Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-10-10
MISS BUSY FONTAINE.
Her Successful Efforts In the Role
OF a Peacemaker.


OF course that was not her real
name. No sponsors in baptism would
have pcrpetrated such joke upon her
baby helplessness. She was christened
Elizabeth Fell Fontaine; but being too
small at the time for the weight Of such
an aristocratic name she became and
remained for twenty-five years, Lizzie
Fontaine. Tho changing OF her first
name, instead OF her last, seemed an
unaccountable freak OF fortune, for Liz
zie was reasonably pretty and was
clever, and with an airy brightness so
agreeable In women, and at the farthest
possible removed from that tart CLEVER
ness Witt is not agreeable in any
body, lie, Of all in young ladies. My
own private theory about her unwill-
ingness to marry is that she was too in
tensely romantic; and that, like many
another girl who makes light OF senti-
ment with her lips while she worships
II In her heart, the image of some ex-
pected knight on white horse, some
impossible Sir Galahad, put her out
OF conceit 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 Benevolence always with a
capital By as a vocation. And some
where back in the dawn OF that plan Of
life, she began to be called-for her
fussy little ways, her constant schem-
ing, her inevitable bazars, her perpet-
ual Sunday school picnics, her trouble
some Christmas tree-Miss Busy Fon-
tame. But IL 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 furthered 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 Busyp
] haven't had any breakfast yet, and ]
have come down without putting any
finishing touches to my toilet" But, In
spite OF this bitter reproach, pretty
Amabel Gray kissed her visitor on both
cheeks with an unmistakable welcome.
II 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 lecture on
early rising, Amy; old Mrs. Frost Is
very sick"
II painting her fresh young cheeks
was one OF the things Miss Amabel had
neglected that morning, 1t was no
longer necessary. Her visitors words
brought sudden flame to her face, and
one might have fancied that the fire
shis glow came from flashed up in her
brown eyes, too.
Ibid you get out OF bed so early 10
tell noe that?" she asked, with scorn in
her soft voice; truly, that was work
OF supererogation."
"Amabel, the old lady is i'll, tell
you," said the other severely.
"And tell you don't care II she has
the smallpox"
"Oh, you wicked girl! Do you think
Lewis has no feeling for his grand
motherp"
"Ive no doubt he adores her."
Miss Busy Fontaine was baffled. She
had come to get Amabel to write to hei
lover that his old grandmother was des
pcrately sick, and the girl met her with
such fierce sarcasm that IL seemed use
less to ask her. Two years before thi,
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 cantankeroul
old lady had declared in most unlady
like fashion that il he married that red
haired girl he should not have a cen
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 wal
engineering, but being the declared he'll
Of his grandmother's fortune, he really
did nothing but sit at the foot OF her Ia
bic, drive her clipped horses, entertain
her guests, and, in short, wait on hel
pleasure. Perhaps she thought h
would give up his lady-love, as he hat
given up smoking cigarettes, ut hel
bidding. But she was vastly mistaken
Lewis was, after all, manly fellow
though Dame Fortune had tried har,
to take all the bones out OF his charac
ter. He babe his grandmother re
spectful farewell, had tender partinl
with his sweetheart, and went far Yves
with a party Of engineers. He ha,
been back once in the two years, to kis
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, bu
Amy vowed she would never marry
man who asked any woman's consen
to his choice, and Lewis was vel
pleased with her spirit.
mo, I know it's none OF my bust
ness" answered Miss Busy Fontain
when Amabcl rcproached her for med
ding, "but you know can never kee
my fingers out OF other peoples pies
am dreadfully sorry for that lonely
Harsh old woman. Lewis absence ha
broken her heart. She was wrong, 9
course, but, oh, my dear, don't we a.
do wrongp Yes, know you think sh
has made you and Lewis suffer, but yo
may be sure she has suffered ten time
as much herself. II seems TO me that
had brave, true lover like Lewis,
would be so happy aud thankful, and s
sorry for every body less fortunate, ths
/ could not hai Dor an unkind thought
not even towards his grandmother