The Russellville Democrat., 1882-02-02
JUDGING IN HASTE.

sajd it was to save the snowy muslin curtains of his Aunt Phedra's pretty parlor: but in her secret heart Aunt Pbedra believed it was to enjoy the light and warmth of the huge open fire.
 And really Aunt Phedra's kitchen was q cozieraud more comfortable place than most psrlofs with it's red and-black striped rag carpet, it's tall clock in the corner. yellow. washed wallsal festooned with shining tin, and the big cushioned chair in the corner.
 lie was smoking his cigar, as we said before: and Aunt Phedra was industri- orslv picking yellow leaves off the big fish geranium in the window.
 Yes said Aunt Phedra, "she's con- ing back, or she wouldn't have sent her trunk"
 aYo," said MT. sunfold, q suppose not"
 And I'm heartily sorry" said Aunt Phedra.
 NIT. Sunfold knocked the ashes off the tip ol his cigar, replaced on the fire-dogs a leg which had rolled of, and then asked, in rather low tone
 "Why?"
 Because you are determined to marry her" said Aunt Phedra.
 And why shouldn't l marry her, Aunt Phedra"
 Aunt Phedra wheeled around to face her nephew.
 Because she's heartless little firt," said she And Pm sorry l ever adopted her and brought her here to break the hearts of half the young men in the country"
 Mir. sunfold laughed.
 Let them take care of their own hearts" said he That is no business of mine. She loves me, and me only, and that is enough"
 Pm not so sure of that" said Aunt Phedra. with a spice of feminine malice. She's regular coquet, Elsie Bennett is, and ske may jilt you as well as another" "In that, Aunt Phedra," said the young man slowly, q am sure that you are mistaken"
 "I'm only repeating what people say" retorted the old lady. However, that's neither here nor there. She told me to open the trunk as soon as 1t came, and get out the black silk dress pattern and send it to the dressmaker's. 1 think my self" Aunt Phedra added incidentally, that black silk dress for girl of Elsie's narrow means is simply piece of eX- travagance. Yes, Ralph, know what you're going to say-If girl teaches school snd earns her own money, she has right to spend it as she pleases. But that doesn't alter the common sense of the matter. And she never sent the key"
 Then you can't open it." said Ralph Sunfold.
 Unless, said Aunt Phedra, producing a prodigious ring of different sized keys -"unless one of these happens to fit it I borrowed 'ern from Luke Smiths wife, whose husband used to be in the lock smithing business. l wish Ralph, you'd come into the next room and try it. Pm so afraid of breaking the lock-"
 Certainly, Aunt Phedra," said MT. Sunfold.
 "If he couldn't see pretty Elsie's dim pied, blooming self, to be able to do something for her was the next best thing; and he followed the old lady with alacrity into the adjoining apart ment where a battered trunk stood against the wall like leviathan in re- pose.
 "She must have been dreadful hard on her new trunk" sighed Aunt Phedra
 Baggage mashers" suggested her nephew "0ne cont travel without hay ing ones things torn to pieces. Where are your keys, Aunt Fhedra?"
 He knelt before the trunk, the old lady standing solicitously by, as one key after another was tested, without apparent success.
 "Pm afraid we shall have to give it up" said Ralph "Stopl here is one more on the ring. EurekaI We have it-the very thiBg?'
 Well, 1 declare said Aunt Phedra as the young man lifted heavy lid and balanced it against the wall, eff that wasn't sheer good luck. Now for the black silk dress pattern and the trim mings. Eh--what? A gentleman's pho tograph-two of lem? A box of cigar ettes2 do hope Elsie hasn't got the nasty habit of smoking, like those dreadful Cuban ladies one reads about. A red silk smoking cap and pair of Turkish slip pers-"
 "Stop, Aunt Phreda' said Mir. Sunfold, who had grown very pale. "We have no right further to pry into another persons beof giugs"
 Aunt Phedra turned upon him like an onrsgsd lioness.
 Sue wrote to me to look into her things" said she, "and I'm looking, And I'm glad I looked; for, as sure as you live, Ralph Sunfold, Elsie Bennett, my adopted daughter has got married on the sly, and these are her husbands things packed in among hers."
 Bat that is impossible" said straight forward Ralph Suntold. She is engaged to mel"
 'Oh Ralph, Ralphw cried the old lady bursting into the slow. agonized tears of ace 8s she let her head fall on her neph- ew's shoulder, "don't think any more oi her Shes a lilt--a heartless coquet! Oh, my by, my boy! she never was good enough for you!"
 MT. Sunfold turned silently away. He would have pledged his life for the truth and purity of little Elsie Bennett; but what did these mute witnesses mean the testimony of the laughing, handsome photographs, with the silky mustaehe aud the dark, audacious eyes?
 What are you doing, Aunt Phedra?' he asked, with his attention. at last at uacted by her quick, sudden motions.
 Shutting up the trpSk, !" said the olt laay, bIuFq1ely. Pil sendit back to he st once; TT beSe no such brazen faced
 No 1alt Phedra," said Ralph reS0
 what mart ot