The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-04-18
AUNT DORA.

''lf Lima is as pretty ut sixteen as she
was at six, be sure and send her 10 me
TO spend the summer hly husband s
nephew, Eustace GayroF, is here, and |
should like to have him make her ac-
| quaintance 1t would be a good thing
for Lima
Thus ran the postscript of Mrs. Dora
| Smith letter to her niece Mrs. Law
ton, who seventeen years before had
| married and left her home with her aunt
| to reside in London. Aunt and niece
had been almost uninterruptedly sepa-
rated since
The letter found Lima Dawton at the
| end of her first season. You would not
| have detected a flaw probable in the
| girls health, after her season of dane
| ing and late parties; but there was q
| slight languor and Indifferent appetite
| And then came Aunt Dora's letter.
.'just the thin@r' said Mr.. Lawton.
| '1ina has had enough fashionable folly
| for this year. Send her off to AuntDora,
| it viii do her Il world of goodi''
But Mrs, Lawton hesitated.
Il don't know that Lima would like
it, she said
She remembered the quiet life they
lead nj the old country house where
most of her youth was spent, and it did
MT seem likely that pretty Lima, play
ing waltzes with dainty touch in the
next room, would be contented out
there.
To be sure, Aunt Dora had whole,
comfortable and pleasant house; but
she was very decided in her opinion
that girls ought to learn To be good
houaekeepers and she had sent her niece
forth into the world almost az capable a
hOuSpkeeDpr rs herself
But with Mrs. l.aWtOn it was differ
ent. Beautiful Lima had been too daint-
ily kept TO share in the labors of the
house, where, in truth, servants were
kept in such plenty that soiling those
little hands had always seemed super
iiuous.
But Mrs. LawtOu knew very well that
Aunt Dora would disapproye such
''brin@ing up" of the girl, and her con
science reprovcd her that Lima at six
teen could not make q pudding.
cit would be q good experience fol
her, for Aunt Dora. though strict, was
always considerable in her training. Lima
has been to too many dances this winter
The air is splendid at Oal,Iands She
shall 90. she decided.
Then the subject must be broached to
Lima with = certain tact, that the trip
might prove o success.
S'My Aunt Dora wants YOU to 60 &c
Oalslands. for the summer, dear-the
most beautiful of AL i!1 and father
is very anxious you should be in the
country this summer. You remember
Aunt Dora, do you not?'
NO; but l should like TO go very
much" said Lima
papa will go with you, the first of
next month; and by-and-bye / will come
up with the boys, make auntie visit,
and bring you home fresh as n rose and
brown as a berry, | expect. But, Lima,
Aunt Dora is very domestic, and will
want YOU to learn the way of house
keeper and to assist her. | expect you
will be willing?'
Lima said eyes, lightly.
..She will want yon TO do things about
the house, and do them very nicely. 1t
will be good for you, the training; and
if sometimes little irksome, be patient
and faithful, and try TO please auntie,
for she was the best friend OF my girl
hood. VIII YOU remember this, my dear
Lina?' and Lima promised.
The gay society season was quite at
an end and in the strong suns OF April,
the girl imagined the country, OF which
she had seen little, would be beautiful
The parks and public gardens were al
ready bright with emerald turf and
white wesferia She had n youthful
love for such sightsi Wild old Oakland
would be a scene of enchantment, she
believed. She had often heard her
mother talk OF the bloom white apple
orchard, the field and brooks. She
should have delightful summer, she
was sure.
But at the last moment, il turned out
thai MIR. I,atyton could not accompany
his daughter rpon her journey, and
Lina's mother could not 90, for the two
Youngest b0YswVre down with measles;
but the letter was already dispatched,
announcing Lina'5 speedy coming, 50 it
was desirable that she set forth at once,
and the GIRL declared that she was not
afraid to 90 alone.
There is no change of train, my
girl said her father. as he put her in
to carriage at St. Pancras Twill
90 right through, and be in before dark;
Aunt Dora will be sure to meet you at
the station
And with look of solicitude and
word of encouragement, he was off and
the train rolled out of the station, taking
Lima upon her journey.
She had every essential for her trip,
from her pretty traveling-sult TO a Well /
packed lunch basket and book Tor
reading.
It was a bright spring day, and Lima
leaned back in her seat with feeling OF
enjoyment.
She was naturally fearless and enjoy
ed the enterprise of her trip alone.
At noon she ate her lunch and COM
menced her book, which,, diversified
with watching the change OF passengers,
absorbed the afternoon. But she was
getting a little tired, when the guard,
passing, said
Next station yours, miss.
Lima aroused herself, and looked out
at the window; lonely. grey tields ana
no houses. Ten minutes later she sprang
out upon a platform, and looked bewild-
cred about her.
The train ratified away; the few per-
sons who had alighted with her dlsap-
peared as if they had sunk INTO 1ne
ground. There was not form III slghl
upon the cherries spot but long, lanh
young man, who alighted from an ola
spring cart and approached her
ssBe you Mrs. Smiths niece, Ell! w eli,
then. I'll take you right up"
Lima had mechanically responded to
his question in the affirmative but when