The Baltimore County union., 1883-03-31


boy either. hope you've brought up
your daughter an my namesake 10 work,
Niece Eliza"
Mrs. Mushroom was spared the per-
plexity Of framing a reply to this which
would accord with her aunt's rather
antiquated ideas rs TO the education OF
youth, by the conversation being sud-
denly turned into different channel.
The sharp black eyes, that were wan
dering around the room, spied pretty
modest-looking girl in remote corner
OF the room sewing.
"Who is that1 One Of the buttons, |
should say, or else her looks belle her."
"It is Cousin Williams girl, replied
Mrs. Mushroom. "She hasn' I any home,
so l took her out Of charity"
"Cousin Williams gal come to help
you out Of charity1" said Aunt Sarah,
smiling benevolently upon the blushing
girl. "very kind Of her, l am sure. A."
"Just like her father" added Aunt
Sarah, turning to Mrs. Mushroom che
was always helping somebody. I've
heard your husband say, often, that he
didn't know what he should have done
when he first went into business il it had
not been for Cousin William"
Mrs. Mushroom colored at this allu.
sion to what she gladly would have for
gotten, but her friendless dependent
cast grateful glance at the good lady
for this kindly mention Of the father
she loved and monrned.
Aunt Sally made no secret of her OBJ.
ject in making this unexpected visit,
which was to get acquainted with her
namesake and expected heiress.
"Be sure and do all you can to please
her." said Mrs. Mushroom to her daugh-
ter. 1--WE are the nearest relatives She
has, and il you play your cards we'll she
will be likely to leave you the greater
part Of her property. don't know
what we shall do il she doesn't, for We
have been going beyond our income
ever since you came cut.
So Sarah Belinda did her best to se-
cure the good opinion of Aunt Sally,
consoling herself for this forced COM
plaisance by ridiculing her peculiarities
Of words and manner to her face, which
the old lady's deafness enabled her to
do with impunity.
This exhibition ofwit and good breed
ing, while it often brought smile to
her mothers lips, aroused the secret
indignation Of Ellen Dutton, who grew
daily more and more interested in the
kind-hearted though eccentric old lady.
One day Mrs. Mushroom and her
daughter went out 10 make some calls,
leaving Aunt sally in the care OF Ellen.
On their return they were surprised to
find Mr.. Morton in the parlor, a young
man of wealth and position, and for
whom Sarah Belinda had been angling,
though unsuccessfully, for some months.
"Dear me, mai" whispered tha,
young lady; "what will Mr.. Morton
think to find that we have such vulgar
relations. And he so fastidious and ex.
clusivei"
In the meantime, Mr.. Morton, who
seemed to have had a very pleasant
chat with Aunt Sally and Ellen, rose to
take his leave.
Mrs. Mushroom followed him to the
door.
al am afraid you've been sadly an
noyed," she said in a low confidential
voice. "Aunt Sally. as we call her, is
distant relative. She's a good old
soul, but so old and quite unused TO the
society that we frequent"
"No apology is needed, madam" re-
turned the young man with look Of
surprise f; "l've often heard my father
speak of Mrs. Hooker, who was very
kind to him once when he had an attack
OF fever. am very glad to meet her"
"a fine young man." said Aunt
Sally, as Mrs. Mushroom returned to
the other end of the room, "and very
like his father"
al can guess who he comes to see,"
she added, with sly look at Ellen.
This observation completed the sum
Of Sarah Belinda's i'll nature, especially
As she WAS conscious that Ellen was
looking unusually pretty; the bright
color IN her generally pale cheeks and
sad eyes giving her a new beauty.
"Bo!d.faced thing!" she muttered
"she and Aunt Sally are just Of a piece.
do wish the old fool would so home l
haven't taken bit Of comfort since she
came"
Apparently quite oblivious to this
benevolent wish, Aunt Sally began to
admire some lace and white satin rib
bons she had been buying.
al mean to get some like it just
what I've been wanting for a cap"
"Just think Of her yellow face in any
thing so delicate" said Sarah Belinda
with n giggle. "It would look like 4
full.blown sunfower."
Aunt Sally happened to be looking
that way as she said this.
Perhaps her suspicious were aroused.
"what did she say." she enquired
Of Ellen.
Ellen colored and remained silent.
"Tell her that I said il would be vast
ly becoming" said Sarah Belinda.
"Why don't you speakl" said Mrs.
Mushroom sharply, as the old lady re-
peated the question.
The face Of the usually gentle and
quite girl flushed with indignation.
al am willing to do anything in
reason, Mrs. Mushroom, but | cannot,
will not tell falsehood. And l think
a shame thus to ridicule before her face
an old lady, and one so kind and gen.
erous."
"Do my bidding, miss, or leave the
house," said Mrs. Mushroom in a tone
ofsuppressed fury.
"There is no need, Niece Eliza"
said Aunt Sally, rising to her feet, "as
heard what your daughter said quite
plainly, my hearing being remarkably