The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-11-20

Everill, stand back y you have 4
reverence for old age or womanhoo,
l will teach you to respect my rigl
hand. This lady is under my pro
lection, you will please to remen
ber.'
Mr.. St. Everill retrea,ed, some
what discomfitted, upon his com
panion's toes, and the old lad,
climbed, chuckling into the car
riage.
Young man." she began, whel
the umbrella, lunch, paper, baske
and bottle were safely slowed awal
and they were rolling RAPIDLY owe
the city streets, you've got gooc
deal of moral courage. 'Tain't ever,
city sprig would be as polite to al
old creeter as you've been, with al
them fellers pokin' fun at you"
Our hero was somewhat embar
rassed at this plainly spoken com
pliment.
81 hope, madam" he said, 81
shall never be found lacking in The
essential qualities of a gentleman in
whatever circumstances l may be
placed"
The antique dame nodded her
cap friils, and held silently on to
her umbrella, without venturing
any other remark until they reach
ed Mrs. Robert Early's mansion.
Josephine was waiting for them
on the threshold; she clasped her
ancient relation closely TO her arms,
and there was a sort of triumphal
procession up to her apartment,
which Charles was at loss to un-
derstand.
Zone would think Josephine new
er had had an aunt fresh out of
Noah's ark before" he muttered to
himself, as he took up the newspA-
per and went out to the vine-shad-
ed piazza, there to while away the
time until such period as lunch
should be announced.
"Charlier'
He had ex hausted the paper long
ago and had nearly fallen into a
doze; but at his sister-in- laws sum
moning voice he started to his feet
and entered the house.
''Aunt Stephanie wants to thank
you for all your kindness to her this
morning." said Josephine.
"Confound Aunt Stephsniew
thought Mr.. Early, advancing
drowsily toward the front room,
where, in q sort of artificial twi-
light produced by satin curtains, he
could dimly descry figure.
Suddenly Josephine drew back
the shadowy draperies, and there,
instead of bent and crooked old
woman, stood lovely girl of eigh-
teen, with a white muslin dress, with
an abundance of floating blue rib
bons looped and knotted about it.
"Stephanie Osborner' he ejaculat-
ed, instantly recognizing his fair
enchantress of the seaside.
'No-my Aunt Stephanie," inter
rupted Josephine demurely,
"What mystery is this?' demand
ed Early, looking with a puzzled
face from one to the other. "Are
you"
81 am the veritablc old lady of
the railroad train," laughed the gold
lassie, with a becoming
glow of color in her cheeks. ''Do
not look so astonished, Charles, Jo-
sephine really is my niece, only as
her mother, my sister, was married
before 1 was born, she is just ten
years older than l am"
Eyes; but why"
"Why did l assume that odious
you would say? just to
try your sterling worth and native
chivalry, Charles. l somehow fan
cied that a young man who was po-
lite and attentive to bent old wo-
man, would have in him the stuff
for a good and noble husband"
"And may l be your husband,
demanded Mr. Early,
promptly deducing a favorable in
ference.
"I-Pll think about it," said
laughing and blushing.
'tAt all events, Charlie, 1 like you
ten times better since nave seen
how devoted you were to the poor
old woman in the snuff -colored
cloak"
Upon my word, Stephanie, you
ought to have been an actress"
said Mrs. Early, archly.
Cali the worlds STAGE" quoted
''and 1 haye only per
formed my part. Henceforth L re-
linquish my profession"
$50 you are going to marry my
Aunt Stephanie, ehY'' said jose
phine, as she met her brother-in-law W
in the hall after a heightened inter
view with his fair-haired goddess.
'.And will you be my uncle, then?"
81 don't care if am your grand
father, now that she has said yes"
was Mr.. Charles Early's exalted re-
ply.