is told again"
These meetings had gone on for
some time, when George determined
to go to Mr. Legrand, and throw him
self upon his mercy.
With outward calmness, but quak-
II |