The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1888-01-21
His Choice.
JOHN A. PETERS, IN CHICAGO JOURNAL.

JOHN A. PETERS, IN CHICAGO JOURNAL.
1t was time for the four o'clock
stage. Mehitabel Bentley, a severe
spinster of fifty, arrayed in habila-
ments Of somber black, sat by the
window over which the purple
plumes of a lilac nodded saucily,
watching for it to make its appear
ancc over the brow Of the hill. In
it were to come from the city her
brothers two daughters, Rachel and
Celia. Later, from an opposite di-
rection, the daughter of Il deceased
sister was expected.
She had sent them an invitation Il
week ago, and as she was a very
wealthy woman, although residing
in a small country village along with
her birds, cats and two servants, she
had every reason to believe that they
would be prompt in obeying her be-
hest, especially as she had given
each one hint as to her motive for
sending for them at this particular
season Of the year
She was not a patient woman,
and as the tall. old clock in the hall
solemnly tolled out in its deep, SON.
orous voice the hour of four, she
arose, and dropping her knitting
work, which had been lying in her
lap on the floor, unmindful that
Tabby, her favorite cat, was sending
the ball of yarn over the carpet, she
went out in the hall and shading
her dim eyes with one nervous hand
glanced up the road. y moving
something was visible. She recog-
nized it as the rumbling old vehicle
that carried the mail and passengers
to and from ackberryville, the in
appropriate if euphonious name the
citizens had bestowed upon the wide
awake hamlet, inasmuoh rs there is
not a bush bearing the delicious
I Ethiopian fruit within a mile of its
precincts.
Not one of the girls had Miss
Bentley even seen. She had never
visited them. and they had never
been asked to her country home be-
fore. What were they like? Were
they acknowledgement, automatic
like features of society, with frivo-
lous tasts and idle ways Or were
they gifted with common sense and
given to industry, as the prospective
of Guy Winters ought to boY
As she pom Tered the question
somewhat anxiously in her mind,
the stage drew up in front of the
gate, Two ladies in plain travelling
suits alighted, and Miss nentlby adj
vanced to meet them iurt as John
jumped of his elevated seat and
grumblingly lifted the heavy Sara
toga" to the ground,
big enough to hold the choir OF
Blackberryville church," he snarl-
ed as he carried it with the assist
ance of Miss Bentley's mnn-of-all-
work into the house.
Miss Bentley, too eyed it with
disiavor For II few days sojoun
in the country, where the women
are not serfS to fashion 1t certainly
present rather formidable appear
ance. But she made no comment
only held out her hands to the two
girls and murmurcd few words OF
welcome.
such Il delightful place, aunt, -
gushingly cried the elder and taller
of the two girls us she lifted her veil
from the face which the woman had
not ventured to kiss-"a perfect III
jou. Look, Celia ! The fields are
as green us an emerald, and that
sheet of water below, with the sun
warming 1t up, Is like magnifed
sapphire 1t must be pond. |
wonder if the fragrant water-lily
grows on its bosom ? 1t was so
good of you to send for us, aunt,
We shall be perfectly happy here"
81 hope so truly" said Miss Bent
ley, rather dryly, to whom the voice
sounded o bit insincere, at is aw-
fully lonesome here fnp girls who
have been bred in the city No
parties, no beauX, no.
She could not get further in her
sentence. The girl called Celia
threw up her hands and gave an eff
lected little shrek. "Don't Auntie,
beg We have been surfeited with
parties and received so much hom-
age from brainless young fops that
never want to see another specimen
of the genus homo. Men, unless they
have brains, are bores. Oh, my
what lovely flowers at the window.
What do you call them, aunt?"
Lilacs, curtly replied the spinstcr