The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-06-18

che wrong way and rouses my temper.
Come, aunty," throwing her arms around
her deck and drawing her to lounge,
.scome, coax, pet and talk nice to me.
Tell me how good / am and everything
sweet. y / need it badly, for that old
bear has done nothing but scold and find
fault with me. He thinks himself SO
fearfulIy superior and me simply silly,
ignorant, pert miss. Obi how hate
him ever since he made me take that
nasty medicine when / was sick. No
Que else ever forced me to do anything
against my will"
..But dearie," interposed the aunt
mildly, she did tfor your good TO save
your 1ife."
s.Pshawl Save ny lifel Most likely
he tried to poison me. must have a
splendid constitution to stand the nause-
Gus doses he poured down my throat. /
don't believe in medicine. Nature
would work her own cures much more
quickly
EDNA" said the lady, more gravely
than was her wont, ''it pains me to hear
you speak so OF the doctor. / know no
man more truly honorable, intelligent
and ambitious. He stands high in his
profession, has written several valuable
medical works, aud though comparative
~ young, has won an enviable name and
fortune"
Comparatively young" said the still
unappeased girl; che is double my age"
'sBut you are only eighteen, and even
double that does not make him very
aged. Though he may occasionally
chide, still he is very fond Of you, and |
know desires nothing better than to
make you his wife,"
..He does the .unladylike tomboy' far
too much honor to even dream of such a
thing, but aforesaid toniboy declines his
generous offer with thanks responded
Edna with satrical humility.
.'oh, aunty," she continued, her voice
softening and nesting closer to her, 81
think | love Alphonso and he wildly
adores me. Just think of those lovely
luminous eyes of his and that darling
curling mustache. He is really irresisti-
ble."
"But can barely support himself, not
to mention wife, said her aunt, look
ing anything but pleased.
~ prefer love with crust in cot
tage tn gilded misery" cried the roman
tic girl, grandly indifferent to the luxu-
rles which she had never lacked.
Excellent in theory" my child, !"
said the other, "but very unple asant in
practice, and the love that you count so
much on, how do you know that it is
genuine2 Have you any proof that it is
aught but protestationa"
.'Oh, aunty," exclaimed tho girl,
drawing back, really hurt, "can you
doubt him, and am / not attractive
enough to win his love2'
Eyes, my sweet child, you are worthy
of the love of the best man living, but
l am somewhat of physiognomist, and
do not feel the enthusiastic confidence
in your cavalier that could admire.
You are known, dear, as my heiress, aud
fear that Alphonso is attracted by the
golden bait"
.'You are cruel, unjust, unkind, !"
sobbcd the girl; s'he worships me. ]
am sure no mercenary thought ever en-
tered his head. You ought to hear the
beautiful poetical way he talks to me. f"
Put him to the test, Edna, and If he
proves true, then l will be the first to
interest myself in his advancement. u
'How shall do ita" questioned the
girl. 81 will follow your advice, but
for my own part will not wrong him
by the shadow of doubt"
Her aunt thought moment, then
said:
| 81 do not like to teach you to tell a
falsehood, but in this case think the
end justiies the means. do not want
him to know you will be rich, so this
evening, if he calls, you might, in the
course OF conversation, casually remark
that have made will bequeathing my
entire fortune to several charitable insti-
tutions, but that. in case of your mar
rage, / will provide trousseau-
nothing more"
agreed" said Elna, and left the
room.
That evening the mellow light from
the chandelier filled tine richly furnished
room and fell on the pretty, girlish from
of Edna seated at the piano, singing in
her sweet, bird-like voice, s'In the
Cleaning"
At her side stood handsome, stylishly-
dressed youth who gazed at her in a rapt,
ecstatic way and turned her music with
an air deferential in the extreme. At
the close of the ballad she turned to him
and said carelessly:
"Did l ever tell you about auntie's
queer willl"
"No-I think not" said he, pretend
ing 10 hesitate, but the quick CLEAN of
interest that leaped to his eyes be!ied his
tone. .- M
'tShe is leaving all her money to some
charitable institutions l think it is very
good of her. don't youl"
Much as Edna tried to blind herself,
she could not fail to see that his face had
heightened considerably, and it was in