The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1888-07-28
MISS WORDSWORTH.

- HhhbANh hhboodhh OOii'i~.
girls !" said Hetty Pensdalr. at is
well worth trying iur."
Paulinn Smith drew very l.,ng
breath. Oh, he dresses, the Jewels,
the fine frippories she could indulge
in ON one hundred thousand dollars.
And Judith Peilso came near with a
glitter in her brown eyes.
81 suppose Aunt Priscilla never
mems to die" observed she, with
shrug of her pretty white shoulders.
"She must be seventy, ut the least F"
"Sixty-three," replied Hetty, with
the dismay wherewith sixteen re-
CARDS three-score and three. "But,
dear me she'll live to be one hun
dred at the very least. The Mouse
worths are all II lung-lived family"
Hetty, Pauline and Judith were
cousins aud orphans. Hetty copied
for law, ers, Pauline did "a little
dressmaking" and Judith Prase
bore the whims and caprices OF a
rich relation, who needed somebody
to keep her company"
And with all this they had an
aunt worth one hundred thousand
dollars.
But even Achilles had IL vulnera-
BILE spot, and who was Aunt Priscilla
Mouseworth that she should be bet
ter than the fabled hero? Judith
Pease had discovered the weak
place.
IL mean to be her heiress yrt," "
said she.
"But how ?" chorused the other
girls.
"Oh, you'll see"
For Judith had perceived that
Aunt Priscilla was benevolent. -
But first in her affections toward the
"Home for the Ancient Apple Ven
ders and Resort for Penniless Pea
nut Girls"
"Judith, my dear" said Aunt Pris-
ella, "you seem really to have this
enterprise at heart"
"It's the noblest charity ever
heard Of" sighed Judith, in her
most melting tones.
"You speak wisely, child" said
Aunt Priscilla, patting her niece's
head. "What have to propose is
this: That you leave Mrs. Wyllys
Wylloughby and come and live with
me and think how useful you could
make yourself to the society 7"
"Oh, Aunt |" said Judith, 81 could
wish no greater boon-no higher OBJ
ject in life"
Hetty over her legal cap and Pau
lima with needle and silk felt that
their wiley relative was outgeneral-
ing them.
judith" said Aunt Mouseworth,
one day, "if it wasn't for the Ancient
Apples and Penniless Peanuts I'd
almost feel like adopting you"
81 ask no higher sphere, dear aunt,
than that which ! am now privileg-
ed to move in," said she, softly
"Only let me be useful to you. The
poor apple women and the dear
little bare-footed peanut girls are
more, far more to me than myself"
"Do you really feel that way,
Judith ?"
Dearest Aunt Priscilla, can you
doubt me ?"
"Well," said she, "we'll see, my
dear, we'll see"
The next day Miss Mouseworth
went out alone and returned early.
Hetty Pensdale was sitting with her
niece, when she bounced into the
parlor.
"I've done it, Judith" said
she, rubbing her shabbily gloved
hands.
"Done what, Aunt Priscilla ?"
shade over all my fortune to the
apples and pernut I've been think
ing of it for some time. And now,
girls, I'm as poor as yourselves. My
time can be given uninterruptedly
tn the mission"
"Then, aunt" said Judith, "you
are the biggest fool in New York
City. And I wash my hands Of
the whole idiotic affair. What pos
sessed you to fling away your money
on such --a-a- pack of impos-
ters ? How dared you so to delude
and deceive me ?"
But Aunt Prescilla put forth her
hand in blind, wandering way to