Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-02
MRS. ARBUTHNOTS POSTAL CARDS.
BY FRANCIS E. wADLEIGH.
Boston Traveller.

Friends of the two girls often thought
1t was a great pity that Mrs. ArbuthnOt
and her husband had been appointed sole
guardians of Jasper Nevines' nieces, with
full care of the money as well as the girls
themselves; 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 wOrshipped.
In her way she was fond of these girls;
whose mother had been her favorite sis
ter, and she gave them happy home
happy, that is, until the ever troublesome
question about lovers began to arise.
Lilias Nevins was but 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 call
ed Mrs. Arbuthnot, and that was their
opinion of Frank Carroll and Felipe Mar
iscal
81 do declare Lilias,'' said Minnie one
night after they had retired to their room
for the night, II ceunOt comprehend 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 no particularly polite
to auntie-why does she like him so
much?"
"It is clear enough to me-" replied
Lhias. "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 shoulders to Frank Carol because he
is poor young book-keeper, while this
Mariscal has heaps of money and fine es-
tates in Mexico. At first I really did be-
lieve that his reputed fortune and position
were all humbug, but now that aunties in
quiries have proved him to be all he pre-
tends 10 be, [ am not quite so uncivil to
him as l was at first"
E'The worst of the affair is that [ fear
that Mr.. MariscaI intends to propose right
off. / Judge SO from word or two he
said tC uncle tonight, just before he left
us. heard uncle say: IF my wife were
here she could answer you better than I 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
proposal could he have referred?"
''Well, 1 will not marry him!'' exclaimed
Lillias determinedly; 'I1l say mo- right
at the altar first; I'll elope with Frank
frst!'
eff yoa marry against auntie's wishes
money, and Frank is not rich," answered
Minnie, warningly.
ooh, dear, SO I do; we'll [ am in a fix!
Come, let's go to bed and try to dream of
some way of SOftening auntieS heart"
said Lilias, YEARLY, commencing to I'M
dress. "Why, where's my watch? I do
believe | left it on the library table, and [
am in my bare feet-Minnie, do you mind
going down for it 20
= Not she Neither of the girls was one
bit timid, so Minnie, who had not begun
to undress, ran to the library for the
watch. She was gone some minutes, and
Lilias was just beginning to be alarmed
about her when she returned, apOlogizing
for her delay, saying, that the evening
paper had caught her eye, and she paused
long enough to read over the deaths and
marriages. ust as any girl would.
The next morning Mrs. Arbuthnot said
calmly, as if she were saying nothing at
all odd:
II 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 attention
he has been paying to you these last three
months; your manner to him has been
such that [ considered that he and I and
every one are justified in taking it for
granted that you are ready to bedome his
wife. The wedding 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 re-
turn,home within a month, and he desires
to take his wife with him."
Really, auntie, I think he might give
me little say in the MATTER cried Lilias
in vexation; but said no more because
Minnie trod on her foot in a very signif-
cant way, and gave her a wink which GER
tainly meant keep quiet" Lilias under
stood all her sisters signals, for Minnie,
though the younger, had much more dis
erection and acuteness than impulsive
Lilias. Exactly what plan Minnie now
had she could not immagine, still she
thought she would not spoil it by saying
two much.
''Buy your clothes and don't contradict
auntie," said Minnie, by the deaf and
dumb alphabet; their aunt was not look
ing her way.
you should remember it is not the
custom in this country for a young man
to epeak of his intentions to any girl I'M
til her guardians have been consulted
and have given their approval TO his
proposals. so like well-bred Mexican,
he has come to me and obtained my OPP
inion about his suit" replied Mrs. Ar
buthnot.
'And of course you cannot go back of
your word?" suggested Minnie, insinu-
atingly.
"Most certainly not. l shall abide by
what have written to both Mr. Mariscal
and Frank Carroll; if they are not suit
ed with what wrote I cannot help it.
will abide by my decision, and so 1 have
told your uncle Arbuthnot, so that in
case | do not get home from my trip to
Paris before the very latest date set in
my letter the wedding must go on with
out me-or else you, Lilias, will be a
pauper."