The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-12-19

As the boys drove of, the fori0rn old one
horSe stage came up.
1T is a spooky old concern. thought Jake:
II wonder II she'll really be afraid I've a
great mind'--and then he started off for the
waitiDg-room- Miss Bogley was not outside,
so Jake went softly to the window and looked
in. There she was. TO be sure. and--"Cry-
ing. as true as livel" he said TO himself.
and, without hesitating. ne pushed open the
door and went ia
up as he entered: she kept
her handkerchief at her eyes. But that
made il all the easier for Jake, who walked
mp to her and said. How do you do, Aunt
Bagley? The stage has come, and / guess
we'd better get right in and hurry home
And lac took up her sachel and shawl strap
and travelling cloak, and led the way, fol-
lowed by Miss Bagey, who seemed too much
overcome, with the surprise and relief his
sudden appearance occasionej, TO say
word.
Wonder il she's cold?" thought Jake, as
they started feeling himself the chillness OF
the night air; and rather to his surprise, he
found himself saying, Are you cold, Miss
Bagley? Hadn't you better put your cloak
around your?
The stage clattered so that he could not
hear her reply but he felt her reach out for
the cloak. which he helped her adjust, to the
best of his ability.
"Ought to say something, / suppose" was
the next suggestion of Jake's polite heart;
so, acting upon il, he shouted out leave
'em all well at home, ma'am? But be-
tween her muffings and the NOISE of the
stage. he could only guess at her answer.
she isn't much at talking" he thought,
and so he considerably proceeded to substi-
tute remarks for questions as pretty cold
weather for March," and Fathers been
laid up with rheumatism six weeks; just
getting about again."
Even while trying to beguile the time in
this way. the ride seemed long for poor Jake.
He helped Miss Bagley alight; guided her up
the piazza steps and ushered her iuto the
sittingroom. Then. depositing the luggage
on one chair, he quickly drew up another
nearer the stove and said Now Aunt Bag
ley, please sit here and get warm, while go
and call mother"
''Dear me! And it wasn't little Ann,
when Jake announced the guest. "Well,
well. Pm surprised myself, But you did
Just right TO bring her here, Jakey." And
then she went in TO welcome Miss Bagley.
She returned in very few moments, her
face so Astounding In smiles that she looked
the personiiication OF hospitality, and said,
Now, Jakey, you go in and talk TO her,
while help Polly dish the supper
Jake obediently went back to the sitting
room, wondering on the way, what more
there was to talk about"
He entered, and saw, in the chair he had
placed for Miss Bagley, only that lady's
shawl, bonnet and veil. Mother must have
had her 20 up stairs to get ready for supper, :,
thought Jake, glad to have the impending
conversation postponed. and he stepped
briskly forward in order to get comfortably
settled in his favorite chair, before Miss Bag
lev should return.
This chair was on the other side of the
stove and in the shadow, so that Jake did
not see, until almost upon it, that il already
bad an occupant and, to his additional
amazement, the occupant was, not Miss Bag
ley. but his Cousin Ann!
Why. Cousin Annl' he exclaimed, half
IL doubt whether il really was Cousin Ann
or a vision, lis that your
''Yes, Jake, it's really l." Ann answered,
laughing at the question.
How'd you get here? Where'd you hide
at the cars" were the astOnished Jakes next
questions.
~ hid, at the cars. in Aunt AIMS things,
over there; and came here with my cousin,
Jake Corning" said Ann.
Iii that don't beat all" said flake, blush:
ing to the roots of his hair, at the realization
OF having OF having, for once in his life, been
betrayed into playing the gallant. IL
thOught'-and confusion overwhelmed him.
eyes, you dear. good, splendid old Jake"
said Ann, leaving her seat, and coming and
standing before him, and looking at him
with sparkling eyes. 81 know you thought
it was Aunt Ann, and so, thinking was old,
and alone, and frightened, it was all the
nobler of you to take such pains to be kind
to me. and all the meaner Of the other boys
TO desert me and pretend they didn't hear
me call You are just splendid Jakei
What did you do it for, anyway asked
Jake, anxious to get his cousin oil 1.-The com
pIimentary track.
"Tll tell you that tomorrow night when
the other boys are here. I've asked Aunt De-
liza to invite them over for that purpose"
said Ann, smiling.
Cousin Ann at your hOusei Pshaw
You're foolingr' said Ben, ..the next MORN
ing, when Jake told them, and gave his
mothers invitation.
"COme and see for yourself" Jake replied.
In the evening, accordingly. the four cou.
sins presented themselves at Jakes door
and we're received by their cousin Ann, who
was attired in Miss Bagley's heavy shawl
and her bright face framed in Mis- Baglev's
big bonnet, now worn without veil, how
ever.
Its a trick, and an unfair trick, toor'
cried Frank.
''Yes. it was atrick on you, boys" Ann ad-
mitted but not an unfair trick because l
had good motive in it."
And then Ann told them what Aunt Ann
lldu Saiu dDOuI DONS SdlldltIl, one ndu hot
been willing to accept it. Still. aunt was so
positive, that after little thought she con-
cluded she would see how they would treat
her if they supposed it was Aunt Ann her
self who had come, and so, with the consent
of her father and mother and Aunt Ann, she
had disguised herself as the latter,
Then she told them how disappointed she
was when they turned their backs upon her,
q lonely old lady, as they had every reason
to think she was, and would not even stop
when she called. She also told them how
she swiftly followed them when they went
off, and stood near enough TO oyerhear some
OF their last remarks, and how badly they
made her feel. Furthermore, she told them
how Sake had come TO the rescue, and taken
her home with him. and entertained her on
the way, thinking, all the time, that she
was Aunt Ann; and that she considered
Jake real hero, and cousin TO be proud
OF.
How'd you happen to be talking about
manners and tests and all that stuff, any
wayT' asked Ben, after gloomy silence.
i m just coming to that" said Ann.
90 You see, papa is going TO take me to Eu-
rope next month, on account of my cough,
and he said that might invite one of you to
60 with US. told him didn't know which
one TO invite, you were all so gallant and
good: and then Aunt Ann said what I've
told you, and. rs have said, L made up my
mind 10 put you to the test, and"-
Il Iuf-~ a. ~sAI IL