Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09
THE OBNOXIOUS AUNT.

AldIldu, 5dIu IllSS AlICt OOlNICuy IL
an awful voice, "your daughter has de-
ceived your
Mrs. Jorden gave a neryous start,
and glanced up enquiringly. Her
sister-in-law stood upon the threshold,
regarding her with eyes of fell intent,
an open letter in her uplifted right
hand.
Miss Alice was seven-and-twenty,
rather pretty, and with the look of a
lady.
She was not a favorite with her dead
brothers children. Tom and Archie
called her in private 1.-The old cat, " and
their sister Leta-a beautiful brown
eyed girl of sweet sixteen-stood in
considerable awe of this aunt, who per-
sisted in tyrannising over her, and max
ing her life a positive burden.
Leta never complained of her aunt's
injustice, though the boys were less re-
ticent, and openly declared that 'Aunt
Alice was Jealous of Leta because Mr..
Merle liked her the best"
Horace Merle was a young man of
eight-and-twenty, handsome, talented,
and rich.
Miss Alice did not mean such a good
chance to slip from her fingers through
"a chit of thing like Leta, and it was
with wrath in her heart, and battle
fires in her steel-blue eyes, that she
made her appearance in the sitting
room on this particular afternoon.
What have you there, Alice?' ex-
claimed Mrs. Jorden.
"Ask Leta," returned Miss Alice fix
ing her pretty niece with her stony
glare. Let her answer if she can!'
''Alice!n cried Mrs. Jorden in alarm.
ooh, what is the matter, Leta dear?
What does your aunt meanPn
The girl had flushed like June rose,
then grown very white; her beautiful
eyes were full of tears.
At that moment Mr.. Merle appeared
at the door, his glance taking in the
scene with grave wonder.
That is my letter, aunt; give it to
me, please" said Leta, with a woman
illness which enraged Miss Alice still
Il know it is yours, you wicked girlr'
she cried. ''Leta, L wonder you do not
sink into the earth"
Leta burst into tears. Mrs. Jorder
was scarcely less agitated.
Mr.. Merle stepped forward and said;
4 will bid you good-day, Mrs. Jor.
den. Had | known this to be a tribuna,
of Justice | should not have intruded, y
with a look of rare tenderness at Leta.
Miss Alice turned f~iercely upon him.
She knew it was useless to keep up APP.
pearanceS before him, but she had de.
termined her niece's humiliation should
be complete.
81 must beg you to watt she said.
Il have reason to believe this letter
was written to you. In fact, l know il
was"
In that case, you had better give il
to me, Miss Alice, y he replied, with q
bow.
i consider it your duty, if you are 8
man with any pretenSions to honor, tC
tell her natural guardians if this wicked
creature has been in the habit of writing
letters to your
Il shall be glad to answer any ques
tions Mrs. Jorden may feel inclined t.
ask" said he, turning to Leta's mother
Miss Alice shook with rage.
Listen to this!n she cried vindic
lively.
Aunt, auntrn moaned Leta. Mother
don't let her read itl''
You must answer me. Miss Alice,
said Horace Merle gravely. You in
sist OF my remaining, but | will not aiC
you in torturing Leta by listening to
letter she does not wish read. You sa,
ii is written to me. If | cannot have
it. it should be given to her mother
Certainly you have no right to read it.
Yes. give me the letter, Alice,
pleaded Mrs. Jorden.
Il do not admit your right to inter
fere between me and my duty to m,
dead brothers child" said Miss Alice
%furiously. ''And you have not an
swered my question"
ANY that Mrs. Jorden asks I shall
be glad to answer" he retorted.
'Oh, Mr.. Merle, | don't believe Let;
ever wrote to youP" sobbed the littl,
widow.
.'She never did in her life he re
piled; Though if she had, l fail to Sc,
what harm Miss Alice could find there
in
''What harm!'' shrieked Miss Alice.
And she read aloud the followin.
lines:
Il walked an hour yesterday in tn,
grove, but you did not come. All
cruel, cruel! Then l murmured wit
the poet:
Each trial has its weight. which whose bear:
Knows his own woe,
/ never felt the force of those mournfu
lines as | did when l repeated them an,
turned homeward sick with hope de
ferred."
Mother, don't let her." interrupted
Leta.
''Oh, you did not write that to Mr.
Merlein moaned her mother.
At this crisis, Archie, who had beer
in waiting the next room, burst in, ex
claiming:
..Leta, why don't you tell! Iwouldn'
stand it's
No, nor she cried frantically
don't Archie, don't!n
But l will!n he declared. Mother
Aunt Alice ought to be ashamed of her
self. | tell you what, we'll all rul
away if you don't put a stop to he
meanness."
Archie, Archie!" groaned Mrs. Jo1
don, while Miss Alice stood speeches
with wrath.
Don't, Archie!" pleaded Leta.
Il will he said o%bstinately
sMother, l know what that letter is
Leta BEGAN it this morning. We dres