Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1890-08-28
we'll now to to any lady who can her.


self play part?"
Josie clasped her hands in delight, and
Toms classic countenance was illumined
with smile which displayed the whole
of an irreproachable set of teeth.
sob, if you would And we will all
help you. And how fortunate that no.
body here knows you. And oh, VIII It
blessing it will be to everybody! And
what fun" Josie excitedly exclaimed.
"But remember, young people, there
must be no tibbing."
Certainly not, Aunt Maria! The
plain, unvarnished truth is all that we
shall need"
"Hist." said Tom, tragically. "She
comes"
Obeying signal from Josie, Mayhem
disappeared into the house.
The widow came up the steps, all
smiles, bangs and fluttering ribbons.
81 have left Mr.. Walden at the gate
talking to Doctor James, she simpered.
"We have been criticising the appearance
of the house, and | suggested that this
| old-fashioned porch and the gabled roof
be removed, and Grecian portico and
mansard substituted. Don't you agree
that it would be great Improvement
Mrs. Bascomb flushed, and an angry
tNPiy ""o Oh iiOi lipos puO SlCShOu
herself.
& 1 think it would" said Tom gravely.
ESPECIALLY if there's Gothic bow-win-
dow, and a tower or Chinese pagoda or
something on the roof to afford a better
view. Won't it, Joe?"
cit will make little difference to me-"
replied his sister, "as 1 don't expect to
live here always
''Indeed?" said the widow, with inter-
est, delighted at the idea of getting rid
of Mr.. Vaden's favOrite niece. May |
presume that there is another person con-
cerned, Miss Josephine?'
''I-really haven't quite made up my
mind" she replied, looking down and
trying to blush.
"4 QUILL have to, pretty soon," blurted
out Tom. "What is he here for, I'd like
to know, if it isn't to persuade somebody
to say yes?"
Mrs. Bascomb caught his sde-glance
and WINGED little, while the widow in
quired:
"What. is he in Covington?"
''Came today" said Tom, chewing
straw. " When Josie was at Aunt Ma
ria's last winter, he was a constant visi-
tor, and everybody could see how things
stood. l knew that he would turn up
here some time"
''For shame, Tom" said Josie, gig
ling. "Mr. Mayhew's a very nice gentle
man, but it isn't at all certain that |
shall ever marry him. People might say
| was marrying for money, and that
would make me feel real mean"
The widow glanced sharply at her, but
she did not raise her eyes from the
flowers.
$50 this beau of your sisters is rich?"
she inquired.
Judge Fellows, who introduced him to
Aunt Maria, telling her about him, and
the Judge is a man whose word is to be
relied on. He said the gentleman had
just come into possession of an immense
fortune-a cotton plantation on the Mis-
sissippi worth million of dollars, and
valuable real estate in Spain, besides
owning an interest in the great gold
mines Of-what was the name, Aunt
Maria?''
sBubbleazoo!" replied Mrs Bascomb,
coughing behind her fan.
1t was with difficulty that she and Jo-
sephine could suppress a smile, for Tom
was relating what had actually occurred
in the play of ''The Creole Lover
Uncle Joseph resumed Tom, "thinks
himself very well off; but what is his
property compared to Mr.. Mayhew's:
And you ought to see his diamond soil
taire ring and studs. Why, if he were
presented at court in them, they'd make
Queen Victoria stare
" Oh. nonsense, Tom" said Josie.
"You exaggerate everything. Mr.. May
hew never makes a vulgar display of his
diamonds, and to see what polite unas-
Stunning young man he is, no one would
imagine him to be so rich"
Next evening Mrs. Chamberlin was in
trOduced to Mr.. Mayhem, who appeared
in the diamond ring and studs mentioned
by Tom.
He was evidently impressed with the
lively and coquettish widow, and as she
was very gracious, their acquaintance
thenceforth progressed rapidly.
Josie began to look little sullen, and
when Mrs. Chamberlin paid her usual
daily visits to the house, she found her.
self, as she thought, not very cordially
received by the girls.
She artfully teased Josie about ''her
beau" and inquired when the wedding
was to be, while exerting herself to the
utmost to take advantage of Mr.. May
hew's admiration of herself.
She had the advantage of being at the
same hotel with him, and there were
tete-a-tetes and saunterings and drives
in which she sometimes encountered Mr..
Vaden's family, and even the old gentle
man himself.
At first she appeared slightly EN-
barrassed, but after awhile assumed al
, air of Indifference and cool confidence.
For whole week she did not come
near the Walden house, and when al
length she did appear, she and Josie haG
some words together
GAS an engaged woman" Josie said
= sit does strike me that you are goot
: deal with Mr.. Mayhem"
! Engaged people," the widow an
) swered, flushing, g and also people who
were never quite engaged, sometimes
change their minds. Perhaps | hav,
changed mine; and it may be that you
friend, Mr.. Mayhem, has changed his"
7 "What do you mean?" said Josie eX
| citedly.
IL mean that | was unfortunately mis-
taken in SuDpOSinp that | loved vour nm