The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-09-08
Mrs. ArbuthnOt's Postal Cards.

Friends of the two girls often thought
it was great pity that Mrs. Arbuthnot
and her husband had been appointed
sole guardians of Jasper Nevins' nieces,
with full care of their money as well as
of the girls themselves; for Mr.. Ar
buthnot, 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 favor
tie sister, and she gave them happy
home-happy, that is, until the ever
troublesome question about lovers be-
gan to arise.
Lilias Nevins was but little more
than year older than her sister Minnie,
and the two were as united as twins
could have been; rather too much
united on one point for the comfort of
their Aunt Hettie, as they called Mrs.
Arbuthnot, and that was their opinion
of Frank Carroll and Felipe Mariscal.
" do declare, Lilias," said Minnie,
one night after they had retired to their
room for the night, " l cannot compre-
bend why Aunt Hettie so 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?'
=" 1t 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 hon
estly thinks she is acting for my good
in giving the cold shoulder to Frank
Carroll because he is a poor young
book-keeper, 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 to be all he
pretends to be, l am not quite so un-
civil to him as l was at first"
"The worst of the affair is that l fear
that Mr.. Mariscal intends to propose
right off; l judge so from word or
two he said to uncle last night Just be-
fore he left us. heard uncle say: { If
my wife were here she could answer
you better than l; will tell her about
it when she returns from the party she
has gone to and she will write you to-
morrow To what but proposal could
he have referred?"
Well, l ,CiU not marry him.. ex-
claimed I.ilias, determinedly; "I'll say
mo- right at the altar first; I'll elope
with Frank first!'
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 l do; well, am in a
fix! Come, let's go to bed and try to
dream of some way of softening
auntie's heart" said Lilias, YEARLY,
proceeding to undress. "Whv, where's
my watch? do believe left it on the
library table, and l am in my bare feet
Minnie, do you mind going down
for it?"
Not she. Neither of the girls was
one bit timid, so Minnie, who had not
begun to undress, ran to the library fol-
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 by
saying that the evening paper haC
caught her eye and she paused long
enough to read over the deaths anC
marriages-just as any girl would.
The next morning Mrs. Arbuthno
said calmly, as if she were saying moth
ing at all odd:
will want you to go into the city
with me by and by, Lilias, to selec
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 Mr.. Maris
cal has been serious in the atten
tons he has been paying to you these
last three months. Your manner to hin
has been such that l considered that
he and | and every one are justified in
taking it for granted that you are ready
to become his wife. The wedding
must take place quite soon, for he told
my husband last night that some mat
tiers concerning his Mexican estates
make it necessary for him to return
home within month, and he desires
to take his wife with him."
Really, auntie, l think he might
give me little say in the matter" cried
Lilias, in veXation; but she said no
more, because Minnie trod on her foot
in very significant way, and gave her
=" "ihh NhiSh NSituiIiy httD
quiet" Lilias understood all her sis
ter's signals, for Minnie, though the
younger, had much more discretion and
acuteness than impulsive Lilias. Ex-
actly what plan Minnie now had she
could not imagine, still she thought she
would not spoil it by saying too much.
Buy your clothes and don't contra
dict auntie," said Minnie, by the deaf
anddumb alphabet; their aunt was not
looking her way.
"You should remember it is not the
custom in his country for young man
to speak of his intentions to any girl
until her guardians have been con-
suited and have given their approval
to his proposal; so, like well-bred
Mexican, he has come to me and OBJ
tanned my opinion about his suit" re-
piled Mrs. Arbuthnot.
"And of course you cannot go back
of your word?" suggested Minnie, in
sinuatingly.
Most certainly not. shall abide