News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-06-12

hOtlChiS hi0 ISASIesLLtse1 10 Hlolllt, IL ny
your Aunt Frances You mean Mrs.
Grey?"
What possible difference could that
make to him2 Minnie wondered; and
she made him no reply. But here, as
before, TOMS perfect Inconsistencies
came to the front.
''You bet" he said, with more en-
phasis than elegance ''Mrs. Grey is
my mother, an if yer have got any
thin to say 'gainst her, let me know.
WOt do yer want ter know fer9 Minis
on her dignity just now, but l tell yer
she's as curious as the rest o. us ter
know what yer want ter know fer
The stranger laughed.
II wonder if | was such terror when
was boy" he said "But if you're
really so anxious to know, I'll tell you.
| have come up here to spend the sum
mer, and have letters of introduction to
Mrs. Frances Grey. Can you tell me if
| will be welcomed And where does
she live?"
Sat home, of course, said Tom, i'm
politely. CAS- ter bein' welcome, can't
say. Yer see we're expectin' feller on
here ter see Min, an she mightn't like
ter have yer round Gals is funny
things, yer know"
''And boys are worse" said the
stranger with another laugh.
Here Minnie interposed. She would
not let her own personal feelings stand
in the way of politeness
eff you wish to see Mrs. Grey" she
said, you can come with us now. We
are going home, and you will then have
no difficulty in finding it"
''Thank you" was the reply; II will
accept your kind invitation"
''It is no invitation at all, Minnie
said, not wishing him to think she was
relenting II merely thought if you
were going it would save trouble for
you to go with us now"
'"Thank you, nevertheless" said the
other understanding her meaning ard
thinking none the less of her for it. II
think your town is very pretty, and ex-
pect to enjoy every moment of my stay
here After the city it is so refreshing
y
any len;sth Of tiE&c- particularly in the
summer, Miss Grey?"
There was a chance for more fun,
and Tom, like a regular war horse,
smelled the battle from afar. Not
muscle of Minne's face moved as she
made reply
Il have been to the city sometimes,
she said, but the country suits me
well enough"
Min amt special particular" said
Tom with a mischievous grin on his
sunburned face. And Minnie knew
that he would keep up the deceit as
long as she wished
''Well, don't wonder" said the gen
tleman; country life suits me best,
too. | sometimes think l will live here
myself
''You might not enjoy it as much as
you think if you had to live here" said
Minnie, wickedly 1--WE often find it
dull"
''Yes, and yet somehow we city peo-
pie don't give our country cousins hall
credit for what they are"
In what particular" queried Min
ME, demurely.
Why, SO many of them are so well
educated and really fine people. But
| then they do have more time and are
not so cramped.
''And did you think" asked Minnie,
as Indignantly as though she had lived
all her life in country town and re-
sented any possible slur upon the life,
that country folks are not as good in
every way as city people2 For my part
| think them much better in every way
There are so many wicked people in the
cities. ."
The other laughed. I'VE are a wicked
set, !" he said but we're not half SO bad
as were painted. There are so many
crowded into small space and so many,
good and bad together, one scarcely
dares to judge any. In the country it
is different You need not associate
with such people. You are given a
chance to find out what person is and
need not accept them as friends unless
you wish. The life is broader and deep
er. You don't know how envy you. "
He talked well; Minnie rather liked
nfm in spite of the unpleasantness of
their meeting.
When they reached the house Aunt
Frances gave the stranger the welcome
she accorded every one from her warm,
motherly heart. She acknowledged
that she liked him; more than that she
would not say. She was a wise woman,
was Aurt Frances.
''But I'd like ter tell yer" said Tom,
going with him to the gate, ''that Minis
got another feller a-comin' ter see her.
and marin mightn't like anyone else ter
come. D. yer understand|
And the newcomer smiled to himself,
and acknowledged that he understood
perfectly.
Minnie" Aunt Frances was saying,
"while you were out l had letter
from Fred, which says that he cannot
be with us today, and it depends much
upon circumstances whether he comes
at all this summer. l am sorry, dear,
but feel quite sure he would not defer
'AiS 'A9i" Pun pO0Cly. IOh Wv iiOO iAi~1i
| know, otherwise | would regret ii
much more than l do"
Minnie laughed gayly. 'Wel, you
needn't mind it at all, auntie. l rather
think we all can live through the sum
mer without his lordship"
II know how you feel, dear" Aunt
Frances said, with tender glance al
her niece. perhaps if were girl
would resent much that my life ha!
shown me is best as it is
"And you see how impossible it is fol
me to love this man whom l have nevel
seen, don't you, Auntiep'
"An' O course Min don't mind, sale
Tom, thrusting his head in at the doc
ut this inopportune moment. 'Sh'
made out at first that she didn't lik'
that chap, but know beans when / sea
'em."