Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-12-01

81 don't much mind Aunt Evelyn; if she
is cross and insists on this LIE Baron, can
go home," l said.
"Oh, it must not come to that" he said
hastily, and as met the gaze of his tender,
sympathetic eyes | grew hot and flushed
in confusion.
A short time after this | seriously Of
Tended my aunt and she treated me to
long and severe lecture upon what she
called my Irritation with her friend She
said had been disappointment 10 her
from the first; she had no idea | was so
obstinate and willful. As for Worcester he
cared nothing about me and was only
amusing himself.
''You love Worcester, Stellar she ex-
claimed suddenly, closely watching to see
the effect of her words.
"What does it matter w curtly an
swered.
Don't equivocate-tel the TRUTH. she
said, looking at me with angry eyes.
"That's my affair" l jerked out in a
manner decidedly emphatic.
"Well, you had better not grow senti-
mental over Cyril, because he is not
marrying man, and if he were he would
choose a woman of the world for his wife.
So you must not snub LIE Baron, who is so
kindly disposed toward you that he is
ready to take you at any time. Don't be a
fool and throw away certainty for an IN
certainty"
Then she left me alone to think of her
words. =
After this l was shy of Mr.. Worcester,
who was much in my aunt's company. 1t
70 he hin, a-l La +
out of his way, and he could not be rude
to lady in her own house. But | never
thought of the why's and wherefores of
the case, and became profoundly misera-
able.
One evening soon after the entire party
had gone off to some place of AMUSEMENT.
To evade LIE Baron l remained at home.
| was passing along the hall, miserally
wondering if Mr.. Worcester was my aunts
escort, when, just as passed the parlor
door, who should emerge, but Cyril him
self
"Why, Stella, you here? In disgrace, 1
suppose ?" he laughed
ooh, no. l did not care to 90 with the
others" l explained.
"Ah-another of my Stella's devices to
avoid certain obnoxious suitor thought
as much. And you are well ?"
"Quite," l said, smiling. "But how is
it that you are here%
"Well, you see, never meant to 60 with
the party, therefore I stayed away until
after their departure. / have been mean
dering around the house wondering if
you had gone," he said, smiling down
at me.
did not answer. II was all so unex-
pected, so very nice and pleasant to be
with him, with no danger of intrusion for
some hours, that l forgot he was reported
to be my aunts lover, and in all probabil-
ity would be her husband.
"We are going to make the most of our
time together" he remarked, "now that
those tiresome people are gone-and espe-
cially this LIE Baron. Why don't your
aunt marry the fellow herself? She seems
to think him perfect paragon"
l was silent. What did he mean by
such erratic talk? Then he went on to
ask why l had avoided him of late, and |
told the truth.
" Does Mrs. Roe really torment you
thus ?" he asked in surprise.
=" Yes; she is determined that shall be
Mrs. LIE Baron"
"Stella," he said with a sudden energy.
let me stand between thisfellow and you.
l will promise to keep him at bay for life.
Can Will you be my little wife, dear ?"
"Your wife, Mr.. Worcester? Are you
not going to marry my aunt, then? ?"
Not if | have chance of becoming
her nephew" he gayly replied. "You
blind little mouse Could not you see that
was courting the aunt for the niece's
sake-the little niece with whose picture /
fell in love before | saw the original
Why, dear, that is what brought me here
in the first placer
Well, | do not know how it all came
about, but l let him kiss me, and he said
l was his darling Stella now and always.
The next day we went on a river excur-
sion. When all were ready for the start
LIE Baron came toward me, but one look
brought Mr.. Worcester to my side, and he
appropriated me Just as coolly as his
hated rival had once done, and said with a
smile:
Stella has promised to let me take care
of her to-day and always, Mr.. LIE Baron,
and you will have to look elsewhere for a
companion-and for wife,"
| can't describe the sensation caused by
these words. LIE Baron turned scarlet. and
Aunt Evelyn, standing near, looked for
moment as if she would faint, but she
jointed the others in congratulations, and
never by word or sign admitted that
through my engagement with Cyril Wor-
cester the dearest plans of her life were
overthrown. And this is the end of my
love story - Ware, Ly Mro1-ine