Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-22


wisdom, and takes up her knitting again. /,
having no knitting to occupy me, take up the
| photograph and gaze at it in manner which
must appear foolish to her. for 1 can seq she is
laughing as she says. "Well, what do you intend
| to do. donkey? He'll get tired Of wandering
past the window for nothing Why didn't you
| tap2"
''Gracious! 1 couldn't. Aunt Barbara was in
| the ROOM"
'Oh, you're no good" says Mooney impa-
tiently. "She needn't know bit. Why didn't
| you just show for minute at the window, and
| hold up corner Of a letter? If he had an
ounce of brains he'd know what it meant, and
| be on the lookout for it,"
''Well? and them" l say breathlessly.
| swell, then, scratch OF few lines telling
him where to meet you, or anything else you
like to say. and go out quietly to the hall, as if
| to look at the clock. or something; make for
the door, open the letter-box, and stick your
| letter up through the slit. He'll be certain to
| see it, and if Tabby comes you meandering out
ofthe paror,why, you thought heard the post
| man-that's all"
ooh, Mooney. I couldn't attempt such a
| thing" say in amazement. Indeed, am ap
palled at her superior knowledge" and the
thought Of such boldness.
'.Well. Ihave-scores OF times. she says. coolly
going on with her work; but you're softly;
you don't know thing"
Il couldn't do that" repeat. hanging my
head in humble confession of my ignorance.
"Aunt Barbara is very sharp, and she seems
queer and mysterious these last few days. 1
can't make her out at all. I'm afraid of her
sometimes; she seems so strange"
Crosse questions Miss Oliver, plying her
needles very fast.
"No,"I answer, mot exactly that; but odd
and SILENT
ooh, bother herr" says Mooney, inelegantly.
'What do you mean to do?"
81 really don't know. wanted to ask cousin
Thomas to come and dine here tomorrow, and
talk it over with him. You know Cousin
Il fn1 o1H rui pr,k<
nothing in the house except cold mutton, and
know he hates that"
Mooney draws in her lips. "Couldn't eat it
myself" she says with gravity, 'even with the
best pickles. How the noble Iettia? Couldn't
she invent something to set off the mutton?"
II don't know. am sure" l answer ruefully,
"thOugh she Is good enough sometimes at in
venting, especially new words She disgraced
me the other day by calling the cruet-frame the
recruit-stand."
''Oh! bravo, Letitia!" cries Miss Mooney, clap
ping her hands and laughing heartily-'she
had the recruit in her head, and out he came
| like the honest girl she is. must CO. my DEAR
| jumping up In hurry as the clock began to
strike-"Im sorry for you, very; but can't
help you, because you won't adopt any of my
| wise suggestions. So gOOd-by. Be sure to
write or come round and tell me how things
turn out. And don't forget to give my love to
Letitia."
81 shan't do anything Of the kind" I say re-
| sentfully; ''she woke me up last night saying
there were robbers outside, and took down poor
papa's cavalry sword, which she calls 'the mas
their hearts. Nothing would do her but to
wave it out Of the window. and Of course she
let it fall, and the party Of tipsy roughs, who
were lighting their pipes In the shelter Of the
big tree took it up and ran away with it. Look
at those flowers, too,'' add, by way Of codi-
Gil to my speech, "they are her arrangement
"Oh, crumbs!" says Miss Mooney, standing
before the flower vase and holding her sides;
"what study for painter in water colors.
They might have been made lot of, too.
Where did you get 'em? Don't blush; never
mind telling me- Oh, sent to the Tab, were
they Pit was some one who owed her money,
then, III be bound. But must go, my dear. SO
adieu."
And she kisses me, and skps away down the
street:
am sitting the next morning over the re-
mains of late breakfast, with only the dog for
company, when Letitia comes in with her duS-
ter and begins to dust. OF course she should
have finished long before came down. but she
had to converse with the pOstman, and the
milkman. and the baker, and q score or two
more of her admirers; and 80 her duties have
had to wait.
Isn't it queer, Miss May" she says, trailing
her buster along the edge of the mantel-pece,
without pausing to lift any of the ornaments
theIefrom.very queer think it is that your
!: She knew best herself" answer; list lessly;.
for am not at all disposed for display Of
loquacity. 81 suppose she never met anybody
to care for"
sab, there's where it just is" says Letitia,
giving wipe here and a wipe there, in her care
less sort Of fashion; Its bad to marry without
love. amt it? There's widda-man after me
these two or three years back, but l don't like
widdas! Fresh ones is better. say l. But as
you said just now about your aunt, Miss she
hasn't married because She never met any one to
care for before"
81 said nothing about before" say, looking
sharply up. =, hs. -
own then," says Letitia, quietly. but she has
met some one now, anyway, I'm thinkin."
"What do you mean2" inquire. in bewilder
ment.
"well, then, faix I'll tell YOU" says Letitia
pausing. buster in hand. for don't like his
tory (she means mystery, "and don't see
why you shouldn't know. There's your aunt
that always thought as solemn and steady as
Mother Abbott, has got to reciyin' notes and
flowers, and don't know what not besides, and
to peepin' out from behind the blind at some
one gOn by. thought at first it was the gent
next door, as the little philosopher (she means
veOcipede or bicycle) "but it can't be him, for
he went toorin' last week, and she's peepin'
all the same"
"You ATE surely dreaming?" say in amaze
ment.
''Oh, the divil dream!" says Letitia, in broad
Irish. There's some chap fOolin' the Old
lady, and She not got the sense tC give him no
inheritance" She means encouragement, but. as
usual misses the mark.
Il cannot believe it" say, incredulOusly,
and go on eating my breakfast.
WELL that may die" says Lctitia excited
ly. sit there's lie in the whole Of it. She's get
ting herself up scrumptious this minute, for the
gent is to call at twelve; and l have orders to
show him in.''
did my aunt tell you to do SOP" ask with
dignity.
''She did. faix:' says Letlta, offended. ga
note come with them flowers last evening" and
she fecked it quick into her pocket; and when 1
went up with her hominy, I'm blest if she wasn't
sittin' in her nghtcap writin' an answer to it;
and sent me out scuddln' to the post, with the
tail O my gown over my head"
'Can you remember the address on the letter.
or the namc-the Manner l ask excitedly, as q
new light breaks suddenly in upon me.
''Oh, hang the address. l remember" says Lee
titia looking puzzled, ''but I'd know the name
again. Wallnut-Or some such like"
lay down my knife and fork, and fairly roar
with laughter and Letitia stares with open
mouth. and evidently longs to know the cause
of my mirth. Nor am long in telling her. My
lover has Deen making love to my aunt! not in
tenviOnally; but being unaware that we possess