Arizona weekly citizen., 1881-10-30
Ph@be Hollands stratng,m.


 Bachelor Buttera wanted a wife. He was getting middlo-aged and had touches Of the rheumatism, and he wanted some one tO keep house for him.
 Aunt Priscilla, an elderly spinster, highly applauded her -ephe T's resOlu- ti1n, and recommended the excellent and wsll-to-,lo Mrs. Baker, who vas. only @ few years older than Mr. BltteCs, as 6 magnificent h0Usakeeper. But Cutters, like most men, faucied tLai the most suitable partner he could select would be the youngest and p-ettiest girl Le knew, and gave his aunt several excel lent reasons for preferring Phnba Hol- land, who was a gay brunette, just past her sixteenth birth-day, Co the nature Mrs Baker.
 Aunt Priscilla was a sensible old lady. She listened calmly, and repEed:
 ''VeTy well, Benjamin, marry the girl, If you can get her. People marry to please themselves, 1 suppose. They ought to, anyhow; but make sure you will be pleased. Don't make mistake, Benjamin"
 "I don't want to- said Benjamin. It's q sort of seary thing to look for ward to, anyhow. A man gets very it- tie canoe Co kEOw girfs disposition by seeing her Iu society. Now, perhaps you could help me there, aUntie- She may be extTaya ant, or lazy, or gwen tO flirting. 1 should never find II out; but vou'd be sure to do it. And then, if sue is the perfection l fancy her, what a comfort to know it You'll visit them, won't you, Aunt Priscilla, and try % do the bes. you can?
 "I will, Benjamin" said Aunt Pris- cilla, fattered by his confidence. and I'll be fair with yOu. l do think she's young and tiight., but I'll be fur, Ben Iamin.
 And thereupou Aunt Priscilla ua- n9uyered Co have herself invited to the Hollands home for a long visit; for as she said in an uEguardCd moment tu her dra1eIaaaAei, 7 cannot let my nephew marry a pig in the poke
 It so happened that this same dress maker was at that very time making d dress for Phube Holland and was in con stant receipt oi her confidence. There fore, this wise woman held her tongue aud laughed in her sleeve and awaited Phcbe's visit, for the woes of this maid en did not prevent her from being very anxious indeed abuu- the set of her lew walking dress.
 "Oh, dear Miss Sti.cL," began PEUbe, s5 the drcssmaker ''took in" the side seams of her sacque-"oh, dear Miss Stitch, things are worse tLan ever at home Pa is furious because l don't like Mr.. ButterS, and ma cries and says I'm not dutiful and brother BlIl says that I'll be a beautiful rch young widow soon, if do. He thinks I'll pay all ms debts; that's his motive. And don't want tO be a young widow. | want tD be, my dear-what i mean is, I'd rather be some ones happy wife. What sl1all l do, Miss Stitch:'
 |" Resist 'em, my Lear,' said Mss Stitch, with pins in her mouth, " resgst 'em. , feel for you, and there's more trouble Jhau you know before YOU; I'm making a biaca silk, with three side plaJttt i.Uuucos for Ars. butters' aunt, Miss Priscilla Packer. and shes going to your house Go pay you a visit and spy on yOu; but ioTe-waTucu lore-arme1, uy dear. Iou know her motive now. Ste sat a teihu' t Go me not an hour ago Eoc guessin | made for voU.'
 " Ibe idear cried PnUbe As ii might uot le good enough for old Bacl- clor Butters, after all. Let her come, though, it may be she saving of me. I've a great idea, iIss Stitch. But what 1t was, Iuoba would Uot say.
 She ieit the GraaSmIksrs with a smil- ing face, and .rFVef Eomevard more Gaily thaT she had walked for weeks.
 " Mamma" she said Go her mother as she entered tLe room where that lady sat, ' | think I'll change my mnd and have the old bachelor. fl he viIl have me, after ali.'
 " Your papa will be SO pleased, said Mrs. Holland. < good father always wishes tO settle his daughter we'll m life. as he feels himself getting old and young Marcus Thompson, though other wise a very fine young man, k not well on, and your Ia thiuEs he never will be-
 Peace reiguCd in the home of the Hol- lands from that moment, Bachelor But ters was informed of tLe young lady's decision and Aunt Priscilla came to visit the family of her dear future niece
 Mascus Thompson was in despair, but PhUbe, as she parted from him, after a sureptitious walk in the park, said:
 Trust tO he, Marcus. The thing sounds very oddly, but ! assure you all will be right at last Only you nusn't come near me for a day or two"
 Meanwhile, Air. Butters Vas blssiully content, and cOurted his lady-love after the approved Old-lashioued style, and Aunt Priscilla, paying her first weeks visit. grew more solemn every day. Be- fore the tso weeks, which were its Lm- itatiou, were passed. tuC old iady's lace was absolutely Lurgard.
 She avoided her nephew's eyes when they met, and gromed t0 herself as she saw him walk away with Phoebe oI his arm, and a rose Iu Lis LuttCn-h1lc. but sue sad nothing ultii at the end oi the end of the fortnight she hade the Hol- lands farewell, and returned. trunks and all, to her particular clearinghouse. That very evening Bachelor Butters re- celyel a little note, written in a treuu- lOus hand, and very cr0oEeiiy across the paper:
 At home at last. Pardon this scIarl. So agitated. Home at once. Heaven grant it may not be too late. Your aux- ious aunt PRISCILLA
 Mir. Butters at lrcc flew to his auu-'s residence.
 The lady received him in hor own pri- . vate parloT, room so full of brackets, maJohca ware, china statugttes, aIn- bTOIdered cushions, hanging baskets, lamp mats, painted silk articles, and photographs, that there was scarcely room for the two people.
 My dear Benjamin, she said as Ire entered, " | see by your face that you expect bad Jews. I'm sorry tO say yOU are right. The news is dreadful. Such l a fortnight, my dear, such fortnight. But here Is my diary. Read t.
 Bachelor Butters took the small paper covered book that his aunt presented to him from her shaking hands, opened the ! page and began:
 'Dec. 1st-Arrived at the Hollands. | Kindly and warmly received. Phoebe ! kissed me and called me her dear aun.y, ! and said we should share tine same room. l Pleased Opportunities of strict Obscr- | vatlon ,hUs offered.
 "Dec. 2d-At night, while disrobing, | Miss PhWbe whis-lel a popular tunS. 1 demonstrated with her on her imprU- l pricty. She replied, twas a fixed habit. |. l regret this. Also asked me if I would | take a nip. Requested to know what a nip was. Miss Phoebe replied, only brandy and water. and that she took i1 every night. EemCustrated. Promised l Shocked by slang phrases. but said nothing. After breakfast sat together. Inquired what sort ot needle ] work she liked best. She replied tLat she did not know how to sew Amaze ment kept me silent She took up a ! book. glanced over her shoulder. IL was yellow-covered affair, entitled l 
 "Do you read such books, my dear.' I asked.
 "'What booksg' asked her mamma, quickly.
 Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress, man. | ma, said she. What dUpLcity.
 "Afterward when Iar ru.rgr11 Iaft tIe