The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-06-24
selfrt Stuyv.
DISGUISED.

to meet my Aunt Stephanie at the depo
al IL precisely 2"
j Mrs. Early had followed her tall broth
er-in-law to the front door steps with lh,
fresh wind blowing her bright hair abou
|ber face, and q scarlet Shetland shaw
drawn picturesqueiy round her delcat,
shoulders-a pretty woman with some
thing Of matrouly dignity subdu,ng tb,
arch mischief that sparkled in her merry
eyes.
Mr. Charles Early was q stalwart
handsome young man, With blue eyes and
light brown hair sbadowing fair open
forehead. II was pleasant face to looh
into, with nothing of irresolution or eff.
feminscy about 1t, and const quently
Charles Early had many friendsIsye,
and loyal ones, too. - 80
He turned around at the sound Of bis
sister-in- laws voice Josephine wac
one of his most useful and constant al.
lies. -,
mo, I'll not forget. Josephine; but
I'm sorry her grandfsthers and grand.
mothers in baptism gave Der the name OF
Stephanie."
"Whyf" ' sE
Because I know Stephauie-the pref
tiest fairy you ever saw! 1t was when
We we're all at Woolgrove Beach last
moEth-and-if you'll promise not to
tell my sober brother, Bob, I'll con6de
to you. nomentous secret, Josephine.
Have | your pledge of secrecy3'
II promise"
aWell, I lost nv heart to that beauti-
ful little Stephanie, with her q ssy yellow
curlsr and her rose-mouth with its tiny
pearls of teeth. and her pink and white
complexion, just like your great olesnder
in the drawing-room."
ibid you propose to her, Charlie p
questioned his sister-in.law, with all the
eager earnestness of womsn's curios-
ity.
"Not just then, bnt-another secret,
Josephine-I proposed by.le,ter day be.
fore yesterday r. i.s
"And you have received no answer ?"
"Not yet; ! suppose it is too soon ;
but I'm on thorns and nettles until one
does reach me. Josephine, IL she don't
have me I'll drown myself"
"No Charles, you won't! What ab.
surd noEseuse!"
"Then Ill do worse--I'll subside into
cross-grained, 6dgetty old bachelor,
grumbling necessarily at everything and
everybody for all the rest of my natural
days just see if l. don't"
"Charles, you're goose."
$50 are all young men who have the
misfortune to fall in love. It's their nor
NAL condition What time do you cay
the train arrives? Twelve2 l shall
have to- get a. carriage, l suppose, to
transfer the rheumaticy old lady here
without any breakage of bones. Does
she walk with gold-headed cane ?"
"Yes, and she wears wig and specta.
cles, and talks through her nose, and
takes snuff from tortoise shell box"
"Angels end mistresses OF grace de-
fend us! Josephine, how did you ever
come TO have such an aunt2 and how
did her name happen to be Stephanie
instead of Dorcas or Tryphosa ?"
ave used to call her Aunt Feny,' for
short" said Mrs Esrly mischieyously,
and her brother in Law strobe down the
street whistling, but not for the want OF
thought.
II wish Aunt Feny was In the Red
Sea-" he thought, little vindictively;
"but suppose must oblige Josephine ;
So at IL o'clock precisely Charles Ear.
ly stood on the platform at the H
depot watching the long train as it slow.
ly glided in like fire-tbroated serpent.
"There comes your antedeluvian old
bag, Charlie" said Guy 81. Everill With
q laugh, as brisk but somewhat bent
figure, wrapped from head to foot in q
voluminous cloak Of snuff-colored bom-
bszine, with huge circular cape OF the
same, stepped out OF one OF the last cars
by the aid of an iron.headed caue. Her
bonnet, curionsly bent and crumpled,
barely covered huge fri.led cap She
wore bright brown wig, set little awry
over her forehead, and massive green
spectacIes set astride Of her nose, while
brown cotton gloves adorned her hands,
and green umbrella carried under the
arm threatened. with its brass ferule, the
eyes OF whoever was rash enough to
crowd her movements in the rear.
"Aunt Feny's self, as l live and
echoed Bruce Montmarlin.
Charlie, il l we're you I'd run for i'll"
drop her in the gutter and make off
with yourself" suggested another young
exquisite superciliously stroking down
his moustache.
But Charles Early had too many gen.
llemanly instincts to pay any heed TO the
waggish hints OF his companions HeI
stepped forward chivalrously.
"Allow me to carry your basket for
you, ma'am," he said. am the broth
er-in-law of your niece, Mrs. Early"
son, you be, ehi" croaked feeble
voice from under The cap frill. "Weil,
YOU may take my umbril and my basket,
and haro,s panor of rin1orhroad