The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-06-08

tuJoy ihtut
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 little tired, when the guard,
passing, said,-
Next stations yours, miss"
Lima aroused herself, and looked ont
at the window; lonely, grey fields and
no houses. Ten minutes later she sprang
out upon platform, and looked bewild-
cred about her.
The train ratified away; the few per-
sons who had alighted with her disap-
peared as if they had sunk into the
ground. There was not form in sight
upon the cherries spot but long. lank
young man, who alighted from an old
spring cart and approached her.
'Be you Mrs. Smiths niece, ehp Well,
then, I'll take you right up"
Lima had mechanically responded to
his question in the affirmative but when
her uncouth escort would have gallant
ly taken her hand to lead her to the
cart, she drew back.
Sin that?" she exclaimed involuntar.
lily. Il never rode in such thing in
my life!"
The young fellow looked from the
dainty girl to the mud-bespattered old
vehicle, and answered.
''Dare say not. But that's what yel
aunt sent me in fur We; and yell have
to go in it."
For moment Lima silently contended
with her emotions. She had expected
her aunt in comfortable family car.
riage to meet her. Such reception a.
this seemed little short of an insult
But she remembered that she was
quick-tempered and tried to control her
self.
She certainly preferred to think no
offence was meant, and swallowing the
rising in her throat, she walked to the
wagon and climbed in, and her escort,
mounting to seat beside her, jerked the
lean old horse into motion.
Was this the young man her father
had jestingly alluded to at parting,
warning her to break no hearts before he
saw her again? She thought not.
Lima had never felt so utterly misera-
BILE in her life as then, while she logged
along the lonely, darkening, muddy
road, replying in monosyllables to her
companions chat.
She saw that he was trying to enter
tain her and though she considered him
simply horrible, at length tried to be
correspondingly civil.
sis AuntDor weE?"
"Eh?" sharply.
sis my aunt Dora as well as. usu-
alp"
Never heard her called that before.
However, | s'pose she is. Law! she
don't have no time to be sick You'll
soon find that out, meaningly.
At length they drew up before a low,
implanted, rambling farmhouse, with
shutterless windows, bleakly unshelter-
ed under the cheerless sky.
Lima began to fear she should cry and
cleared her throat briskly. The young
man threw open the door.
''Walk in. You'll find her."
Lima passed directly into rude, I'M
painted kitchen as big as barn, lighted
only by single small lamp. A great
dog growled inhospitably at her from
some dark corner, and if poor Lima had
known of any refuge, she would have
turned and fled from the accumulation
of horrors.
AS she stood silent in the gloom, a
door Enclosed, and tall scantily-dress-
ed woman came into the room and hay
ing both hands full, deity kicked the
door together behind her.
''Eh" she said, sharply, advancing
to a small rickety table, and setting
down a milk pan and plate of brown
bread; $50 you've come have YEP"
"How do you do, auntiep" asked Lima
forcing herself to approach the very un-
savory-looking lady and kiss her smoke
dried cheek.
I'm WE'LL" answered Aunt Dora,
placing her arms akimbo, and sharply
surveying her little niece.
A feeling of faintness came over Lima.
She sat down, unlimited, and the very
ugly dog came up and smelled at her
dress.
I'D as liefyou'd be ruggeder-looking,"
remarked Aunt Dora, drily, as she turn
ed away.
Poor Lima! She had very hard strug-.
gle with herself not to break into pas
sionate sobs; but at length she conquer
ed, and clearing her throat again, at
tempted conversation.
"Did you expect me to-day, auntiep"
Expect YEP OF course I did," I sent
for ye."
81 know. Papa hoped to make the
journey with me, but he couldn't. But
! did very well alone.
"Well, draw up to the table, eat your
supper, an get to bed. Tllwant you to
help me tomorrow.
Quite quenched as to sociability, Lima
took off her things, handing her pretty
hat to her aunt, who surveyed the os-
trich plume with curiosity and an audi
BILE sniff. and took seat at the rickety
table, whereon was the sickly lamp, the
milk-pan. brown bread and some coarse
bowls and pewter spoons.
"Take hold"
And seeing that Lima hesitated, Aunt
Dora filled bowl with milk, broke a
slice of brown bread into it, and pushed
tox., o,.lo h.