Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-08-16
STORY OF A MISTAKE.

am Is years Old and most people con
slider me handsome, so | suppose ! ann. ]
know all the modern accomplishments rs
taught in the select academies. So it Is
natural that should have good opinion
of myself
When pa and ma went to Europe in
search of health, l lived with my Aunt
Annette, who was prim old maid of 30.
Everything a girl did in fun She cousid
cred wrong, and | didn't wonder she
never found any one TO marry her She
was nice and kind and all that bun ]
do hate to be watched. Once | wished
! had minded her went rowing on The
Hudson with some Of the boys aud girls
from the school The boat was run intc
by a steamer, and before they could get
at us poor Ellie and Tom Martin were
| drowned.
l was brought home insensibe and
when | came to myself it was TO hear Tho
doctor saying to Aunt Annette;
My dear Miss Bancroft, don't dis
tress yourself any more. Your niece win
| do very well now. There's no danger Of
| her dying-none whatever"
And then aunty began to cry She
never scoldcd me bit and petted me like
a baby, which was more than ! deserved
The doctor came two or three times a
day, and when ! felt well enough to look
at him saw what a splendid man he was
about five and thirty and so handsome.
1t was really delightful to be attended by
him, and he was twice rs attentive rs any
other doctor ! had ever had. To be sure,
! had not one since | had the measles,
when ] was little girl of II, and | sup
pose Il handsome young lady must be
more interesting thal child But
he came two or three times q daV
and brought gifts OF flowers and
fruit sometimes and when he stil came
after / was able to be about, suddenly the
truth flashed upon me. | began 10 feel
that he was in love with me lie was not
one Of those poor doctors who had TO work
hard to live; he was rich man. for he
had had n large fortune left him by his
grandfather, and he practiced medicine
for the love Of it, and that, you know,
was quite romantic And so | made 40
my mind-though he was a little old and
poky, and high.town, and not so fun OF
fun rs Ed Raymond-that Id have him
when he asked me. He used TO come and
ask us TO walk. about this time and take
us to concerts | did think Aunt Annette
AAtA 1T AAtA Z lttlAA Nsll9N Nh'NlA W nNl NiN
was too busy TO go, or something. OF
course, he only asked her ont OF polite.
ness, and | wrote to all my dear friends
about his devotion, and about the cruelty
of Aunt Annette in never leaving us for a
moment alone together.
lie meyer will have q chance TO pro
pose,' often said; but the chance did
come one day. Somebody asked Aunt
Annette to dine with them, and did not
ask me, aud l WIS at home hoping that
somehow fate would enlighten DR. Marsh
as to the condition Of things, and send
him over when tue door bell rang, and
there he really was.
"The ladies at homer he asked
Miss Bancroft has gone out to dine,
answered that stupid Biddy.
And he was really turning away, when
/ stuck my head out of the parlor door
and called out:
But I'm at home, doctor DO come
in"
AT that he hung his hat on the rack and
came in.
IAN alone, my doar2o said he. "Now
that is lucky, for have something to say
to you-a question TO ask.
He had never called me my dear be
fore, and felt my heart autter us he SAT
down beside me.
you're such good natured little soul,
Lottie,' he went on, that I'm not q bil
afraid Of you. want you to tell me the
truth and TO promise me not TO laugh at
me until have gone away. It's very
serious matter 70 me. 1.-The fact IS, Lot
tie, | think ! have been a bachelor long
enough, and ! mean to marry if can.
DO you think anyone would have me2'
II don't see why not ] answered, feel
ing very nervous.
''Ilave you ever talked with your aunt
about me-" CONTINUED the doctor.
ooh, sometimes | have, / answered
"And did she seem to think me dc
cent sort Of fellowY' he went on.
''She likes YOU I'm sure, ! answered.
"She says you are perfectly splendid"
you dear little comforter" said the
doctor Il could not tell by her manner
to me; but then, after all, She may not
like me much, Now, Lotue answer me
one thing; has your aunt suitor2 Is
she engaged to any one?'
| burst into a laugh.
Poor Aunt Annette; she's 30 F" | said.
"She's real cd maid.
And I'm q real old bachelor, he an
swered. ooh, you young things You
young things. But | am not too Old
for Wen, Lottie, am going to toll
you something now.
Hes going to propose" | said to my
self And he continued:
"Im not too old for an uncle, am II
for I'm going 10 ask your Aunt Annette
to marry me. OF course, Pm not sure
that she will but you have given me
great deal Of hope
Good graciousl felt myself growing
scarlet. Aunt Annette What a vain
little fool ! had been; and then he said the
words that put an end TO all my concot in
a moment
Il shall be the best uncle in the world
Lotto, he went on, 'if your aunt win
have me; for you really are the incest
little thing and bid fair to be as handsome
and elegant as she is by the time you are
her age
The door bell rang at that moment.
How glad / was 10 hear il and to say:
Here comes aunty; you'd better talk TO
her, and to get out Of the room.
The worst Of II all was that had writ
ten 70 the girls, and ! was wicked enough
to hope she would refuse him, but she did
not They are married, and he makes
v4ry nice uncle indeed. And really, !
don't mind it at ali now, for | think Ed
Raymond is much handsomcr than the
doctor, and he has asked me if he can
speak to pa.