Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-10-14
THE STORY OF A MISTAKE.
BY MATTE MAY.

hcht IA ocatNh Va Ii 4 ilftu Will MY
Aunt Annette, who was q prlm old maid
Oh thirty.
Everything girl did in fun she con-
never found any one to marry her, She
was mics and kind and all that, but do
hate to be watched.
Once / wished I had minded her. 1
went rowing on the river with some Of
the boys and girls from the school.
The boat WAS run into by q steamer,
and before they could get at us poor Ellie
and Tom Martin were drowned.
l was brought home insensible, and
when came to myself, 1t was to hear the
doctor saying to Aunt Annette:
"My dear Miss Bancroft, don't distress
yourself any more. Your niece will do
very well now. There's no danger OF her
dying-none whatever"
And then aunty began to cry.
She never scolded me bit, and petted
me like baby, which was more than
deserved.
The doctor came two or three times a
day, and when felt well enough to look
at him, L saw what a splendid msn he
was-ahCut tive-and-thirty, and TO hand
some.
1t was really delightful 10 be attended
by him, and he was twics as attentive as
any other doctor had ever had. To he
sure, had not one since / had the
measles, when / was little girl of
twelve, and suppose handsome young
lady must be more interesting than a
child. Il !. 81.
But he came two.or three times a day.
and brought gifts Of flowers and fruit
sometimes; and when he still came after
L was atie TO be about, suddenly the
truth fla he'd upon me.
l began to feel that he was iu love with
me. lie was not one OF those poor doc
tors who had to work hard TO live; he
was a rich man, for he had had a large
fortune lett him by his grandfather, and
lie practiced medicine for the love Of It,
and that, you know, wac quite romantic.
Aud so l made up my lnind-though
be was little old and poky, and high
flown, and not SO full OF fun as Ed Ray
mond-that I'D have him when he asked
me.
He used TO come and ask us to walk
about this time, and take us to concerts.
l did think Aunt Annette might have
had sense enough to say she was 100 busy
TO go, or something.
OF course, he only asked her out of DO
friends about his devotion, and about the
cruelty OF Aunt Annette in never leaving
US for moment alone tonether.
'He never will have a chance to pro-
pose" often said, but the chance did
come one day.
Somebody asked Aunt Annette to dine
with them, aud did not ask me; and 1
was at home, hoping that, somehow, fate
would enllgnten DR.. Marsh as TO the con-
dition OF things, and send him over, when
the door-bell rang, and there he really
was.
"The ladies at homer" he asked.
"Miss Bancroft has gone out to dine"
answered the stupid Biddy.
And he was really turning away, when
l stuck my head out OF the parlor door
and called out:
"But Pm at home, doctor. Do come
in."
Az that he hang his hat OH the rack
and came In.
"All alone, my dearf" said he. ''Now
that is lucky, for 1 have something to
say to you-s question TO ask"
He had never called me tiny dear" be-
fore, aud felt my heart tlutter Us lie sat
down beside me.
you're such a good-natured little
soul, Lottie," he went on; ''that Pm not
a bit afraid of you. want you to tell
me the truth, and to promise me not to
laugh at me until have gone away. It's
a very serious matter to me. 1.-The fact
Is, Lottle, l think / have been q bachelor
long enough, and / mean to marry If l
;an. Do you think any one would have
me?"
81 don't see why not" answered,
feeling very nervous.
"Have you ever talked with your aunt
ibout met" continued the doctor.
"oh, sometimes have" answered.
"And did she seem to think me q de-
cent sort of fellow?" he went on.
''she likes you, I'm sure" answered.
"She says you are perfectly splendid"
"You dear little comforter" said the
doctor. 81 could not tell by her manner
10 me; but then, after all, she may not
like me much. Now, Lottie, answer me
one thing-has your aunt a sutton? Is
she engaged to anyouel"
burst into q laugh.
"Poor Aunt Annette; she's thirty" l
said. ''she's real old maid"
And I'm real old bachelor" he
"0h, you young things-you
young things But ! am not too old for
=. Well, Lottie, am going to tell
you something now"
"He'a going to propose" said to my
self.
And he continued:
ppm not too old for an uncle, am l?
for I'm going TO ask your Aunt Annette
TO marry me. OF course, 1'm not sure
that she VIII, but you have given me
great deal of hope"
Good gracious 1 felt myself growing
scarlet. Aunt Annette What q vain
little fool had been; and then he said
the words that put an end to all my con-
ceit in moment.
~ shall be the best uncle In the world,
Lottie," he went on, al your aunt will
have me; Tor you really are the incest lit
tie thing, and bid fair to be as handsome
and elegant as she 10 by the time you are
her age"
Tho door-bell rang at that moment.
How glad was TO hear 1t and to say,
"Ilere comes auuty; you'd better talk TO
her." and to get out OF the room.
The worst OF all Is that bad written
to the girls, and was wicked enough to
hope Ahe would refuse him, but she did
not.
They are married, aud he makes a very
nice uncle indeed.
And, really, don't mind It at all now,
for think Ed Raymond is much hand
somer than the destor, and hs has asked
me If he can speak TO pa.
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