The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-11-14
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THE GOLDEN GOOSE.

A facetious niece had bestowed the So
briquet upon her, but it was long time
before Aunt Picnic found it out When
she did, she smiled, not without touch OF
bitterness, however, and made sudden
though not very strange resolution, which
she kept with great frmIess for such an
amiable old lady.
The family to which Mrs. Phemie Mae
farlane was aunt consisted of five persons
nephew, Henry; three nieces, Mary
Jane and Kate-all Macfarlanes-an an
adopted niece, by name Jessie Lambert
Aunt Phemie was fond of them all, but
somewhat to the modification of her blood
relations, she seemed to care most for Jes-
sic, the adopted niece, who was not II blood
relation.
Aunt Phemie was warm-hearted, gen.
erou., simple old lady, very affectionate
and unsuspecting; and [ don't think she
even knew herself that she cared more for
her adopted niece than for her real ones.
The fact is, Jessie loved the old lady very
dearly, and quite unconsciously the old
lady loved her in return, and loved her
better than she loved her own relatives,
for a similar reason-because Jessie loved
her best. But if Aunt Phemie was not
aware of the state of her own feelings,
Mary and Jane and Kate Macfarlane un-
derstood them too well, and they made
Jessie feel that they understood them, too,
and that is why the poor girl sometimes
appeared with wet and swollen eyes, and
seemed wretched and confused when Aunt
Phemie questioned her as to the cause
only she never acknowledged it. No, she
was too genuinely attached to her bene-
factress to complain of bitter taunts and
cruel innuendoes bestowed on her when
out of her hearing; and determined to
bear the undeserved notifications and hui
miliations put upon her rather than wound
the heart of the dear old lady who loved
them all and was too simple-minded and
affectionate herself to suspect envy, rancoI
and iealously in the minds of others.
But her patience was often severely
tried, and gradually the thought forced it
self into her mind that it might be neces
sary for her to look about for another
home-some employment she meant, when
she debated the matter with herself, by
which she could earn enough money to
pay her frugal way in the world. But al
unsought another home presented itself tC
her, and very earnestly besought her ac
ceptance.
In house full of pretty girls-and al
of Aunt Phemie's nieces, Jessie included
were pretty-of course the magnetic powel
Of GOOD looks is shown in the number o.
young people of the opposite sex that come
| TO the house, and it was pretty well under
stood by their friends and neighbors gen
orally that "the Macfarlane girls had plen
ty of beaux.''
Among these beaux some were eligible
and some were not, for the position OF
partners for life; and one of the lot, Clar-
ence Cook, a young physician of large prac.
tice, and also of Independent income out
side of his profession, was decidedly the
favored one of Kate, the beauty of the
family, who was allowed in all such matters
being the beauty, to have first choice
more especially as the gentleman admira-
ton seemed to have settled the point any
way. So from the first DIR. Cook-ol
Clare as he soon came to be called-was
regarded as Katies property exclusively
The fair Kate accepted the position at
once. and only waited to be asked in form
to accept his hand and handsome fortune.
Strange to say, DIR. Cook did not seem to
be in a hurry; and although Kate may
have wondered secretly at his deliberation,
she never for a moment doubted his ulti-
mate decision. Imagine, then, her con-
sternation-for that was her first feeling
and then her rage at discovering that Jes-
sic and not herself, was the object of his
choice. Once or twice such an idea had
forced itself into her mind, but she had
ALWAYS dismissed it as something too abb
surd to be seriously entertained but at
last the appalling fact was past doubling
and the overwhelming proof stared her In
the face-"impudently stared her out OF
countenance, as she said afterwards, in
describing the scene.
1t happened in Aunt Phemie'i front
narlor. and in this way The parlor-maid
had lust told Miss Kate that DR.. Cook
had called, and had INDUCED in the quiet
smile permitted to a priviledged servant as
her Young mistress danced out of the room
and down stairs to meet her suitor. Bound
ing into the room, trilling love-song at
the full pitch Of her clear voice, she came to
full stop with suddenness that literally
took her breath away, and appropriately