The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-09

well oil, but she spent her time principally
visiting around and living upon those
people who were so unfortunate as TO have
her acquaintance. Whenever there was
a serious neighborhood or family quarrel
or scandal Widow Budget was pretty
sure to force her way into It sooner or later
and make matters worse. She was one Of
those people who had TO have a scrimmage
about once in so often.
On this occasion she felt specially au-
thorized to dictate, for ner last husband
was the brother of Auntv Davies. and on
account of that relationship and the gems
orally received impression which thG
widow had been careful to spread by tho
means of sly hints that Ira was TO be her
heir, it had been her custom to domineer
over aunty and make her house a place
OF convenience, appearing there wlthOut
notice or invitation 10 meals, to stay over
night, or a week, as il suited her.
In her heart she despised "AltherY" az
4 weak, soft creature who "woulun't say
boo! to goose" and therefore she fairly
boiled over with wrath, really not so
much on account of the child, but be.
cause auntv would not obey her express
wishes and follow her advice
Mrs. Budget prided herself on one vir-
tue. III she had an opinion on any subiect
iect). she boosted that she spoke il right
out and above board" Well. she did and
il made no difference whether il was any
of her business or not; and then there is a
long distance between trying 10 enforce
unasked-fOr and brutally given advice,
and frankly expressing ones opinion and
letting II drop at that. So, as aunty
showed no signs OF yielding, she became
more and more excited, until finally she
shouted that "Altherv wuz q fool, an
them as upheld her was idjtsi" And
then she swept or rather waddled out OF
the house in perspiration of anger, de-
claring that none OF her money should 90
to the offspring of fools cor them as up
held sin an corruption
She'll come out Of it ali right again,
aunty," said one of the lady's adherents,
when she cools off and has no other place
to 60 to-"
The squire now had the particulars Of
the case explained to him, and was shown
the note from Dora.
This seems to be an honest letter." he
said, examining it judicially. land doesn't
prove that the child is of-of 'er doubtful
parentage, by any means, or that the
mother intends TO abandon t for good.
You will likely hear from the person in
few days. Keep the child as long as il is
i'll, if YOU so desire, and | will see that the
town remunerates YOU" This opinion
and consent, delivered in his most judicial
manner, from so eminent a man as the
squire, was soothing to aunty and cheered
her very much.
Gas to the Widow Budget" continued
the SQUIRE, rubbing his spectacles slowly
with a silk handkerchief, II fail to see
why she should dictate TO you in matters
purely pertaining to your own personal
domestic affairs"
In mis- most important cases he never
delivered a decision or pronounced a sem
tence with more dignity, and Aunty felt
as though the case had been tried in court
aud that the law had authorized her to do
as she pleased. 1t was great comfort to
be so fortified.
And then. as the rest of the company
had departed, Mr.. Warren asked for Ira,
but the lad was invisible. Sothe father Of
Laura spoke OF the boys bravery on the
dav before in the most complimentary
manner and expressed his thanks and APP
probation of the deed in the most precise
and elegant terms. He said that Laura
was doing as we'll as could be expected,
and in conclusion wanted to know if the
boy would not be pleased with a gun
or some other present of the Find.
For" said he, "Mrs. Davies. my family,
nv ancestors know what it is TO be cour-
aReous and to do ones duty. | can there
fore appreciate an action of this kind and
wish to acknowledge it in some manner.
The girls say, Laura says. and l myself be-
lieve that your grandson IS TO be COM
mended for a most noble performance OF
duty. A remembrance of the event is
most fitting. Your grandson has aroused
my interest"
Aunty, poor soul, was rather
confused with recent events.
She had heard nothing about
Ira's fight with bull. but that was beau
tiful and very kind speech that the
squire had made all about her boy, and
she was very happy indeed that ne had
pleased the gentleman. She a little rather
the boy didn't have q gun. He wanted
one, TO be sure, and il the squire thought
it was all right and proper ana safe. aud
really wanted to give him one, why she
shouldn't object-that is, if he would be
careful with it.
The babe was making herself heard in
the next room, so the squire looked in,
and thought it was very pretty child, as
indeed did everyone else who saw it. and
then departed in graciously polite man
ner with the sincere conviction that he
had handsomely reciprocated handsome
action-or would when he had given the
boy gun. The squire detested being in
debt to any one on any account, especially
to poor people, and people who were not
exactly Americans-that Is, at least, who
were not Yankees. This was a matter Of
principle with him, and as aunty's hus-
band had been born in Wales. and Ira's
mother was a German girl, he walked
directly to store and had them order a
nice shotgun to be sent up from the city
at once to Ira Davies.
While the events just described were
taking place Stubby was seated IN his
favOrite attitude of thought on the low
stone wall that ran back of the garden OF
his crandmother's place, or rather of the
place which she rented. His elbows were
on his knews and his cheeks were clenched
tightly in his hands. crowding the flesh up
into bulges under each eye. He bad seen
the Widow Budget 60 into the house
and on all possible occasions he avoided
meeting Aunt Budget.
'It'll be Jest like 'er TO stay n dinner,
an want me 10 play dominOes all the aft
ernoon. I'd ruther 90 to schOoln do that.
Wonder if she's got over her mad YETI"
and then ne smiled. He smiled because
the last time Aunt Budget came Nancy
( had inadvertently moved the short, low
sofa upon which the widow used to in
variably seat herself. and in the gathering
twilight, the widows eyesight not being
very good, she sat down in her accustomed
place. the place where the sofa ought 10