The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-07-03
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Finding A Home.

81 tell you what It's, Henrietta, I'm a-goin
to speak my mind fur once in my life, if ]
never speak ag'in," announced Miss Matilda
Fennil, as she brsky bit off the thread with
which she was bastng founce on skirt OF
pearl gray cloth.
Miss Matilda looked as severely indignant
as was compatible with her plump, mild face,
which was still fair to look upon in spite OF
her "thirty.odd" years; while her sister.n-
law, Mrs. Henrietta, looked supremely indif-
ferentto whatever she might have 10 say
Mrs. Fennil was quite the antipodes of
her ter.n.law, being a snowy brunette,
with eyes that could look demurely couuet-
fish, or spitefuly scornful, according to her
mood
You're ADDING wrong, Henrietta, an
you know it," went on Miss Matilda,
"a-takin' up with this here stranger man, an
acshilly goin' to marry him, when you have
been promised-an' you know you have-to
Nat Norroway fur the last two years"
sob. indeed !" shifted the widow. "Mebbe
you kin console Nat yourself, seen' you're
so anxious to take up fur him"
"lts n burning shame so It's" continued
Miss Matilda, without noticing the Interrupt
ton. AN him way of in Maine, or Fordy,
or some o them Western States, where there's
Indians and bears, dggin an a.delvin' in
the mines, to get money enough to marry
you. You'd orter be ashamed p
Indians an bears a-diggin' an delvn'-
te.he p Uttered Mr. Fennil, aggravatingly.-
THANK you, Tilda. amt goin' to marry
an Indian-nor a bear, neitherW
NOW you know never said nothn' of
the kind" protested Tilda, Indignantly. 81
said Nat was a-dggin' in the minss, an so he
is; an here you're a-goin' to marry this Mr..
What's -his-name-"
"His name is Mr.. Theocrastus Bellevile,"
snapped the widow, tartly; "an' ifyou've got
any more to say agfn him, you kin go
some'rs else to say it! This is my house,
an if you don't like my doin's, you needn't
stay under my ruff another day longer. I've
give you Il home here eyer since Joe died, an
| amt a-going' to put up with no preachin
from your
"Ive done my sheer O. the work, Hen
rietta," said Miss Tilda, mildly, while sus-
picion of tears started in her gray eyes, Fan
l think I've earned my vittles and clothes
but If you don't want me any longer, | kin
60"
YOU'D have to go sooner or later, any,
how" said the widow, slightly Modified by
her sister ,in-law's pacific tones "Tain't
no ways likely Theocrastus would want TO
be saddled with poor relation at the very
start. AS for marryin' him, Pm a-doin' the
best kin for myself He's just bought the
incest house in town, an furnished il COM
plete, from garnet 10 cellar; and l alus did
want to live in town. 'Tain't no ways likely
Natll ever make forchn' out in the mines,
anyhow. An as l said before, when marry
Theocrastus. you'll hev to find another home;
an you might as well be a.lookin' out fur 1t
now"
Miss Matilda finished sewing the founces
on the pearl. gray cloth, which was to be the
widows wedding. dress, and then betook her
self to her own room to have good cry, and
think over her future prospects,
Finding another home was easier said
than done, and Miss Matilda was naturally of
tmid, retiring disposition, notwithstand-
ing the bold manner in which she had
spoken her mind" on the present occasion.
But she was not to be left long to her own
meditations, for Mrs. Henrietta Fennil was
not above asking a favor of her sister-in law,
though she had as good as turned her out of
the house half an hour before.
II want you to 90 with me to see the house,
Tilda," she explained, tripping into the room,
in her best dress and hat bristling with ost
rich plumes. "Theocrastus wanted me to
meet him and look over it, to see if it suits
me and of course it wouldn't be proper for
me to go alone"
And Miss Malta obligingly donned her
black and-whte shawl and her old-fshion-
ed hat, and accompanied her sister in-law on
her tour of inspection.
Mr.. Theocrastus Belleville was new
conner in the little village of Crab Orch
ard, but his recent purchase of a handsome
house, and his apparently ample supply of
money, were sufficient passports to the
widows favor, and the wooing sped on rapid
ly.
The house was substantial brick, hand
somely finished, with velvet hangings, a
dado, hand painted panels and alcoves.
The floors were covered with cushiony
carpets, the windows hung with handsome
curtains, the mantes covered with velvet
lambrequns
Mrs. Fennil was quite satisfied.
"And now the cage is ready, when can L,
claim the bird ?" whispered Theocrastus,
tenderly to the widow while Miss Matilda
sat ut the further end of the room, looking
forlornly out of the window. "Why not
right away-to-morrow? ?" persisted the anx.
ious sutton.
The widow looked modestly reluctant, but
finally allowed herself to be persuaded and
the morrow was set for the wedding.day.
when suddenly the hall door was thrown
open, and Nat Norroway strobe imperiously
into the room.
The widow uttered little scream. and
chung to the arm of her lover, who looked as
ifhe had seen ghost
Nat stared coldly at them for moment.
80 it is true, Slippery Bill" he said at
last. "And you have betrayed my trust and
stolen my promised wife. l wish you joy of
your prize" he added, CONTEMPORARY.
"What do you mean, Mr.. Norroway ?"
cried the widow in alarm. "This gentleman
is Mr.. Theocrastus Bellevile. And what do
you mean by coming into his house in this
way ?"
"Mr. Theocrastus Bellevillc-and his
house2" retorted Nat, contemptuously.-
This gentleman, as you call him, is Mr.. Viii
liam Suggs, alias Slippery Bill, and this house
is mine. employed him as my agent to
purchase it for me before / was aware of his
real character"
The widow dropped her suitor's arm and