The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-04-05

Hudson belied the tone, and its express
sion spoke as plainly as speech, 1T is
selling her at so much a poundw
"Reprehensible!' criticised Miss Fay.
"Scampering over hills and climbing
fences is highly improper upon your
wedding day"
"How do you know, auntie, dear?
You never had one"
Mr.. Standish turned quickly. Fair
launch into the deep waters of life, and
storm was marking on Miss Fay's facial
barometer.
"Bennie, my child" he began, "you
are-um-m-perfectly happy? You don't ,
mind
Becoming the old mans darling and
marrying my grandfather" she finished
for him in reckless, defiant rush of words.
sob, dear, no! Why should l? He's
nice enough, as old gentlemen go, and
you all know don't care"-she stopped
suddenly, bending her head to gather
the fallen fowers-'l think don't care
for any one else. And then Tab always
reminds me that he's so rich, and that
married folks must have money"
"Absurdity!" broke in Miss Tabitha.
"You do not comprehend the awful So
lemnity of this sacrament! You do not
know what marriage means!"
"Do your Bennie's head went pertly
to one side, but her eyes twinkled with
anything but the merriment responsive
| p,,t I la
dear old Tab. Marriage means new
card plates, loves of bonnets, opera boxes,
rounds of visits and unlimited credit at
Stewards! There! Don't know
Miss Fay's thin lips closed ominously,
but only emitted the words:
Poor motherless niece"
"Poor, husbandless aunt" Bonnie
initiated tone and expression with much
humor and some bitterness. Miss Fay
raised hands and eyebrows in fierce re-
proach, but before she could speak the
girl whrled around and seized her in an
embrace from which her thin limbs nor
fast rising ire could release her.
Now confess, you dear old Tab, that
those are your sentiments! Eh!"
son! that horrid Paris!' gasped the
somewhat Modified but still struggling
, spinster.
Don't preach, that's dear" respond
ed her niece, loosing the clasp of the
| rounded arms. Don't preach, for my
, respected husband will probably do that
for the rest of my natural lifev'
Miss Tabitha still shifted wrathfully.
con! that Paris!' she repeated. Fin
, ish a girl, indeed! 1t finishes all the
propriety and all the heart out of herr
I Bonnie stood still, her arms dropped
at her side; the blue eyes dancing NJ
q longer, but fixed vaguely on the distan
, foot hills She seemed to answer som
= inward thoughts rather than the spin
ster's words; but her own were borne OF
: a deep sigh.
4 maybe you are right, auntie. Some
4 times l believe | have no heart; and
know myself less than ever today. Wha
| am YOU have made me. am only
g result; a something manufactured be
V tween tutors and dressmakers. What
l. am may be sad fact even a serious e.
l. now. and the error is not mine, but thu
d of our false society system!"
Miss Tabitha found no words to al
y swer, for the girls voice trelnbled, spi
l. of the bitter words it bore, and tea
T. that did not fall brimmed full the sof
d ened eyes. Reaching up she sudden
70 pressed her lips to the spinsters for
ID head as she added:
re- Don't think | blame you, dear o
to Tab. You meant all for my good; al
ID now it has all come for the best to yo,
a thinking And if l ever find have
ID heart you shall have a place in tine
er to his!" And, throwing her arms aroul
her fathers neck, Bonnie hid her ia
o. on his shoulder moment. Then S
s., ran to the table again and bent bust
n over the flowers; but the young face W
h. bright no longer with sunshine of t
ne heart A quick cloud rose over t
ly brow; but no human eye saw the tie
st that trembled an instant on the 10
n lash ere it glistened like a diamond
of the fresh rose leaf.
CIV Did that crystal drop blot out t
ed girls implied falsehood as did the T
nd cording Angel my Uncle Toby's oath?
he Miss Fay's amazement did not perm
ad her even to smooth the silvery bands
girls caress had rumpled.
re- Good gracious!" she exclaimed. 81
re- child actually thinks"
os- There was suspicion of huskiness, !
it'll unwonted asperity, in Mr.. Stands
Ia undertoned response:
Oh. "Sister Tabitha, you never did und
ing stand Bennie!'
aw "Nonsense, Brother Standish!'
Miss Tabitha was herself again.
be- foot was on its native heath Of argume
Ist- and her voice was for war, if not 81
as, But suddenly its key changed, as
Mt frou-frou of skirts was heard on
ize gravel walk outside; and a splendid t.
lad of the New York girl confronted
lar Standish at the window
len "Why, Edith dear, you are alone!
ms. concluded, with as near approach t
ded coo as Miss Fay's dignity and conforl
fall ton could permit.
ing "Quite; since my cavalier, the t
ua- graph boy from the village, handed
left this and fled for dear life," the girl
had swered, in a rich, mellow contralto, v
caress in its tone, as she extended
une dingy brown envelope.
for "A telegram? Bless me!-um-
tile Nothing wrong, hope?" Mr.. Stan'
NH muttered, not taking the message,
IF a fumbling anxiously for spectacles
The sundry pockets.
and "Assuredly not" the girl answ