The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-01-22

ner aunt needed her. But Mrs. Wells got
MI. wells to write letter to Miss Sander
son, quite cross, saying that she oughtn't to
neglect her guardian and his family, so /
guess she knew she was obliged to come.
Ihey were talking about it hot and heavy
one morning when / was in the room mend
ing dress for Mrs. Wells to go out in; if I'd
been in the young lady's place wouldn't
nave wanted TO come; everybody but Master
FRANK imposed on her, and the tricks Miss
Hattie used to play on that sweet young lady,
ia like to have shaken her for, would. 1t
was " Carrie here and "Carrie" there till
bestirred myself sometimes to run up and
down for her, for she wasn't over strong,
and Mrs. Wells thought nobody but herself
had right to be weak.
Miss Caroline had a fair face, with straight
features, and brown eyes with the express
sion OF saint. The gentlemen that used to
come to the house, after the twins was mar
ried and Miss Jenny off with one Of them to
Europe, set great store by Miss Caroline,
and that did make Miss Hattie mad. She
was seventeen then, about the same age with
Miss Carrie, and much richer than the other
young lady, so she was bent on being mar
ried first. There was one gentleman land
generous gentleman he was too, as I've good
cause to know, Mrs. Tomkins, my DEAR,
that was mighty fond of Miss Carrie. 1t
was about that time that poor Wilson was
counting me, my dear; so natural-like L
II
and did what could for Mr.. Bachelor;
that was his name. and very bad one, too,
it was for a nice spoken man that wanted
to marry. Mrs. Wells was round good bit
herself, my dear, pushing her own daugh-
ter forward, as you may believe. There
were several times when Miss Carrie was at
our house Mr.. Bachelor fixed to take her
to some entertainment, and once he got his
way; the second time Mrs. Wells had one of
her dangerous headaches, as she liked to call
them, when she would declare that if Miss
Carrie didn't sit by and fan her she would
go out of her mind. You see it was easy for
Miss Hattie to say that her mother thought
Miss Sanderson the best nurse Of the two,
and hint to Mr.. Bachelor that there weren't
no need to throw away the ticket to the
theater. And he was taken inp The best
Of them is so stupid sometimes, my dearl
That spiteful girl actually gave him to I'M
derstand that Miss Carrie didn't like him.
Now when he comes to me for help SAYS to
him, Mr.. Bachelor" 1 says, 'Fyou're
fool" L says. Not right straight up and
down, you know, Mrs. Tomkins, my dear
Land alive didn't darel Not but as being
housekeeper amt above the cook and such
like in position, you know; but still he was
real gentleman out and out, and was one
as always knew my place, which am sorry
to say, Mrs. Tomkins, my dear, there's
many girl now that doesn't. But l give
him to understand that Miss Hattie wasn't
worth the other one, take her twice over!
Do you think could put what l knew into
his head? "Why, it's you, Mrs. Carter"
save he, smiling pleasantly, Gas is mistaken.
Miss Wells is doing her best to persuade
Miss Sanderson q wish you could have
heard how he spoke that name, it did
my heart good, | tell you) to--to-like
me-" And he blushed, honor-bright, my
dear; he went the color of the fire there. But
if l didn't fly off the next minute when he
says as calm as possible, 81 have great
many good friends, Mrs. Carter" says he;
"last night Miss Warburton showed me,
real delicate-lik says he, " that she knew
what was going on, and would do all in her
power to help me.'' "She did p' cries out,
quite forgetful of myself, for once, and
jumping up to put more wood in my stove,
"she didV For, you see, none better than
myself knew the slyness of that young lady;
and as for lies, my dear, they were no more
to her than the very air she breathed. The
others, some Of them, were bad enough for
deceit, but she did beat all
Mr.. Bachelor looked surprised first and
then gave, and then he says, at seems to
me you haven't good opinion Of anybody,
Mrs. Carter" very sorrowfully indeed.
stop says 1; you just begin to talk
S WSo Mss w says Ha y n b.S
nor deaf, nor crazy neither, thank the Lord"
says /, sand if you don't get Miss Carrie"
says L, getting pretty excited, you'll be
sorry to the end of your days." says 1.
Whether he was angry with me, or whether
some sense was coming into him at last, l
don't know to this day, but he looked at his
watch and says, ITS late, Mrs. Carter, and
I'm much obliged to you. Don't forget me-"
And with that he slips a heavy reminder into
my hand and walks away. / used to be
afraid that the servants would notice him
talking to me, but he was very careful about
not staying long, and they all guessed that
Wilson and me was promised.
Well, for some weeks after that, Mrs,
Tomkins, my dear, l kept my eyes well
open, and nice little game was played.
Mrs. Wells and Miss Warburton was as thick
as you can think, and Miss Florrie, it was
settled, was to keep Mr. Bachelor away
from Miss Carrie and push him onto Miss
Hattie without loss of time. This was the
plan, my dear, but do you fancy Miss War
burton ever kept to her word in her life? 1t
was "dear Mrs. Wells" and "dear Mrs.
Wells" and darling Hattie" and all the
time she was trying to cheat her "darling
Hattie' out of the man she was after! That's
friendship for you! But Miss Hattie was
too sharp for her for once, my dear, and
though l couldn't abide Miss Hattie, was
wicked enough to be glad that Miss War
burton's FITTINGS and gigglings came to
nothing.
Well, pretty soon elegant flowers come
every few days for Miss Carrie, and don't
you think l had to hide them in my room
and send her word to come for them! If the
poor child wasn't bothered to know what to
do with all her baskets! And the hearts,
eases standing up all round, as imploring as
you please! You see that very same Aunt
Charlotte was an old vixen, or pretty near,
that had lost both husband and children, and
she didn't care for no hing but to have Miss
Carrie around. She had a regular paid
nurse, but 'twasn't the same as Miss Carrie
by no means, Mrs. Tomkins, my dear.
Well, one night (and | never shall forget
it if L live five hundred years, which /
mayn't, for its out of nature, you know Mr..
Bachelor asked Miss Carrie to 90 to
church with him some way off to hear the
music that he said was real beautiful. Some
way that mink Miss Hattie got to know
about it, and she says, quick as lightning,
for heard her, "Lets make up party"
says she, as bold as you like; " the more the
merrierW Natural like, the poor man
couldn't say no, so she runs to her mother,
Miss Hattie does, and tells her she's going
to ask Miss Warburton to go along. Mrs.
Wells, she was agreeable to any fun for her
spoiled baby, and then she calls me. "Ask
Johnnie Taylor, too" l heard Mrs Wells
say, as | come into the room; she's very
fond Of my dear Florrie, and Mrs. Carter ii
go with you to carry wraps and make herself
useful" " Johnnie Taylor" says Miss Hat
tie, quite GROSSLY; "don't you know better
than that, mamma, and Carrie with us?"
And she winked very slyly, but / saw her
plain enough. "There's no use,'' says she,
scOWlinQ. 80 for Mrs. Carter to 90. the wealth.