The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-03-24

to us. He said that letter had just come for Aunt Betty, and that we might carry it out to her.
 AS soon as he handed me the letter, 1 saw that it was one father had writ ten three days before, telling Aunt Betty of the time of our arrival in Cherryvale. The letter had been strangely delayed, and we understood now why Aunt Betty had not met us.
 You can't miss the house." said the postmaster, ss we started away, "and your aunt'll be nightly glad to see you. She was talkin' bout you in my store the other day. She's a nice woman, Mig Blaney is."
 A farmer who had just driven up, with pail of eggs packed in oats on his arm, heard this remark and asked, "Goin' out to Miz Blaney's? She ain't to home. I see her drive away off toward Perryville when come by her house not half an hour ago."
 "Oh, we'll" said the post master, "I reckon she ain't gone far; and it don't make no diff'rence if she has. You must go on out, and make yourselves right to home. Betsey Blaney won't care. Faint likely you'll find the doors all locked. Folks don't have to live under lock and key in this coun- try"
 We thanked him for his kindness, and were greatly tiattered when we overheard him say to the farmer, as we walked away:
 "Nephews of Mig Blaney. Come alone all the way from Mahaska county cut in Iowa"
 It was now nearly seven o'clock. Mother had put us up nice monday lunch, but we were hungry for our suppers, and began to feel tired alter our long ride.
 "Third yellow frame house to the left, he said, didn't he?" asked Jeff, after we had walked about mile.
 "Yes. think so," he replied ''and here it is right in front of us."
 We had walked around an abrupt curve in the road as we spoke, and there, not a hundred yards distant, was the house we supposed was Aunt Betty's.
 Ii was a large, square, comfortable looking house, with long verandas and well-kept grounds.
 "Don't believe she's come home yet" said Jeff, as we entered the gate.
 We stepped up to the door with wildly beating hearts, and knocked loudly. Could it be possible that we were at last to see dear Aunt Betty Blaney?
 No one came in response to our knock. We knocked again. There was no sound within.
 "And Pm half-starved to death,' y said Jeff, moodily. "Lct's go to the back door,"
 We did so, but with no more sue cess. But the rear door was not locked.
 "Well," said Jeff, who was ever fertile in expedients, "let's go on in, as the postmaster said. Of course Aunt Betty won't care. It's just what she'd want us to do"
 "Yes, I suppose so," l said, some- what depressed; "but, somehow or other, hate to-"
 "Pd like to know why" said Jeff, as he turned the knob, and we walked into the cleanest and cosiest of kitch- ems.
 A little pantry opened off from the kitchen, and the door was open. On white cloth, neatly laid on a shelf, were cherry pies, shining pan of big yellow cookies, and frosted nut cake, pan of rolls, cold tongue, pickles, a pat of butter, and dish of preserved peaches stood on another shelf.
 "I guess she is expecting us," said Jeff, as he feasted his eyes o1 his array of good things. We waited in and around the house until it was quite dark, and Aunt Betty did not come. Then Jeff said
 "I'll warrant she's gone over to Perryyille to some meeting. You re- member she wrote once she often went there to the Methodist meetings"
 "Yes," l replied.
 "And so she won't come home until late, and 1 can't wait any longer for something to eat. She's baked these things in the pantry on purpose for us, and Pm going to have some of them"
 70, Jeff! had we better2 Somehow hate to-"
 "Oh, well, of course, I'd rather aunt was here, but she isn't, and Pm SO hungry l can hardly stand. I know she won't care. It's just what she'd want us to do."
 So we lighted one of the shining lamps on shelf in the kitchen and paid our respects to the contents of the pantry.
 We were very hungry and very fond of good things, and you would hardly believe it if l told you how much we ate on this occasion. We were both fond of pastry and when