The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-07-09
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until she has enlightened herself down
Ia her Utmost recesses. When nv pretty
friend Elizabeth Terry was holding us
all III suspense as to her intentions with
regard to the interesting widower who
now speaks of her so affectionately as
'my present wife," (signifcant not only
toa certain past, but of a possible future
Aunt Urania invited the wary Elizabeth
To take a long country drive. And, my
dear, I'll have il out of her, if We don't
get back till midnight, she said. They
were gone only two hours, when my aunt
entered with triumphant face, the grays
all in lather from the victorious haste
of her return, while in strong contrast
was Elizabeth's serene Inconsistencies.
How did you do it?" l inquired, at
the first possible moment. IBID she
confess it all -
Confess! my dear not word. She
hasn't an idea that she has betrayed her
self. | only asked her, quite casually,
how many children Mr.. Williams has,
and she answered, Three, with such n
look, such a sigh
The event proved my aunt's acute
ness, and made her more than ever to us
all an object of admiration and terror.
1t was rather unfortunate for me that
Aunt Urania put OFF her projected jour
ney to Europe for six mOnths-the six
months which decided my fate i'll life.
should have enjoyed them much more,
and managed my affairs much more
smoothly, uninspected 10y her keen eyes.
unadvised 10y her keener tongue.
shall always believe il showed very
persistent state of feelings both i'll Harry
and me not To retire discounted from SO
watchful q sentinel.
Yes, of course, your attachment to
the child is very natural, my dear" she
would say, las | said to Mrs. Dubois
only Yesterday. Nothing | said can
be more natural. Susan Bradmore,
Henry Bents first wife, WAS like a sister
10 my niece; no friends could be more
intimate: and of course she feels very
much for the little boy"
Il wish you wouldn't talk so; aunty :"
| exclaimed. Henry Bent's first wife
/ never heard that he had more than
one
"Oh, no, not as vet, my dear, but it
is only Il question of time; and pretty
generally Il very abrupt question, and
short space allowed for an answer. OF
course, he must have somebody to look
after that child: never saw Ill all my
life n child that needed it more The
most saucy, spoiled little wretch per-
feet little imp
"Aunty! He is a perfect little
angel" said |. GAS for care, Coralie
keeps him in beautiful order, and he is
entirely healthy and happy here III the
country. And ii Is all very we'll 10 say,
'Of course he must have somebody to
take care of the child, of course he must
marry when you know that if lac 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
he different. For my part" l added,
- hate second marriages"
"Oh, you 10, said Aunt Urania; an d
then ensued a pause, broken by tirump-
ing AT my door with little closed fists.
Let me IN, let me in, Nora, said the
dear little voice, i'll just his mothers old,
sweet, imperative way. Aud the dane
ing eyes that laugh up At me out of that
fair little face are Susie's very eyes. Il
want You, my own Nora" said the dar-
hing. There is little cali in the barn,
and papa says | 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,
Bardic?" asked, annoyed to feel myself
coloring under aunt's keen eye
He said musu 90 unless had the
best of care; and / know he meant you,
because Coralic is very careless, he said
she was yesterday when / got my boots
wet. And the old COW butts at me if 60
hear her. SO You mtst come, Nora,
darling; Bardie wants you 50 bad
Who could resist those eyes THAT
coaxing voice? | had followed just such
eyes and voice all my life, and followed
them now.
So did Aunt Urania, with her most
investigating spectacles perched upon her
nose.
"Well, Bardie," she remarked, cheer.
fully, elf you say you must, and papa
SAYS We must, why, We must"
Bardie stood stock-still, with an evil
look on his face.
Il didn't mean yOu," he said
"Oh, my dear little boy, that wasn't
polite, i whispered; but he only gave
me Il hug, and turned to aunt with a
seraphic smile.
YOU'D better not 60. The cow is
quite dangerous one" he said, i'll
very civil tone. "And she doesn't like
red things they make her furious. She
Just runs right at them, and losses them"
What is the child talking about?
Toss what? I'm not a red thing, /
hope
"About your legs" said Bardie, very
distinctly. "You hold your dress up 30
high that the COW will get mad /
shouldn't wonder if she killed you"
Aunty vouchsafcd no reply, but strobe
maiestically on, scorning to veil by QUE
half inch of concession the somewhat
unnecessary cOnspicuOusness Of her long
scarlet stockings. BaIdie looked at her
very hard.
"a very cross dog lives in the barn."
he remarked. "He bites people. Not
young ladies, Nora darling, nor children
he is real good to little boys; but other
people he bites.
/ could not speak, and / did not dare
TO laugh. Aunty'S face was awful.
81 am going to the barn." she said
briefly.
We made our way through the ducks
and hens, skirting perilously yard full
Of pigs, and tremblingly passing small
window i'll a shed, where protruded a
great head, with short horns and soft
and beautiful eyes, but low rumbling
note proclaimed that IT was the bull, the
terror of our field walks and grove pic
MICS. Not that We had ever really en-
countered him in the body, but in the
spirit he always seemed TO haunt the
next field, or be screened by the shadiest
tree.
"Oh, Bardie, don't like the looks of
him." whispered.
Take hold of my hand; I'll take care
OF you" said the little knight; and we
passed the monster, that looked yearn-
ingly at us in our freedom, and gave a
resomding below that shuddered
through and through Inc.
Bardie laughed at my fears.
"What are you 'fraid of, Nora sweet?
He has got big ring in his nose, and
can't do anything. Anybody can lead
him about. Papa said once that if you
could only put ring on person, you
could lead him by the nose.
WHAT'S Hat:" said Aunt Urania,
from behind
We entered the barn, full TO overflow
ing with sweet new hay, and fragrant
with lts perfume, and with the breath Of
the patient COW, that lay contentedly in
her corner, with her head raised in
watchful care of her little weak-legged
scrawny offspring. i had never seen
very young calf before, and was disap-
pointed.
aVeali" pronounced Amt ITrania