The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-05-19
THE nR,rASDrRE LAsr OF aER.

| Ihey were Ill enjoying tne preo1e tuht
swept through the wide parlors that
summer evening, 1t had been so hot OF
late. The month of May, the place was
Philadelphia. and--T am almost afraid to
say this-it was the Centennial time.
But don't be alarmed, my reader; am
/ not going to describe the Great Exposi-
| ton, nor tell anything about il, nor
shall give any information concerning
| T6 of either this or the last century. /
only intend 10 relate an incident that
happened 10 take place then and there.
The people enjoying the breeze wero o
family 10y the name OF Fenton, and con-
sisted of u father and mother, two grown
up daughters. one grown mp son and o
little girl.
| Mira. Fenton had inst been saying that
she supposed they would soon be over
run with visitors coming 70 spend fow
days and soe the Centennial.
"Well, let then, Gomez said Mr.. Fem
ton, heartily, as he turned his paper
inside out. Il don't know ono that
wouldn't be glad to see.
Nor 1, returned Mrs. Fenton. II
am always so thankful that we needn't
be ashamed of any Of our relations.
There's sister Katel-who could be more
delightful than she is?"
"Oh, ,Annt Kate is perfectly splended" !"
chorused the young people.
And there's Uncle Phil and Aunt
Emily" said Mabel, the eldest girl.
"And Cousin Joe and his wife," added
Florence, the second daughter.
And John and his family" put in
Mr.. Fenton.
''Ohl il you go counting up, you'll
never get through" said Tom, the son
and heir. "But I sAyl haven't we any
Questionable connections ut all? Isn't
there some old duffer who will turn up
at the wrong moment?"
AZ haven't any. said Mr.. Fenton.
"No-o-o," said Mrs. Fenton, rubbing
her forehead thoughtfully. stop /
| think remember one. OF course
Cousin Jerusha wonder I didn't
think before. But don't know that she
is Objectionable; the fact il. 1 don't know
anything about her. She's lived way
up in Vermont all her life. She Is
niece OF grandfather's, and Is an old
maid; at least she ought to be If she liant
marriod or dead. Her name Is Heving-
tnn-Jerusha Hevington. I always
thought il such pity to spoil such q fine
name as Hevington with Jerusha. 1
hope she won't come; I'm sure she must
be perfectly awful r
The two young ladies' had been look
ing at their mother in blank silence ever
since she had mentioned this unpleasant
relation; Tom bad gone of in fit of
laughter: so that Mr.. Fenton was the
only one who spoke:
well, IL she comes, all We can do is
TO make the best OF it, and treat her as
well as we know how"
ff0I. - nattras aas1 NJ EaakAa
Tom here looked at his watch, and
started mp. exclAiming that no should be
late, he had an appointment, and bolted
of. promising 10 be home early. Then
Mr.. Fenton settled down for a nap: Mrs.
Fenton buried herself in Lorna Doone;
and the girls yawned over their japanese
canvas, fearing dull evening.
The air gently flnttered the lace cur
tains, the mellow light shone down from
the many -giobed chandelier upon the
fresh white mating, the linen-draped
furniture, the pictures and statuettes,
the three ladies in their pretty evening
dresses, and the old gentleman snoring
away behind his newspaper; all was as
quiet as quiet could be, when q violent
peal at the door bell made them all nearly
jump out of their skins.
"Who on earth is that ?" asked Mr..
Fenton, bouncing up.
Mrs. Fenton dropped her book and
gave a scared look into tue hall.
81 suppose it's Mr.. Yanderpool, said
Mabel.
"oh no. he never rings like that, said
Florence.
Their old colored waiter had opened
the door by this time, and q loud voice
was heard inquiring, "Does Mr.. Fenton
Mr.. Samuel Fenton-live hereY"
Eyes, man. he does" old James an
swered respectfully.
"Wa'al, hen, guess I'll walk right
in; I seen the folks through the winder;"
and apparently before the old servant
stopped her, the owner of the voice did
walk right into" the parlor-a tall,
strong featured woman, with iron-gray
hair, in beautifully fowered drees that
bullying hoop-skirt showed TO advan-
tage, and shawl of vivid red aud yellow
plaid. A bonnet Of the shape called
poke was on her head, and from it
dangled a thick veil. She wore gray
cotton gloves, and one hand firmly
grasped lumpy carpet bag, the other q
| fat umbrella. She looked comfortable
! and common from top to toe. She
peered at the group through her steel
bowed spectacles, and tucking her um-
brella under the carpet-bag arm, she ex~
tended her hand. ''Wa'al, now, / s'pose
yer don't know me. I'm Jerusha Hev-
ington-yer cousin, Jerusha Heving-
| ton"
The strickin family were dumb. Mr..
Fenton was the first to recover. He
took the proffered hand and shook it
warmly, and led the lady to chair,
begging her to be seated. He could not
say that she was welcome, but he tried
to make her feel as if she were. Mrs.
Fenton then came forward, and sitting
down beside her, asked some friendly
questions about the journey; and the
| girls, little conscience. .smitten, offered
to take her things.
"Wa'al, / guess I won't Just now,
thank yer-I've gos to go and zee ebout
my trunk in a minute; / he'd 1t left in a
! grocery store jest around the corner.
The young man was awful pleasant when
l told him / was one of your folks-he
seemed to set heap by YOU"
/ "Good gracions! thought Florence
with shudder. 81 wonder il she has
been going all through the city. .advertis-
| ing her relationship to usl'
''Wa'al, Samuel" said Mrs. Jerusha,
"yer've two fine likely gals; they'd
oughter help their mar sight in doin'
house-work and SIGH. It must take O
powerful heap o. work to keep all them
fussin's clean"-with an admiring,
room. Then she went on, lis them al
the children yer've got, Maria?"
Mrs. Fenton answered that she had
10 VOL aal