The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-10-17

lady and the bonnet that was shipped to
pieces and the blame laid on rats. It's a
very smart, ingenious plan, l don't
doubt; but somehow it don't suit me to
have such very smart, ingenious folks
about my premises. So, if you please,
I'll dispense with the rest of your visit.
The horse and wagon are at the door, and
little Peter will drive you to the depot as
o as ever you've packed your trunk"
"But, Aunt Bliven, 1 never
II told you I'd have no more false
hoods" sterply interrupted the old lady.
81 don't know what sort of consciences
you girls have, in this age of the world.
Be silent, 1 say, and obey me"
And thus, in all the bitterness of un-
merited disgrace, Leona was turned out
of the house that was beginning to be
~unspeakably dear to her.
James Bliven, when he came home,
was thunderstruck.
Mother, for heavens sake" cried he,
"what is this? The girl has no place to
go to-"
"Let her go back to the boarding
school she came FROM" said Mrs. Bliven,
sternly. tsIn have no double dealers in
this housed"
''T1l go after her and bring her back"
you'll do as you please" said the old
woman; "but il Leona's the girl I take
her to be, she won't come with you"
A sudden wave of despair swept over
James soul as he recognized the truth of
these words.
Mother" he cried, you'll forgive
herl You'll send for her to return-for
my sake, mother?"
But Mrs. Bliven shook her head.
"No girl that isn't frank hearted and
true can have a home herep' she reiter-
ated.
Yet, in spite of all this, the house
seemed strangely desolate without Leo
mas light step and winning smile.
Late at night there was a loud knock
ing at the door. 1t was Myra Manton,
come back.
''Things is all right" said she. "They
was frightened more than they was hurt.
Absalom Atkins always was a coward,
and I amt goin' to spend any more O.
my time foolin' with 'em, SO I've come
back. Was you surprised when you
seen Waggy was gone?-The dog" in an
swer to Mrs. Bliven's puzzled look, shat
Cappen jackson left in my charge.
When / seen the mischief he'd done, /
jest ketched him up and left him to cap
pens sisters, Mary Ann jackson, at the
cross roads, and afterwards it occurred
to me you might miss him and worry
for fear he was lost"
~ never ono thought of the dog"
said Mrs. Bliven, impatiently.
"And the bonnet?" said Myra. ''rm
powerfully sorry, butt
"The bonnet" said Mrs. Bliven.
"What do you mean, Myraf What are
you talking about"
"You don't tell me you never diskiv-
cred it?' cried Myra. bursting into a
laugh. "Well, I do declared Who did
you s'pose done it9'
"Done what?'
"Why, worried hat ere Leghorn hat
O. your'n into ribbonsi 1t was Waggy,
that's who it wasl Pups is always mis-
chievous, and / think he's the worst l
ever seen. / meant to told Deacon Ship
mans boy, that helped me tote my sat
chel to the daypo, to explain it t ye, but
we was pretty nigh bein' left, and the
furry and huster driv it all outen my
head"
Mrs. Bliven stared at Myra.
"It was the dog, after all, thenf' said
she.
"La me, who else did ye suspect"
cried Myra. where's Leona? 1 fetched
home some o. them puce colored poppy
seeds and a slipo' rose geranium for her,
cause I knowed-Goodness, what's the
matter with you, eh? What are you
looking at me that way for?"
BY the very earliest morning train
James Bliven went after Leona, with a
letter from his mother imploring her to
return to the farm.
"Im an old woman" wrote Mrs.
Bliven, s'but / amt too old to own when
I've been in the wrong. Come back, and
I'll guarantee you and me won't have
any more quarrels."
Leona came back, and when once
again she crossed the threshold she was
James promised wife.
'Mother will be pleased at the engage
ment as / am myself" said the young
man, rapturously.
And Myra's kind eyes shone a cordial
welcome, and Mrs. Bliven herself came
to meet Leona, wearing the simple straw
bonnet with the jet dagger and the black
ribbon bows.
"It's dreadful becoming" said she,
with a complacent glance at the looking
glass, aand hereafter I mean to get you
to trim all my hats for me, Leona."
The Atlantic Association.
Counsellor James NJ. Braden, of this
CITY is the hoss of the Atlantic Assonia-