Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-05-11
LUGY'S BURGLAR.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

1t was very lonesome at Aunt Jocas-
ta's-loncsome, ev though had JUS
come from tho willorl9s,cs ola New
Hampshire mountain home into the
crowded streets Of New York.
had had my DIRE ans Of career. !
had fancic that this city expedition oi
mine was a sort of mission to Aunt Jo-
castn, whom had pictured to my elf a
pallil, d licate woman, much needing
an active, sympathetic youag niece like
myself.
But he first sight of Aunt Joca5ta,
standing wi~l her arms akimbo under
the huteiing yhalow Of whole grove
Of $ cond-hlnd gowns and poloraises-
in which useful articles she dealt-dis-
pellcd these visionary ideas to the four
winds of heaven.
She was simply a fat, vulgar old wo-
man-neither more nor less.
ooh, it's you, is it2" said Aunt Jo-
casta, as | alightcd from the clbil The
sultry dimness Of the August twilight.
"You'd ought to hcv come ia tho horses
cars. 'Twouldn't hev cost near 50
much. Or I'd hev met you if you'd let
nc know, and we could hev come down
in the elevated. So you're Maria's dar-
ter be you2 Don't favor her much,
calculate. No, cabby; don't you be
tryin' to come no such games one mel
sevonty-fve coNts is your fare, and
you'll not get cent moro" (snatchiae
from my hand the silver do lar witch
in obedience to the dcmanl Of myI
Jehu, l was timilly prolTeriag him. 4
The cabmau muttered some very VI
complimentary remarks, Lut jumf
on his box and drove away while -h'
Jocasta led me through stuffy y
store, filled with different varietic :.
second hand articles, from sota q
dingy back parlor smelling strongly 0 i
blue-mold aad Yesterdays gridIle-
cakes, and heckoned me to take slip
perry, horse hair covered chair in thel
corner.
$50 oyou've come to stay hev yOuTI
said she. {
'1f-if can be of any comfort to
YOU, said l, feeling really to burst iato
tears.
"Oh, faint that, sail tho old lady,
lifting the lid Of fat, black tca-kcttlo,
which was singing on the stove, and
peering curiously into its depths. II
don't need no comfortin. | s'posc,
though, there was lots o gals to home.
and your ma was glad to get one of EN-
Off n her hands"
81 assure you chat was not the
reason" l burst out. II camel
came---'
''Well, it don't matter what you came
for| sal Aunt Joca5ta. you're here,
and there's an end OF the matterp'
She regaled me on boile lobster and
lettuce for supper, during which meal
she was frequently summoned to the
shop by sharp, peremptory rings of
the little bell on the door, and | was
rendered extremely nervou, by hear.
ing the details of one or two of the
sharp bargains which she drove across
the counter.
II do hope, if you're going to stay"
said she, returning after one of these
verbal battles, "you'l be able to take
some of these bothers eff my hands.
It's dreadful tryll' not to be let to take
one's tea in peace. AID n fresh lobster
at that, and salad fit for the queen"
l said nothing, but secretly calcu.
lated in my own mud whether | had
money enough to tako me back to
Goosebcrry mountain the next day.
1t was painfully evident to me that
my Aunt Jocasta and had our being in
altogether different spheres.
Alter supper, Aunt Jocasta went TO
sleep and ored, until she wai reused
by the appearance of pert aly's- maid,
With package under her arm-one of
Ter mistress cast off ball dresses, which
She