The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-10-18


ter"
Your master would allow himself to be
preyed on by every one in the village, if he
hadn't some one to protect him" said Mrs
Copman, severely. $50 at once, Floyd
or stay believe l had better go myself
This sort of thing must be put stop tor
And she hurried out to the greenhouse,
where pretty Jetty Lane was culing sprays
of white stephanotis, in an unconsciously
graceful attitude, as she reached up among
the glossy, dark green branches for the STAR
like blossoms.
!" said Mrs Copman, stihiy Miss
Lane, believer
Jetty paused and turned Only home
from boarding-school three months, she had
never met Mrs. Copman face to face before.
It's the terrible mother-in- law |" she said
to herself; and she answered, aloud:
Eyes. I am getting few flowers to
model in wax. and"
"Ah !" said Mrs Copman sBut perhaps
you hadn't better get any more. The
flowers don't bloom very profusely, and my
daughters like them for their hair. Besides,
Mr.. Charters doesn't approve of the whole
neighborhood running riot through his
grounds"
Jetty's deep-blue eyes flashed.
Madam" said she, did Mr.. Charters
tell you to say this ?"
N-not exactly" faltered the sour-visaged
widow; "but-"
Then" said Jetty, "yeu have been
guilty of very rude and inhospitable &C.
ton !"
And, finging her white buds and blossoms
on the tiled floor of the greenhouse, she
walked out like princess.
Well l never !" said Mrs. Copman,
scarcely knowing whether to be most indig-
nant or surprised at this imperial conduct.
While Jetty Lane hurried on, never
stopping to shed the tears which seemed to
scald her resolute eyelids until she was safe
in the little hazel copse and once there,
under the cool, quivering boughs of the
trees, she burst into passion of tears.
miss Lane Jettyl" uttered remon-
strating voice.
eyes, l know said Jetty, laughing and
foolish, and I ought to know better But it
isn't pleasant to be turned out of place."
"What do you mean ?" said Henry Char
teris, gravely
And Jetty told him all.
dark frown gathered over his counter
ance. He had known that Mrs. Copmap
and his three sisters-in-law were selfish,
arrogant and domineering. He had been
quite aware that he was little more than q
prisoner OF state in his own home he had
even formed some vague idea that Arabella,
the youngest and least hard-fayored of the
three, had designs on his heart. As far as
he personally was concerned, it mattered not
one straw. But now that innocent, dewy-
ifa 9tEy hSaa hssSHt send tina e4sS sss1alsp ete
looked down upon the sweet, blushing face;
he took both the little hands in his.
'Jetty," said he, this is an uneven bat
tie. One widow and three resolute spinsters
against an unprotected specimen of the
genus homo. Yet think if had on efficient
lieutenant l could defeat the enemy yet
viii you join the ranks 2"
al don't think / understand you'll"
faltered Jetty.
You are eighteen am thirty" he went
on "And yet, Jetty, feel young enough
in my heart to be your match. Dear little
Jetty, will you be my wife ? Do you love
me, Jetty?p
And Jetty brayely answered;
eyes. will be your wife, Mr.. Charters
1 do love you and" she added, artlessly, II
have loved you ever since / first came home
from school, and met you at the Sunday
school picnic under the maple-trees."
Mrs Copman and her three daughters had
been to New York to order their spring
ardrobes-charged to Mr.. Charteris' ac-
count, of course-and it was late on the
afternoon of the third day of their absence
when they returned, cross, irritable and
tired-Marion a shade redder-nosed than
usual, Arabella more pettish, Melicent more
blowzy and coarse.
To their amazement and indignation, the
sound of one of Schubert's Nocturnes fioated
out from the parlor window as they advanc-
ed
"Who is presuming to play on oar
piano 2" said Mrs. Copman in rage.
"And the windows all open, too-fading
the parlor carpet !" screamed Miss Melicent.
"As sure as you live, mamma grasped
Arabella, " it's that bold parsons daughter
--Jetty Lane !"
"The impudence of some people !" cried
Marion "When mamma as good as order
ed her of the premises not month ago !"
"Henry," said Mrs. Copman, sourly, as
she caught sight of her son-in-law, serenely
smoking his cigar, just inside of the case
ment, "why is it that the carriage was not
sent to meet us? Why are we compelled to
walk all the way from the depot in this boil
ing heat? And what is that young woman
here ?" as she caught sight of Jetty's
white dress in the background of the large,
dim room.
"The carriage was not sent for you, said
Mr. Charters, calmly, because Mrs. Char
teris was using it."
"Mrs. Charterisl" gasped the widow,
dropping at least half dozen of her parcels
in the path, while Henry led forward the
lovely young bride, all in white, with cheeks
like pale roses.
Mrs. Charteris," he repeated. my
wife Let me present you and the Misses
Copman to her."
And that was the end of the complication.
For, of course, Mrs. Copman and her daugh-
tiers were too high spirited to remain under
the same roof with such dimpled and love
ly young usurper. And they removed all
that belonged to them, and good deal that
didn't, from the house the next day, in high
dudgeon.
"To think what fools men are !" said the
widow. "When dear Henry was so COM
Portable with me and the three girls"
But, apparently, dear Henry was of quite
different way of thinking. For as he stood
with Jetty on the terrace, watching the car
rage drive away which contained the widow
and her daughters, he said;
"My dear, feel as if nightmare were
lifted off my life. And now--moo we can
begin to be happy.-Hele1 Forrest Grdres.