Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-08-06


ion on the heaps of flannel.
"Always busy and always useful" he
murmured, gently.
Miss Dorothy s maiden hand twitched,
and she cut tho flannel in wrong
place.
Excuse me- sue said, rising in
some confusion, ct forgot to leave out
some medicine for Mrs. Brown. / will
return presently"
The door had just been closed when
the rector audibly murmured:
"Admirab,e woman Invaluable! y
"Ehg said Aunt Crosby, sharply
turning round, and the light from the
fire made her spectacles shine as she
sat with raised pen "did you speak 2"
"No-I, ah-merely was thinking
ah what loss Miss Dora would be to
you if--ah-she was to leave you! r
+" Bless me p responded Aunt Crosby,
in tone of slight contempt, "we won't
trouble about that till she talks of
going"
"No, no; very true, madam. You
have such an amusing way of putting
things" And he eentured on little
nervous laugh, from which he supernat-
1rally scbered down the next minute
Perhaps h-she might marry"
"What is the idiot driving at ?" said
Mrs. Crosby to herself, irate at so many
Interruptions. "Marry, did you say !"
she inquired, aloud. "About twenty
five years ago Dolly was fine-looking
young girl. Still, she might marry now,
and SO might I, for the matter of that,
if any one asked me- Take look at the
, Times, Mr.. Preedy; they'll bring the
tray in a moment, )" and the pen
scratched again.
"What cruel old woman !" said the
rector, mentally. "She won't let me
speak I'll try her again, though, see if
I don't" F
And having manfully turned the news
paper inside out, ne gave preparatory
cough.
"Mrs Crosby, have long wished
|, "Why can't he keep still p muttered
the old lady, soto roce.
G. II say I have long wished" he
had attained the fixed high key In which
he intoned the service, and the sound
of his own voice thus pitched gave him
courage-:'to express the admiration
feel for your niece"
= "She's an excellent creature, Mr.
/; Preedy," agreed Aunt Crosby; and il
. despair at his pertinacity, she put dow
,s her pen, pinched her glasses tighter OF
= her high nose, and turned her keen fac
full round to await the further remark
n of her visitor.
h "What wife she would make, Mrs
"a Crosbyr' said the rector, enthusiast
tv cally.
~ "A faint glimmering OF the truth lit Ii
9, the old lady's mind, and she replied
n. "You would be better judge Of tha
th than 1, Mr.. Preedy. Did you want
nd marry her?"
M "Oh, Mrs. Crosby, you are too goo'
May hope, then?"
In With an odd smile on her puckere
l'. old face, Mrs. Crosby said,-
'io "Hadn't you better ask her? I'll {
out as she comes in"
on- And suiting the action to the wor
for the mistress of the mansion left tt
room as her niece entered.
icy That night, at about half-past twely
Mrs. Crosby heard a footstep On t.
me gravel walk below her window. She g
up, lit her candle, threw on warm b
ats faded dressing gown, and marched alol
nat the passage and down stairs to the roc
Inc where reposed the butler and the pla
IN chest. The sound of the old mai
snoring showed he was undisturbe
'ra, His mistress raped sharply.
all sect up, Barnes, there's man wa
ing under my window" A&6AAs
a Quickly old Barnes obeyed, and th
low he called up young footman to ass
ees him, and the two armed themsel'
with pokers and sailed forth from
was bay window of the dining-room, VIII
ced Mrs. Crosby, candle in hand, stood j
within it. After prowling about fol
lid few minutes, the men were about
ner- come in, when the younger OF the t
un- spied shadow close up to the gray "
his of the house. He sprang forwa
nap shCuting,-
net "I've got him!'
gIa- And Mrs. Crosby, in voice wor
r OF of Mrs Siddons, cried from the '
dow,-
just "Bring him here"
SEN Then, the butler lending his ass
Iible ance, struggling, expostulating
lely, was dragged into the presence OF
owner of the mansion. Turning to '