Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-09-07

L nave Dcon wicked and ungrWcful,
she answered with pretty ponitonco; al
don't wish II was smallpox, but
wouldn't mind II it was measles"
Miss Busy Fontaino laughed content
odly. "Thon you'll write to Lewis 10
como homo and SEQ the poor old ladyp'
"Ah no, can't do that, Don't you
see 1t would seem MS II just wanted
him to como back in time to got her
money! Don't ask me, I can't indeed "
Old Mrs. Frost fingered on and got
BETTER as old people 80 otton do when
they are expected TO die; and one day,
when she was ablo TO sit up in bed, she
sent for Miss Fontninc and Amabol
Gray to como TO see hcr. The old maid
went at onco with a good deal of norv-
ous trembling; the young ono came
near not going ut all, but proud de-
sire to show her enemy that sho was
not afraid of hor, also, Mt the appoint
cd hour.
Elizabeth Fontoinc," cried the sick
| woman, us soon as the old maids fussy
bonnct-top appeared above the horizon,
"What in the name of all the saints do
you moan by meddling with my affairs?
Haven't got along pretty well without
your help for nigh eighty ycarsP have
n mind to shake you till your frowsy
hair stands on end"
Don't abuse my hair, Cousin Sarah"
said the meddler, glad to create diver
sion, "for, ns the old nursery rhyme
says, God hath made them So"
"And suppose you'll tell mo that He
made you u busybody about other pco-
pies mattcrsp Well, all Tvo got to say
is, pretty spot of work ho made of
You. II ] choose to die here by myself,
what is that to youP"
"lts nothing TO me when see you in
such fair way TO get well, Cousin Sa-
rah''-Miss Fontninc was not easily
brow-beatcn-"bu it is great deal to
mo when you were i'll; so much that
promise you not TO leave one stone un-
turned to bring Lewis home to take care
of you"
"IIn, LOWS! Your guilty conscience
brings you to the confessional Mt once.
VOL, Busy Fontaino, hate your med
dlesomc ways, but must say you nro n
woman OF spirit, and admire you for
that 1--WE sent for that rcd-haired
girl who has made fool of Lewis, but
I've no idea she'll venture within the
sound of my voice"
AT this moment Mrs. Frost's soft
footed maid opened the door and an
nounccd: "Nliss Amabel Giay, mad
am"
To Miss Fontaino's infinite amuse-
mont, the old lady was quite abashcd |
and sufficiently thrown off her guard to |
offer her visitor II seat In tone almost |
courteous. Perhaps it was because she |
had just expressed her conviction that |
the girl would not come, but it is more |
likely that 1t was the unexpected effect |
of Amabel's stately young beauty upon
her Amy was simply but richly |
dressed, and carried herself with the |
grace and dignity of young princess.
She bowed in distant acknowledgment
of her hostess reception, and said, in II
tone of cold Indifference, that she had
come in accordance with the request re-
ceived from Mrs. Frost the day before
Yes" cried the old lady, shaking
off her unusual backwardncss, IL sent
for you TO read you II letter; did you
bring one in your pocketpn
al did not, madam" answered the
girl; she did not abate one iot of the
duchess-in-hcr-own air, but Miss
Fontaine's keen eye saw tcll-tale spot
of color rise in each check. Evidently
Amy held the cue to the grandmothcr's
mystery. Tho old maid gave herself Il
little pinch through her glove. "Why
couldn't you let this mess alone, Busy
Fontaine?H she questioned herself Sc
verely; you've gone and put your foot
in it, sure's you are born"
But you've got one that wasn't in
tended for you,n pursued the keen-eyed
old lady, peoring under Amabcl's soft
brimmed leghorn. Miss Gray's silence
was not the sort that gives consent; the
elevation of her chin said plainly:
81 do not answer impertinent qucs-
tions."
"Oh, very WE'LL" said Mrs. Frost,
after waiting for the answer that was
not forthcoming, ''if you can keep what
comes to you, so / suppose can l., and
she drew from n little escritoire at her
side bulky looking envelope, ad-
as her visitors could see as she
held it up, to Mrs. Sarah Sorrell Frost,
in a large, clear hand.
''You must know" she said, her dam
gerous-looking eyes twinkling with grim
"that my correspondent is very
fond of me; perhaps you will think him
extravagantly fond of such an ugly old
woman. But hear this letter. He be-
gins, My preciosis darling" She
stopped and glanced at Miss Gray and
the girl gave an irrepressible little start
forward, as IL to seize the letter, but re-
strained herself and sat not only quiet
now, but rigid, like some young Indian
brave undergoing torture.
81 have just received" continued the
reader, "a letter from that dear, med
dlesome old maid, Miss Busy Fontainc."
There was another little silence, while
the invalid paused to enjoy Miss Fon-
tainc's dire confusion. "Shc says my
grandmother is very i'll and begs me to
come back to her. You may imagine
what perplexity this throws me into.
To come back now brands me in tho
eyes of the world, mean my world of
friends and acquaintances in Granville,
as mercenary wretch, who is not will
ing to be reconciled to his only relation
short of 5000, ,000." c'IIumph, he rates
it high" calculated the rcader.) "And
am not Indifferent TO ,hc opinion held
of the man Whom the sweetest woman
who Ger drew breath has promised to
marry" (Aiiss Amabel's hands were
clenched in the lace folds of her gown,
but she gave no other sign.) "And
yet, / despise myself for stopping to
think of self, or of any thing except nay