Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-09-07
MISS BUSY FONTAINE.
Her Successful Efforts in the Role
of Peacemaker.

OF u Peacemaker.
or course that was not her real
nnmo. No sponsors in baptism would
have perpetrated such joke upon her
baby holpcssncss. She was christcncd
Elizaocth Fell Fontaine; but being too
small at the time for the weight of such
an uristocratlc name she became and
remained for twenty-five years, Lizzie
Fontaine. Tho changing of her first
name, instead of her last, seemed an
unacceptable freak of fortune, for Liz
zie was ~roasonably pretty and was
clever, and with an airy brightness so
agreeable in women, and at the farthost
possible removed from that tart clever
ness which is not agreeable in any
body, least of all in young ladies. My
own private theory about her unwill-
ingness to marry is that she was too in
tcnscly romantic; and that, like many
another girl who makes light of senti-
ment with her lips while she worships
1t in her heart, the image of some ex-
pected knight on n white horse, some
impossible Sir Galahad, put her out
OF coneeit with everyday young men.
BE that as it may, Lizzie gave up
quite early the thought of matrimony
and began to devote herself with fierce
ardor TO Benevolcnce (always with n
capital B) us vocation. And somo-
where back in the dawn OF that plan OF
life, she began to be cnlled-for her
fussy little ways, her constant schem-
ing, her inevitable bazars, her perpet-
ual Sunday-school picnics, her trouble
some Christmas trec-Aiiss Busy Fon-
taine. But ii was far from being term
of reproach; the little world OF Gran
vile village made good-natured jokes
at Miss Busy Fontaine's expense, and
nevertheless furthcred her plans and
knew it could not get on without her.
''Why in the world can't you come to
see people at decent hours, Miss Busy?
haven't had any breakfast yet, and l
have come down without putting any
finishing touches TO my toilet" But, in
spite of this bitter reproach, pretty
Amabol Gray kissed her visitor on both
checks with an unmistal1able welcome
Il was in hurry, child-always am;
II | waited till lazy folks were ready to
see me I'd get nothing done. But
didn't come TO give you n lecture on
early rising, Amy old Mrs. Frost is
very sick"
If painting her fresh young cheeks
wason of the things Miss Amabel had
neglected that morning, it was no
longer necessary. Her visitors words
brought II sudden flame to her face, and
one might have fanced that the fire
this glow came from flashed up in her
brown eyes, too.
Ibid you get out OF bed so early to
tell me that?" she asked, with scorn in
her soft voice; truly, that was work
of supererogation."
"Amabel, the old lady is ill., tell
you" said the other severely.
"And tell you don't care If she has
the smallpox"
"Oh, you wicked girl! Do you think
Lewis has no feeling for his grand
motherp"
"rve no doubt he adores her."
Miss Busy Fontaine was baflled. She
had come to get Amabel TO write to her
lover that his old grandmother was dec
perately sick, and the girl met her with
such fierce sarcasm that it seemed use
less to ask her. Two years before this
time Lewis Frost had told his grand
mother of his great happiness in hav-
ing gained sweet Amy Gray's promise
to be his wife, and the cantankerous
old lady had declared in most unlady-
like fashion that il he married that red
haired girl he should not have n cent
of her fortune. Not that Amabel was
red-headed-oh, dear, no; but you
might perhaps call her hair tawny,
that's the way poets put it.
Now, Lewis ostensible profession was
engineering, but being the declared heir
of his grandmother's fortune, he really
did nothing but sit at the foot OF her ta-
bic. drive her clipped horses, entertain
her guests, and, in short, wait on her
pleasure. Perhaps she thought he
would give up his lady-love, as he had
given up smoking cigarettes, at her
bidding. But she was vastly mistaken.
Lewis was, after all, n manly fellow,
though Dame Fortune had tried hard
TO take all the bones out of his charac-
ter. He bade his grandmother re-
spectful farewell, had a tender parting
with his sweetheart, and went far West
with a party OF engineers. He had
been back once in the two years, to kiss
Amy and beg her not to forget him.
He might then have had, for the ask
ing, his old grandmother's forgiveness
and her consent to his marriage, but
Amy vowed she would never marry
man who asked any woman's consent
10 his choice, and Lewis was well
pleased with her spirit.
mo, / know it's none OF my busi-
ness" answered Miss Busy Fontaine
when Amabcl reproached her for med
ding, "but you know can never keep
my fingers out of other peoples pies.
am dreadfully sorry for that lonely,
harsh old woman. Lewis absence has
broken her heart. She was wrong, OF
course, but, oh, my dear, don't we all
do wrongp Yes, ] know you think she
has made you and Lewis suffer, but you
may BIO sure she has suffered ten times
as much herself. II seems to me that II
had brave, true lover like Lewis, |
would be SO happy and thankful, and 30
sorry for every body less fortunate, that
could not harbor an unklnd thought
not even towards his grandmother