The Penn's Grove record., 1885-05-23

Oh 70 HENLLraH.a .'N. L.aa..tH aAHN"t 100 tN'F N
next door resided Mrs. Atwood and her
family. consisting Of two noisy boys OF
about fifteen or sixteen, and two charm
JIG girls. both under twenty years or
age.
These two girls. Amy and Kate, were
Miss Vulture' g particular denominations,
and they knew il, and IN return AID not
bear her any good will. She was always
stationed az her parlOr window when
they went ont, and knowing her eagle
pse to be upon them, they would thrust
their hands into their pretty little tall
or-made Jacket pockets and trip along
in a particularly sauCy and a~ggrlyatng
manner.
Then they would play cricket, and
romp with their brothers in the back
garden, singing, and even whisthng at
the tops Of their voices. On all occa-
sions they did their best to shock Miss
Vulture-aud succeeded.
This caused Miss Vulture to watch
and pry all the more.
One morning in the early part OF
November, as Miss VultuTe was sitting
at ler window knitting and qulZzing
her n~eighbOrs, Amy came swiftly out OF
the house next door. She knew Miss
Vulture was watching her, for She
peTched her hat coquettishly on n side,
and drew her handkerchief out Of her
ulster pocket with an elaborate hourlshi
but as she did 50, a little pink note was
pulled out with it, and tluttered down
on the pavement.
She passed on, unconscious of her loss,
With a little smOthered cry OF glee
Miss Vulture sprang to her feet, breath
lessly watched her enemy out of sight,
then flew down stairs and sent Bridget,
her little maid, out to pick up the note.
The girl brought il in, and grinnlng
broadly. handed 1t to her mistress,
who, with fingers trembling from eN-
citement, unfolded it and read these
words, written in a bold, masculine
hand, with many Aourishes:
"MY DARLING AMY: | must see you
tonight somehow. | will be at The
bottom of your garden at halt-past ;
this evening. Contrive to slip out
there, but pray he careful, my dearest.
''Yom doting lover G.F.
Miss Vulture had much ado to keep
from executing a wild dance Of joy then
and there.
Caught at last, Miss Amy she
cried, exultantly. Then, epjoining
Bridget to strict silence, she retired to
her bed room, probably to give vent to
her feelings in a breakdown.
Half-past eight Miss Vulture, who
had passed a restless, unsettled evening,
wrapped her waterproof cloak round
her spare shoulders, cautiously opened
the lower door and crept into her back
garden. All was still, and the night
was calm and bright, lighted by stars.
She sped silently down the sanded paths,
and arriving at the end, paused breath
less.
Carefully concealing herself behind "a
tall laurel bush, she peered over the
wall. There, sitting on the low garden
seat, was the figure of a man, and at his
side. with her head resting on his
shoulder, she saw Amy. She was talk
ing in low. subdued tones, almost whis-
pers, but though the old maid craned
her neck far over the wall, she could
not catch a word that vas said.
"Horr.d artful little wretch! l knew
that girl was no goOd!n thought the
spiuster. "Now is the time to actl'
"Then, drawing back silently, she
FASTENED into the house.
Her spectacleS fell from her nose in
her hurry, and were trodden under her
feet, bnt hardly waiting to beWaIl their
loss she spec through her W house,
flew up the next door steps, and knock
ed sharply. :
A servant opened the door, and not
even waiting to be answered she passed {
the %astontshed girl aud made her way
into Mrs. Atwood's sitting,roOm.
That lady was alone. She rose and
held out her hand. {
Good evening, Miss Eulture,n She
said, pleasantly.
Madam cried the splnster in a
tragic tone, ''yOur daughter has de
Ceived you'll !
81 don't understand your' said Mrs. !
Atwood, Coldly, "What has my daugh- /
ter been dong now that you need inter 6
fere?'
Some with me and l will show YOU"
replied tie old maid.
Mrs. Atwood looked her disbelief,
but allowed the maiden lady to carry
her off that she might prove her words,
or clear up the mystery.
pray be quiet, and keep III the
shadow of the bushes" said Miss Vul-
ture, in a warning whisper, ''then we
shall catch them unawares."
She led the way, and they reached
the bottom of the garden Undecided
and burst suddenly upon the guilty
pair, Miss Vulture still to the fore.
Amy" cried her mother, in genuine
amazement.
Yes, mamma" replied Amy, sweet
ly; and rising. she stood in front of her
lover with her back toward him, as if
to screen him.
Miss Vulture burst out Indignantly,
Miss Amy are you not thoroughly
ashamed of yourself for this s|candalous
behaviour? Can you dare to look your
mother in the face?"
YES replied the girl brazenly.
Certainly, mamma knew nothing
about it; but WI intend to tell her to-
morrow, and ask her permission to burn
him."
"To what?" shrieked Miss Vulture.
ITO burn him-the guy, you know,
Miss Nulture," replied Amy, sweetly;
and she stood aside to give the s]pinsier
a full view of the figure on the seat.
Three screams of laughter echoed
through the garden, and Kate and her
brothers emerged from the bushes, Tom
carrying a bull's-eye lantern, which lie
turned full upon the noble form of
Amy's lover.
They all roared with laughter-that
IS to say, all excepting the old maid.
''Oh, Miss Vulture," said Mrs. AT.
wood, when she had recovered herself a
little, you must forgive my naughty
children for laughing at you, they are
SO full of life and fun l can do nothing
with them"
"You had forgotten tomorrow was
the fifth of November, hadn't you.
MAJ" laughed Harry.
II must apologize, Mrs, Atwood;''
began Miss Vulture, stIlily, "for agita.
ting you unnecessarily. ="
Don't mention it. You did not
agitate me in the least ma'am. l know
my girls too well to think evil of them
said Mrs. Atwood reassuringly.
81 had a severe headache 3, Miss Uni !