Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-01-23
THB OBNOXIOUS AUNT

Marian, said Miss Alice Jorden, in
an awful voice, your daughter has de-
ceived you'll
Mrs. Jorden gave a nervous start,
and glanced up enquiringly. Her
law stood upon the threshold,
her with eyes of full intent,
and an open letter in her upllfted
right haud.
Miss Alice was seven and twenty,
rather pretty, and with the look of a
lady.
She was not a favorite with her
dead brothers childen. Tom and
Archie called her in private the old
cat and their sister Leta-a beauti-
full brown-eyed girl of sweet sixteen
stood in considerable awe of this aunt
who persisted in tyrannising over her,
and making her life positive bur.
den. ...
Leta never complained of her aunt's
injustice, though the boys were les:
reticent, and openly declared thai
Aunt Alice was jealous of Leta be-
cause Mr.. Merle liked her the best
Horace Merle was young man o.
eight-and twenty, handsome, talented
and rich.
Miss Alice did not mean such ,
good chace to slip from her fingers
through "a chit of thing like Leta
and it was with wrath in her heart
and battle-fires ID her STEEL blue eyes,
that she made her appearance in tn
sitting-room on this particular after
noon.
What have you there, Allce?' ex
claimed Mrs. Jorden.
ASK Leta, returned Miss Alice fix
ing her pretty neice with her stony
glare. Let her answer if she can!'
'Alice!' cried Mrs. Jorden in alarm
oh, what is the matter, Leta dear;
What does your aunt mean?
The girl had flushed like Jun'
rose, then grown very white; he
beautiful eyes were full of tears.
At that moment Mr.. Merle appeared
at the door, his glance taking in th'
scene with grave wonder.
That is my letter, aunt; give it t.
me, please said Leta, with a woman
illness which enraged Miss Alice still
more.
4 know it is yours, you WICKED
girl!' she Grid. tLeta, I wonder 20,
do not sink into the earth
Leta burst into tears. Mrs. Jor
den was scarcely less sgitated.
Mr.. Merle stepped forward and
said:
Il will bid you good day, Mrs. Jor.
den. Had I known this to be a tri
bunal of justice I should not have in
truded, , with look of rare tenderness
at Leta.
Miss Alice turned fiercely upol
him. She knew il was useless to kee,
up appearances before him, but sh
had determined her niece's humilla
tion should be complete.
i must beg you to wait, she said
Il have reason to believe this lette
was written to you. In fact, [ know
it was
In that case, you had better give j
to me, Miss Alice, he replied, with
bow.
4 consider it your duty, if you are
man with any pretensions to honor, t
tell her natural guardians if this wick
ed creature has been in the habit o
writing letters to you'll
4 shall be glad to answer any ques
tions Mrs. Jorden may feel inclined t.
ask said he, turning to Leta's moth
er.
Miss Alice shook with rage.
Listen to this!' she cried vin6ic
lively.
Aunt, auntr moaned Leta. Moth
er, don't let her read it,
you must answer me Miss Alice,
said Horace Merle gravely. You in
sist on my remaining, but will nc
aid you in torturing Leta by lstenln
to a letter she does not wish reaG
Yo say it is written to me. II I can
not have it, it should be given to he
mother. Certainly you have no rlgh
to read it,
Yes, give me the letter, Alice
pleaded Mrs. Jorden.
4 do not admit your right to intel
| fere oct xeen me and ny duty to m