Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-02-04
A SURPRISE.

Evening had closed darby round the
little brown farm house In the hollow.
There was no sound without, save the
branches of the huge sycamore trce
chatting against the mods-enamclcd roof
Withiu the red bricks OF the hearth
had been swept until they shone as II
carved in coral and the many tongues of
flame danced and cracked among the
gigantic logs like a band Of clhu aprites.
Aunt Miriam Fcnners brick knitting
needles shoue and glanced In the fire.
light as she sat there looking almost
Us prctty-so Uncle Peter Thought she
used 10 look in the daya when be came
spanking.
Nobody would have suspected Uncle
Peter OF any such romantic meditauons
as he sat there sorting ont seed corn aud
packages of blue beans on Tile round
table, and labelling them with portcntious
elaboration.
There was third person sitting Ia
the red hearth glow, however, II young
man Of about "a years of age, who
amused himself by tantallzing Aunt Mir-
ANS gray kitten with the good old lady's
ball OF yarn
80 you've really made up your mind
DO get married, Jamesy' said che old
lady.
YES, Aunt Miriam; 1t isn't good for
a man TO be alone, y0u know"
There was silence again.
Aunt Miriam, ! wish you could see
Miliccnt." said the young man ~ length,
II can't say as | have any desire 80
see your city young ladice, James said
Aun. Miriam, coldly; they're too fine
..tA
But, nunty I'm sure y0n would like
her. Come now, be- reasonable, and go
over TO Squire Brownolls with mo 10.
night. She is sponlng a week at her
graudfather'a and she would be ~ much
gratIhed TO see you.
THANK you; ] amt curious on the
subject" responded Aunt Miriam, prlm.
~. only i heered that Mis- Brownell
had q bad stroke Of rheumatic, and /
don't zee how she gots nlOng to wait
on her ncw-fangled grandfather"
81 can't understand WHY you are ~
prciudiced against poor Ailiceut Aunt
Miriam" said the young man, unonslly.
~ won't diaguIsc from you that Y makes
mo very unhappy TO think Of marrying
without the approval of one who has
been mother TO me, and yot-"
And yet you're determined so 20 your
own gait, James. Well, / s'pose you can
do without my consent; youI never get
Il, anyhow"
And sho poked the 6rc vigorously. as
the old clock began TO strike.
Seven o'clock" calculated James.
starting up, and / promised 90 be at the
postoillco by this time"
And with a gay, parting nod TO Ills
aunt. no disappeared.
"1hero be goes no good boy as ev-
or lived" said Uncle Peter; but ] guess
afore the evenln' comes 20 an end, he'll
contrye TO get round 10 Squire Brown
ellis. Miriam. You may as VOL say yes
to marry the gal"
Il wish we'd mover sent him to col
lego IN New York" sighed MIRA. Fen
ner, "then he would moi have come
across this city sweetheart"
'eThen hold ha' come across somebody
else, 10 It's rs broad as ne long re-
marked Uncle Peter ophicnlly.
"Yca, but II might have been q smart
stirring girl who know how TO keep
Uncle Peter whistled and turned once
more TO The contemplation OF u his melon
seeds and corn kcrnels
Nine Os9,rk; the fire covered with n
mound Of Nown ashes; the cricket chirp-
ing droNtiiy, and Uncle Peter snoring
melodoufy from an inner room, stlll
Mrs. Fenner sat there mechanically ply
ing her kAitting needles, deaf and dumb
and blinf 70 everything but nor OVID
II wonier." she began, ana then stop
ned. AFTER al. she mentally resumed
The next minute. There can't be any
harm IN Il n / Just slip on my hood aud
shawl and 20 through the orchard patch
across 10 Squire Brownelie. Not that
ia 70 in-not Bit Of "; but ia merely
take peep in az tho keepin' room win
dow AZ i went past | would like 10
eee what sort Of a face y is that has
bewltched lanes 40 completely"
She Wondered moment or two Longer,
then rose hurrielly, listened moment
10 The unbroFen monptony Of Uncle Pc
ter's SHORES, and muiiiing a shawl around
Nor head erfpt out into the starless gloom
OF The November night
II vas q short distance under the leaf
less branches Of the gnhdrd old apple
treeu and into the turnpike road, Aunt
Miriam feli a little conscience stricken
"a ehe lifted the wicket Of Squire Brown
sii's gate and stole nOiselessly up the
cbrveanihemum bordered walk.
aIt'e m for james sake taid the
venerable dame under her breath, ~ she
frt1bed aside the vines that hung over
the panes and perped slyiJ into the win
dow
NV the IRE. the squire was Emoliug hia
rine over an OLD newspaper, md before
Z nina table. e the other end Of the room.
sfood a r0ty-chreked Eiri Of perhaps IL
years Of age. the sleeves Of her dress
rolled w above a pair Of e1qgNitely
dirppled elbows and hands buried IN a
wec,Ien tray Of -four. 80 much at home
did ahs seem in the culinary art that