Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-04-15

that's got money, too" she added, sig
niicantly and spitefully. " Yes, money
to make up for all you We had to pay for
me-"
am glad to see you in so desir-
able frame of mind" said Mrs. Ber-
row, laughing merrily. You show q
truly noble, unselfish nature in provid.
ing, even before your death, for your
husbands second marriage"
"NOw, Caroline Borrow. think YOU
had better not say MORE" spoke aunt.
81 know how unfeeling you can be.
It is not the first time ;ou have made
game of my illness. As to you,
Thomas, you can be looking out for
somebody to replace me. 1 and my
sufferings wild soon be released from
this world of trouble"
Have you any particular person in
view?" asked uncle, gravely, "any
one you would like as mother to your
childrenp OF course l should have to
think little of them in choosing q
second wife,
don't much think Aunt Mona ex-
pected the ready acquiescence; she
looked startled. Mrs. Borrow ran out
to Kate and Louisa, who were coming
in with the basin of peas, and uncle
followed her. Presently the two girls
came in. Aunt Mona was then grow
ing hysterical.
Listen, children" she cried-and
proceeded to tell them what had
passed. "You see your father is so
anxious on your account" she added,
sarcastically, "that he can't even wait
for me to die before providing you a
stepmother. l will let you choose.
How would you like Mrs. Berrow?''
"Very much. indeed" said Kate.
81 think she is Just as good and
Louisa. Mamma, / like Mrs. Ber-
row almost as well as I like you. But
l suppose this is all nonsense" broke
off the girl, laughing.
To tell you the truth, Mona" in
terposed my uncle, who had again
come in, 81 have thought of Caroline
Borrow. 1t is impossible to keep such
ideas away when ones wife is in your
state of health" he added, with
depreciation, "She would make most
excellent stepmother."
eyes, see you have been thinking
of her," returned Aunt Mona, rising
from her chair in a fever of hysterical
anger. "You have got your plans
well laid out, husband, and you have
infected the children with them. Oh,
that should live to be insulted like
this! Maria, you are witness to it.
1t is cruel, cruel! And I will live a
hundred years if I can, just to spite
you"
With the tears streaming down her
still pretty face Aunt Mona, leaving her
decoction of herbs to its fate, sailed
away. I felt most uncomfortable. The
young girls must have been jesting, but
for the first time I thought my uncle
heartless. Mrs. Borrow, standing now
outside the open window, had partly
heard what passed.
"Mona only told me yesterday that
she could not live a week." quoth she.
"She kissed me last Sunday when 1
was going to church and said she should
not live to see another" spake uncle.
Eyes, and she has not yet bought us
new dresses, or hats, or ribbons this
SUMNER" chimed in Kate. "She said
it would be useless, we should so soon
have to go into mourning for her. 1t
is too bad for mamma to be so melan-
choly."
"And now she is going to live hun
dred years." sighed Mrs. Borrow, in
anything but a pleasurable tone. g But
I must wish you all good morning. 1
have not ordered my dinner at home
yet"
Uncle Butterfield," I said, feeling
indignant, as the echo of her light foot
steps sounded on the path and the two
girls ran after her, "I-Ihave no right,
I know, to speak so, but do you not
think you are heartless to Aunt Mona
unfeeling?''
81 am sorry for it if am" replied
my uncle, "but I'm only taking your
aunt at her word. For years she has
been telling me she was going to die
and that l had better be looking out for
a second wife. don't see that could
choose nicer one than Mrs. Borrow"
''Has she bewitched you, Uncle But
terfieldP''
81 don't think so, my lass. All the
world recognizes her for delightful
woman. The children must have q
mother if their own is taken from them
What should do without a wife in
house like thisp. AS to planning out be-
forehand, you must thank your aunt for
that
He set off down the garden with his
long strides to overtake Mrs. Borrow.
Sending the girls back, he accompanied
her home. L could have beaten them
both.
Up stairs ran I, somehow not caring
to face the girls, to Aunt Mona's room,
expecting to find her drowned in
hysterical tears and sorely in need of
consolation. Not bit of it. She sat
before mirror, arranging her still
abundant and beautiful hair, which,
during these years of illness. real or
imaginary, she had worn plainly tucked
under a cap. There was fire in her
eye, flush upon her cheek and look
of determination in her face, which
augured anything but well for the pros
poets of the Widow Borrow.
"Pve heard every word you have
been saving below" she exclaimed,
glancing at the open window. Il
thank you for taking my part, Maria.
You seem to be the only friend have.
The idea of that mean, low-lived, con-
temptible Widow Borrow being here in
my place and the mother of my chill
1ront r. uoro dood opd hrrio1 oud