Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1888-07-17

Judith Pease came nearer with q gilt
ter in her garnet brown eyes.
81 suppose Aunt Priscilla never
| means 10 de-" observed she, with q
shrug OF her pretty white shoulders
"She must be seventy at the least "
"Sixty-three," replied Hetty, with
the dismay wherewith sixteen regards
three-score and three "But, dear me-
she'll live TO be one hundred at the
very least. The Mouseworths are all
a long-lived family"
Hetty, Paulina and Judith were
cousins and orphsns. Hetty copied
for lawyers, Paulina did "a little
dressmabing," and Judith Pease bore
the whims and caprices of rich rela-
ton who needed somebody to keep
her company.
And with all this they had an aunt
worth one hundred thousand dollars.
But even Achilles hnd vulnerable
spot, and who was Aunt Priscilla
Wordsworth that she should be better
than the tabled hero? Judith Pease
had discovered the weak place.
II mean to be her heiress yet" said
she
"But howl" chorused the other
girls.
"oh. you'll seel'
For Judith had perceived that Aunt
Priscilla was benevolent But first
in her affections lowered the "Home
for Ancient Apple Vendors and Resort
for Penniless Peanut Girls"
judith, my DEAR" said Aunt Pris-
ella, "you seem really TO have this
enterprise at heart"
Its the noblest charity l ever heard
OF, 4" sighed Judith, in her most melt
ing tones.
"You speak wisely, child" said
Aunt Priscilla, patting her niece's
head. "Whst l have to propose is
this: That you leave Mrs. WHY'S
Wylloughby and come to live with
ne; and think how useful you could
make yourselfto the societyr'
"Oh, aunt" said Judith, II could
wish no greater boon-no higher OBJ
ject in liie."
Hetty over her legal cap and Pau
lima with needle and silk felt that their
willy relative was outgeneraling them.
judith" said Aunt Wordsworth,
one day, ''if it wasn't for the Ancient
Apples and Penuiless Peanuts I'd
almost feel like adopting you"
81 ask no higher sphere, dear aunt,
than that which | am now privileged
to move in" said she, softly. "Only
let me be useful to you. The poor
apple women and the dear little bare
footed peanut girls are more, far more
to me than myself"
do you really feel that way, Ju-
di!hP"
dearest Aunt Priscilla, can you
doul meP"
"Well. said she, "we'll see, my
dear; wen see"
The next day Miss Mouseworth
went out alone and retur ned early.
Hetty Pensdale was sitting with her
niece, when she bounced into the par.
lor
"l've done it, Judith" said she,
rubbing her shabbily glOved hands.
"Done what, Aunt PriscillaP"
"Made over all my fortune to the
apples and peanutsl I've been think.
ing oft for some time. And now,
81 Ia, Pm as poor as yourselves. My
time can be given uninterruptedly to
the mission"
"Then, aunt" said Judith, you're
the biggest fool in New York city.
And l, for one, wash my hands of the
whole idiotic affair. What possessed
you to fling away your money en- such
-a-a-pack Of impostorsp How
dared you so to delude and deceive
me2"
But Aunt Priscilla put forth her
hand in a blind, wandering way to
catch her niece's dress.
Are you going to leave me, Ju-
dithP"
Judith shook off the feeble grasp.
"When l came to live with you
supposed you had at least common
sense" retorted she. i've been de-
ceiyed. I'm going back to Mrs. Wyl-
loughby now"
Judith" cried out impulsiye
Hetty, you ought to be ashamed of
yourself. Don't mind her, Aunt
Priscilla. I'll stay with you. l can
easily earn enough money, now I've
got the Pink s. Seebury business, for
both of US, and you can visi, around
among the societies where you please"
"My dear, you re a good girl" said
Miss Wordsworth, patting Hetty's
curly head. "But let me understand
was it money, and my money alone,
that Judith thought of when she came
to live with mel"
"What else did you suppose it
was?" inso,ently questioned the girl.
"Did you think yourself so attractive
that"
"AhW said Aunt Priscilla. "I'm
glad comprehend the whole thing.
Hetty will stay with ME. Hetty won't
leave the old woman.
mot unless you send me away,
aunt" said the little law copyist.
So Judith swept away in the dusk
OF the winter evening. Aunt Pris-
ella looked after her with a sly
chuckle.
won't she be angry" she said,
"when she flnds out it's all hoaxw
"a hoax, Aunt PriscillaH"
About the apple woman and pea
nut girls. l dare say they will get
some OF my money in time, but they
haven't got it yet. Judith shouldn't
have thrown up her cards quite so
precipitately. Give me a kiss, Hetty."
And when she died, just six months
afterward, not In her bed, like other
people, but sitting bolt upright in her
chair, with her best cap on, she left
her one hundred thousand dollars to
Hetty Pensdale.
Aninhnrna a u GrAan. BOB Shin.