Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-03-10
CUNT JEan's RoJ|aMCE.
BY BESSIE NAY TOB1N.

BY BESSIE NAY ToBIN.
And to think! really hated the
Idea Of going. When Aunt CarOline's
letter came inviting me, mamma
thought 1t would be rude II did not
accept the invitation, as she ex-
pressed q sincere desire to see me.
But, for my part, I had always heard
It was the dullest place in Christen.
dom; and II IL hadn't been that
mamma really insisted, I don't think
would have budged in that direc.
ton, Aunt Caroline's displeasure
Notwithstanding.
But went finally.
II was queer little village. The
houses, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 30
low, mean, near to the ground, rs
II all were young, but might grow
taller in time.
Aunt Caroline's house was the
largest In town, except one that was
next door to t.; and which was in
every point its counterpart and fac.
simile. The two houses were :actly
alike, and with only u brick wall
dividing them.
Even the vines and roses on the
front porch were alike, as II each had
been planned in exact similitude OF
the other.
Both houses were In the suburbs
Of the village, and both had u pretty
lawn in front.
Aunt Caroline received me cordially
enough; but I took to Aunt Jean ut
once. I never did truly love Aust
Caroline. She was so tall and forbid
ding. Nobody knew her age, but l
supposed 1t to be long way into 80.
She was a typical old maid. Aunt
Jean, on the contrary, was all that Is
sweet and lovable. Rather short and
plump, sweet and fair, with dimples
In her cheeks, and the daintiest little
plump white hands.
There was nothing so sweet rs
Aunt Jeans face, and nothing so sad.
Yes; Aunt Jean was an old maid,
too, but she didn't look It.; for she
was certainly the gentlest, sweetest
creature In the world.
It struck me rs somewhat singular
that all the windows and blinds on
the side OF the house next its twin
sister were invariably drawn In or
pulled down; and neither my aunts
nor any OF the servants ever men,
toned the next.door neighbor, or
seemed to be In any way conscious
that there was house on the other
side OF the brick wall.
That there were inmates to II ]
knew, for had seen people on the
piazzas and In the garden, notably
. very good-looking young man.
One day l boldly put the question
to my aunts as to the name and con-
dition OF our neighbors; but ! was
silenced SO peremptorily and unsatis'
factorily by Aunt Caroline, and saw
! such a painful expression come to my
Aunt jeans face that l dared not
, press the subject further, yet deter
mined to get ut the bottom OF thu
mystery, for 1t was a mystery, b,
some means OF my own making.
] disliked to question the servants
feeling delicacy In SO doing, bu
bided my time until something shoul'
turn up to unfold the secret.
, had been there about three weeks
| Wucu Ouc y tooh u pooN uAu WNh
> down into the orchard to read. ] wa
= thrown upon my own resources 70
entertainment, outside my two aunts
society. ! really enjoyed chatting
with Aunt Jean-for, thus far, ! ha
met none OF the young people OF tn
village, which ! thought was rathe
, strange.
The truth was-I found out later
that my Aunt Caroline's sharp tongu
had made her unpopular; and Aun
!, Jean was so sad and timid that
was very seldom anybody ever cam
D to the house,
. Well, this particular morning
took a book into the orchard, an
finding very 'shadie nooke" where
huge old elm tree stood right u
against the wall, making yer
pleasant seat with back to 1t,
climbed upon the wall, and, deli'
iously ensconced in the ''shadl
nooke," / gave myself up to til
!. luxury OF an interesting story.
y 1t wasn't very romantic thing
do, II a natural one, but after ha
hour or SO ! got drowsy and fell aslee
- against the old elm tree, and pre-
emily my book tumbled out OF IN
hand, and OF course on the wrong sic
OF the wall. ! woke with start
first, to bless heaven that had NJ
gone over myself, and then to col
n clude that 1t was most distressir
- piece OF i'll luck that my book shOul
be over in the enemy's yard and !
means at hand by which to get
II back. At this juncture ! had ii
. breath taken out of me by stol
- that came crashing through ii
O branches within six inches OF n
head. / scrambled to my knees
s. best could in a kind of dazed fas
ion, to see the good-looking your
man not twenty yards away, stsn
ing stockstill and covered with 70
fusion. 1t truly isn't usual thu
In polite society for young gen.l
n man to throw stones at young lad
'" At first he was tongue-tied; then
hurried on to beg thousand pardo