The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1888-01-14
HIS CHOICE.
The One He Wanted and tho Ono
He Won.

spinstcr of fifty, arrayed in habila-
mcnts Of sombcr black, sat by the win
dow over which the purple plumcs OF n
lilac nodded 5aucil watching for IL 10
make its appearance over the brow OF
the hill In il were 10 come from the
city her brothers two daughters Rachel
aud Celia Later, from an opposite
direction, the daughter Of Il deceased
sister was expected.
She had sent them an invitation n
n week ago, and as sho was very
wealthy woman, although residing in
small country village along with her
birds, cats and two servants. she had
every reason to believe that they would
be- prompt in oboying her behest, cspc-
cially rs she had given each one hint
as 10 her motive for sending for them
at this particular season Of the year
She was not n patient woman, and as
the tall, old clock in the hall solcmnly
tollcd cut in its deep. sonorous voice
the hour Of four she arose, and drop
ping her knitting work, which had
been lying in her lap on the floor, un-
mindful that Tabby, her fayortc cat,
was sending the ball Of yarn over the
Garrett she went ont in the hall and
shading her dim eyes with one nervous
hand, glanced up the road. A moving
something was visible. She recognized
it ns the rumbling old vehicle that
carried the mail and passengers TO and
from Blackbcrryvillc, the inappropri-
ate if cuphonious name the citizens had
bestowed upon the widc-awakc ham
let. inasmuch rs there was not bush
bearing the delicious Ethiopian fruit
within "A mile Of its precincts
Not one Of the girls had Miss Bent
ley ever seen She had never visited
them, and they had never been asked
10 her country home before. What
were they like? We're they fashion
ably dressed automatic-llkc creatures
of society, with frivolous tastes and
idle waysP Or wcro they gifted with
common sense and given TO industry,
ns the prospective wife of Guy Winters
ought to bcP
As she pondcrcd the question some
what anXiously in her mind, the stage
drew up in front of the gate. Two
ladies in plain travelling suits alightcd,
aud Miss Bentley advanced to meet
them just as John jumped of his cle-
waited seat and grumblingly lifted the
heavy "SaRs'oga' to the ground.
big enough To- hold the choir Of
Blackbcrryvillc church" he snarlcd. rs
he carried il with the assistance of Miss
Bcntlcy's man-of-all work into the
house.
Miss Bentley. too, eyed il with dis
favor For few days soiourn in the
country. where the women are not
scrfs to fashion, it certainly did pre-
sent rather formidable appearances
But she made no comment; only held
out her hands to the two girls and
murmurcd few words of welcome.
"Such delightful place. aunt"
gushingly cried the elder and taller OF
tn, two girls rs she lifted her veil from
the face which the woman had not ven
turcd to kiss--"a perfect bijou. Look.
Cclial The fields are rs green rs an en-
crald. aud that sheet of water below,
with the sun warming il up, is like n
magnilicd sapphire! II must be pond,
j wonder if the fragrant watcr-lily
grows on its boSomP II was So good
of YOU to send for Us. aunt We shall
be perfectly happy here"
81 hopc so, truly, said Miss Bentley.
rather dryly, to whom the voice sound
cd bit inSinccre. at is awfully
lonesome hero for girls who have been
bred in the city. No parties, no bcaux,
no
She could not get further in her sem
tcncc. The girl called Celia threw up
her hands and gave an affected little
shrick Don't. Amtic. bcgl We
have been surfcitcd with parties and
received So much homage from brain
less young fops that | never want to
see another specimen of the genus homo.
Men. unless they have brains. are
borcs Oh N.Y. what lovely flowers at
the window What do YOU call them.
auntp'
"Lilacs," curtly replied tho spinstcr
"You ought To know You lived in the
country till YOU were ten years old, and
no yard is without them. Don't pre-
tend 10 be ignorant of the names Of
things growing in the country, Celia.
1t shows lack of common sense.
which YOU admire 50 much in The oppo-
site sex. But como; you must be tired.
Let me conduct you to your room.
You'll have time to rest little before
tea Your cousin Lucy will bo here
shortly"
"lndecdw calculated Rachel. with
the least perccpiiblo curl Of the lip
"lou mean ouy country cousin. | sup
pose? lncvcr have seen her.
"And | was not aware that you oN.
pected her aunt" said Celia. "Is she
dowdyP Most country girls are! /
beg your pardon" as Aunt Mohcta-
bells eyes flashed ominously. "Imean
when brought up in a wilderness, as
Lucy has been. They say her home Is
encompassed by woods. Oh-hm pro-
longing the exclamation TO its utmost.
as, after toiling up a single flight Of
stair they were ushcred into dainty
apartment and left alone. II am so
tircdl And what homcly. old-fashiou-
cd room this is. Goodnessl what
hiph-post bedStcad this is How'll wa