Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-09-01
From the Boston Traveler.l
MRS. ARBUTkNOT'S POSTAL CARDS.
BY FRANCIS e. WADLEIGH.

Friends of the two girls often thought
it was great pity that Mrs. Arbuth-
not and her husband had been ap-
pointed sole guardians of Jasper
Nevins' nieces, with full care of their
money as we'll as of the girls them
selves; for Mr.. Arbuthnot, though a
good, well-meaning man, was as clay
in his acute wife's hands, and all who
knew her knew that money was the
one thing she worshiped. In her way,
she was fond of these girls,
whose mother had been her favorite
sister, and she gave them q happy
home-happy, that is, until the ever
troublesome questions about lovers
began to arise.
Lilias Nevins was but little more
than q year older than her sister Min
ME, and the two were as united as
twins could have been; rather too
much united on one point for the COM
fort of their Aunt Hettie, as they
called Mrs. ArhuthnOt, and that was
their opinion OF Frank Carroll and
Felipe Mariscai.
Il do declare, Lilias," said Minnie
one night after they had retired to
their room for the night, 81 cannot
comprehend why Aunt Hettieso dotes
on Mr.. Mariscal he is as sallow and
thin as any man can possibly be; he
hasn't two words to say for himself;
he is not particularly polite to auntie
why does she like him so much ?"
'It is clear enough to me-" replied
Lilias. "You know Aunt Hettie was
really very poor when she was young,
and she breads poverty for US; she
honestly thinks she is acting for my
good in giving the cold shoulder to
Frank Carroll because he is a Door
young bookkeeper, while this Mariscal
has heaps of money and fine estates in
Mexico. At first [ really did believe
that his reputed fortune and position
were all humbug, but now that auntie's
inquiries have proved him all he pre-
tends to be, | am not quite so uncivil
to him as was at first"
"The worst of the affair is that
scar that Mr.. Mariscal intends to pro-
pose right off. | judge so from word
or two he said to uncle tonight, Just
before he left US. | heard uncle say:
s'If my wife were here she could an
swer you better than I; [ will tell her
about it when she returns from the
party she has gone to, and she will
write you tomorrow. To what but a
proposal could he have referred?"
"Well, will not marry him" ex-
claimed Lilias determinedly; s'I'll say
mo- right at the altar first; "I'll elope
with Frank frstl"
eff you marry against Auntie's
wishes remember you forfeit all your
share Of the money and Frank is not
rich" answered Minnie, warningly.
ooh, dear, so I do; we'll I am in q
fix! Come, let's go to bed and try to
auntie's heart" said Lilias, YEARLY,
commencing to undress. "Why,
where's my watch? do believe left
it on the library table, and I am in
my bare feet-Minnie, do you mind
going down for it 2"
Not she! Neither of the girls was one
bit timid, so Minnie, who had not be-
gun to undress, ran to the library for
the watch. She was gone some min
utes, and Lilias was just beginning to
be alarmed about her when she re.
turned, apologizing for her delay, say
ing that the evening paper had caught
her eye and. she paused long enough to
T0AQ over Inc u0aUnS ana marriages
just as any girl would.
The next morning Mrs. Arbuthnot
said calmly, as if she were saying moth
ing at all odd:
st will want you to go into the city
with me by-and-by, Lilias, to select
some new bonnets and dresses; we
may as well begin to prepare for your
wedding"
For my wedding?" gasped Lilias in
surprise.
Certainly; you must know that
Mr.. Mariscal has been serious In the
attentions he has been paying to you
these past three months; your manner
to him as been such that | considered
that ne and / and every one are justified
in taking it for granted that you are
ready to become his wife. The we'd
ding must take place quite soon, for
he told my husband last night that
some matters concerning his Mexican
estates make it necessary for him to
return home within a month, and he
desires to take his wife with him.
Greatly, auntie, I think he might
give me a little say in the matter, u
cried Lilias in vexation; but said no
more because Minnie trod on her foot
IN a vary significant wav and oavo bor