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

BY BESSIE NAY TOBiN.
And to think! I really hated the
Idea Of going. When Aunt Caroline s
letter came inviting me, mamma
thought It would be rude II I did not
accept the invitation. as she ex-
pressed O sincere desire to see me.
But, for my part, had always heard
It was the dullest place in Christen.
dom; and II IL hadn't been that
mamma really insisted, l don't think
would have budged in that direc.
ton, Aunt Curoline's displeasure
Notwithstanding.
But went finally.
II was q queer little village. The
houses, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 80
low, I mean, near to the ground, as
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 It; and which was in
every point its counterpart and fac.
smile. The two houses were exactly
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 pretty
lawn in front.
Aunt Caroline received me cordially
enough; but took to Aunt Jean at
once. I never did truly love Aust
Caroline. She was so tall and forbid.
ding. Nobody knew her age, but !
supposed it to be long way into 80.
She was 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 as
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 as somewhat singular
that all the windows and blinds or
the side Of the house next its twir
sister were invariably drawn in OF
pulled down; and neither my aunts
nor any Of the servants ever men
toned the ncxt-door neighbor, OF
seemed to be in any way conscious
that there was house on the othcl
side OF the brick wall.
That there We're inmates to 1t
knew, for had seen people on the
piazzas and In the garden, notably ,
. very good-looking young man.
One day boldly put the question
to my aunts as to the name and con.
dition OF our neighbors; but l was
silenced SO peremptorily and unsatis
factorily by Aunt Caroline, and saw
such painful expression come to IN,
Aunt Jeans face that l dared no
press the subject further, yet deter
mined to get ut the bottom Of tn
mystery, for 1t was 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
when one day took u book and wen
down into the orchard to read. wa
thrown upon my own resources TO
entertainment, outside my two aunts
society. ! really enjoyed chattin
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
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 Il back to it,
climbed upon the wall and, dellt
iously ensconced in the "shadi
nooke," ! gave myself up to tn
luxury Of an Interesting story.
1t wasn't very romantic thing I
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 m
hand, and Of course on the wrong sid
of the wall. ] woke with start
first, to bless heaven that had nc
gone over myself, and then to cor
} clude that it was most distressin
piece of i'll luck that my book shoul
be over in the enemy's yard and n
means at hand by which to get
. back. At this juncture | had tn
breath taken out of me by-a ston
that came crashing through I'll
branches within six inches OF m
head. I scrambled to my knees ,
; best I could in kind Of dazed fasl
ion, to see the good-looking your
man not twenty yards away, stan'
ing stockstill and covered with rol
fusion. 1t truly isn't usual lh,r
in polite society for young gensl
man to throw stones at young lad.
At first he was tongue-tied; then ]
hurried on to beg thousand pardon
] ed IN nvploip that ho had nnlv sae