The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-05-30

She tells me anything-everythi
think" said Mrs. Pierrot, musingly
"but she has never said explicitly, in
so many words, that she is going TO
marry him, or even that he has plainly
asked her to do so, yet have got the
impression, somehow, that they are en-
gagged"
"Hum-ml said Mr.. Pierrot reflect
lively. In his country, he could not
help thinking, young ladies, especially
elderly young ladies, were not so
mysterious; and if they had an engage
ment to announce, were apt to be rather
in hurry to publish the fact, instead
Of keeping it dead secret.
Mrs. Pierrot continued:
"The fact is, suppose, it depends
somewhat on that aunt of Miss Kates,
of whom we hear now and then. My
impression is that the aunts consent
will be necessary before Miss Kate will
even listen to a proposal, far less
promise to marry any one. know
Katie sets great store by her aunt-it
is always what win auntie say-and
will auntie like it-or would auntie
be willing / should do so and SOP"
"Well, well! 1 wish this mysterious
auntie would-what you call it ?-put
in an appearance, laughed Mr.. Pierrot,
anyhow, l hopeshe won't be the means
of keeping Miss Kate from making
good match--probably her last chance,
too"
A few days later Miss Kate came
over quite early in the day-an un-
usual thing, for her calls were generally
made in the evening, and as soon as
Mrs. Pierrot saw her she felt that
crisis of some kind had come.
"What is it, dear?" she asked with
the quick sympathy natural to the
feminine temperament on such oc-
casions. Something hasIhappened, L
am sure"
Eyes, dear Mrs. Pierrot," answered
Miss Kate ali in a flutter, "my aunt
has come and L have left them to-
gether."
He has proposed actually
proposedP"
"Oh, yes, long ago." Miss Kate
laughed, and added with blush, "and
was accepted too"
"And you never told mel" murmured
Mrs. Pierrot reproachfully.
my dear friend, couldn't until my
aunt came" said Miss Kate, deprecat-
ingly.
"And now you have left them to-
gether," said Mrs. Pierrot. "Well she
won't be so mad as TO refuse her con-
sent. She won't send him away"
."Oh, no; she will never seId him
away any more" Miss Kate murmured,
dreamily; and though the phrase
seemed extravagant to Mrs. Pierrot,
she only smiled, and was careful not to
intrude on her friends happy musings
except by an occasional sympathetic re-
mark.
The timepassed, lninutesinto quarter
hours, and quarters into hours, but
Miss Kate seemed in no hurry to return
Ito her enamored swain.
AT last Mrs. Pierrot, who began to
get out of patience with her calmness,
dreaminess, whatever it was
said: "Kate, you do take things
coolly, l must say. I'm sure Hugh
Sherbourne must be tired waiting for
you. He has surely said all he could
possibly have to say to your aunt by
this time"
al am not at all sure of that" Kate
returned with sparkle of mischief in
her quiet, soft gray eyes. MY aunt
is thought by many people to be a very
lovely and charming woman"
"Lovely and charming!" repeated
Mrs. Pierrot with toss of her head,
figuring to herself as Monsieur would
have said, some tyrannical old gorgon
of sixty, "Pray, what may be her age?
this lovely and charming relative of
yours"
Aunt Nell will be twenty-one her
next birthday" Miss Kate returned,
demurely.
"Twenty-one!" screamed Mrs. Pier
rot. "You are laughing at me; it's
impossible; why, you are yourself"
"Just thirty-one my last birthday"
Miss Kate concluded, seeing that her
friend had paused, unable to complete
her sentence.
"People are usually surprised at first;
but the explanation is quite simple and
natural. l was ten years old when
Nell was born. You see we were a
large family, and was the first child
of the eldest daughter, who, having
married very young, made me grown
up niece to baby aunt, and lots of
fun it was, for L was lovely Nells
favorite nurse, and almost brought her
up by hand, for poor grandma never
recovered"
BY this time Mrs. Pierrot had some
what recovered her breath. She started
up hastily, put on a hat and mantle,
and exclaiming, 81 should like to see
this wonderful aunt of yours" started
at once for the front door, closely ac-
companied by Miss Kate. AS soon as
they had reached the street, the latter
continued