The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-30
A LUCKY MISTAKE.


a nnla tree which shaded the back yard.
A quantity attractive place was the Leavitt
farmhouse. Thrifty prosperity, neatness
and plenty were indicated on every hand.
The front yard, clover-coyered and orna-
mentcd with beds Of Old-fashiOned flowers
bachelors button, sweet peas, peoples,
marigolds and sweetbrier. The vegetable
garden, hardly less attractive, with its rows
of red-leaved beets. twining beans and yell
low blossomcd squash vines, all formed an
air of coun try peace and happiness.
Aunt Nabby mad nearly finished sheillhS
the peas when a shadow fell across the
porch and CHEEKY Good morning, MIS-.
IeayittI" aroused the good woman from the
deep reyerie into which she had fallen.
"Why. good morning, Mr.. MantOn. Going
to town. .,a
stop here ana see what you wanted to send
to town for. lie said you'd been waltln' Tor
a chance to send for some groceries:
We'll, YES, so l be. Eve got a lot of the
things written down." producing paper,
land while you're in town, will you 60 to
the Postollice aud get our mail? We've had
such a time lately. Them Leavtts over to
Elton have got two or three letters of ours.
Joshua Leavitts folks and Ephraim Leay-
tits family live there, you know
You've heard of them, | s'pose. It's pro-
vokin' 'nOugh to have folks that amt no kin
to you havin' the same name that you have;
specially when they're so dreadful shlItess
or no count as them Leavltts be: However,
l dun know as it can be helped"
"Weli, yes, I've heerd of Josh Leayitt's
folks. They amt no great account. that's
fact. The woman folks are shiftless house
keepers, an the men terrible drunken set.
But l must be goin' along" and Farmer
Manton departed.
Three letters that's more than we
usually GET" was Aunt Nabby's eXclama-
ton, as about o'clock Mr.. Manton re-
turned and handed her the letters and
packages
Pm much obliged to you for bringing
the groceries and letters, Tor when lady
lives thirteen miles from town it's quite
an accommodation to be able to send. Most
of tie folks round don't so to town often
this time of year, they're too lazy"
well, I'm a hauIin' some Of my last
wears wheat crop 10 market, 50 | shall
be goin' every day for a week or so. \ gu
can send by me any time you want t"
As her neighbor departed, Aunt Nabby
prepared to read her letters. The contents
of one especially seemed to possess more
than ordinary Interest, Judging by the
number Of times size read and reread the
epistle.
There's letter from your brother Johns
daughter come this afternoon" she re-
marked to her husband, rs with their stall
wart son they sat at the pleasant tea-tabe,
flied with the good cheer for which the
farmhouse was famous.
John an his wife have both been took
off kinder sudden TO Dakoty to look after
some land, an she says she's comm 10 stay
with us while they're gone; that IS if we
are willin'," she said.
For NV part shall be wonderfully glad
tn s..,-,T~,.n,s .deurl+ III. OF comm here.
for we havn't had but two letters in eighteen
years, an | thought likely we'd never hear
from him again. She's Is, she says"
fumblng in her pockets for the letter in vain.
u wonder where put that letter? l laid
it on the window-sili once. Could the wind
have blowed it away?
well, it's lucky | read it. She be in
town day after tomorrow"
There was the usual crowd in the waiting
room as Uncle Ephraim peered anxiously
around in search of his niece. IL wonder
which one it's ?" he thought
Il don't see anybody here that reminds
me Of a Leavitt. HOwsOmever, 1t wont do
no harm 10 ask if she's here"
"Mr. John Leayirfs daughter here?'
A girl in gray travelling suit arose and
walked toward lin.
ION, you're my uncle, aren't yon? I'm so
glad" nswered sweet voice. I'm Milly
Leavitt."
Mr.. Leavitt gazed al his niece in astonlsh-
ment She was of pronounced and stri6-
ing type of beauty. Dark brown, almost
black curling hair, large eyes, shaded by
long lashes; a wi,d-r0se complexion and
ruby lips, with voice low, gentle and re-
fined. No wonder her uncle was surprised,
for "she don't look like No LeaYitt that
ever | saw" was his thought.
"How glad l shall be to see auntie? Have
l not some cousins, too?" she asked, as
seated beside Uncle Ephraim in the spring
wagon they journeyed homeWard.
. you've only your cousin Jason at home.
My other two boys are married and livln'
out West. Your Aunt Nabby will be Won
derful glad to see you, for she gets lone
soinc alone in the house all day by herself.
I'm glad you've come though | never 5us-
when ] saw you in the station. You don't
look a particle like your pa"
mo, almost every one tells me j resem-
BILE my mother. 1ou remember how she
looks, uncle"
Yes, though can't see no signs of her
looks in you" and vision of Johns wife,
haId-featuTed and angular, was before him.
But he said no more, and they soon aighted
at the farmhouse door, where Aunt Nabby
was waiting with affectionate welcome.
"One of the pretriest and the best girls
that ever saw Always clipper as bird
an al, a sight OF company to me don't know
now we lived without her." Aunt Nabby re-
marked OF her niece after she had been at
the farmhouse week.
The whole family shared her opinion her
husband expressed his approval. but Jason
seemed absorbed so deeply in the columns
OF the country paper that he did not reply.
SIX weeks passed very RAPIDLY indeed IL
seemed to Mllly and Jason, both of whom
had been learning the old yet ever new les
son Of love.
There were daily walks, long converse
items In tue quiet summer evenings, and
a. 4 tl..at .us.. "a
yet no words OF love were spoken by Jason
He longed to ask the question which would
make Milly his own, but with lovers fear,
hesitated.
One day rap at the door was answered by
Milly. A gaunt, Manufactured man, bear
ing in his bleared eyes and bloated face I'M
mistabable signs OF victim OF intemper-
ance. was outside, and. when he saw her,
he said:
You're John Leavitt's daughter. I'd
know you by your looks, though l hain't
seen him for years.
Yes, SIR" said Milly, trembling In spite
Of herself
We'll, I'm your Uncle Eph. Igot a letter
irom my brother nskin' how ye WAS, and
sayin they'd concluded 10 stay longer in
Dakoly than they expected. / rather guess
you mads a mistake In the place, not having
seen any Of US ever. My wife didn't want
you % come at first, but said at last you
fi,p S,u would help Win the NOrk
,t.ist, an l calculate that JOhn'li pay some
ie s.ss ~, 10. he never was stlngy VI shift
IL li.e lash the truth came to Aunt Nabby
"nf bp 1Ia.Nsu much for which they could
a. tho ,.,- ipis account. A feeling Of pity
aoi tse trembling gil arose in her heart aud
= ae,,eiminat.on that sAe should nat be
hsr,,,lassa ny going 10 the shIftless home Of
II seems there has been ,,is,,l-e hp,
we we canhnt part with Milly w., mn, l..t
~ IN, ssay WIN as. We viii Nri,s 10 her
,,iMsL LIN Just as well pleas.a :, sh,,s
Win wouldn't be none to, , ! sie
over 70 our house, j reckon" AM is "a Il.
stowea naiaiy parting glance ON H. no ', pe,
as he ieli the farmhouse. ~ niece
Unnoteed by the Leayitts. MARI
room, and alter kall-honr's ssar't ,ei. We
discovered her sitting under tbe ~ Jason
the garden, weeping as If her bss,t MI, N
break. "e"i' "ould
rs that dreadful family. tbe shisuo..
Leayitts, Of whom ! have heard The ,.l,o,i,
bors speak, really related 10 MOI o he,sn-
been so happy ith you all, and now ! nav nav,
found out that Uncle Ephraim sgg nave
Nabby are not really my aunt and nncis az
Ut