Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-01
CUNT JEaH's RODlgNcE.
BY BESSIE MAY TOBIN.


letter came inviting me, mamma
thought it would be rude il l did not
accept the invitation, as she ex-
pressed sincere desire to see me.
But, for my part, had always heard
1t was the dullest place in Christen-
| dom; and il it hadn't been that
mamma really insisted, ! don't think
/ would have budged in that direc-
ton, Aunt Caroline's displeasure
Notwithstanding.
But / went finally.
1t was queer little village. The
houses, Acknowledgements so
low, l 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 it's counterpart and fac
smile. The two houses were exactly
alike, and with only brick wall
dividing them.
| Even the vines and roses on the
front porch were alike, as il 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. / never did truly love Aust
Caroline. She was so tall and forbid
ding. Nobody knew her age, but l
supposed it to be long way into so.
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.
1t struck me as somewhat singular
that all the windows and blinds on
the side of the house next it's twin
sister were invariably drawn in OF
pulled down; and neither my aunts
nor any of the servants ever men.
toned the next-door neighbor, OF
seemed to be in any way conscious
that there was q house on the other
side of the brick wall.
That there were inmates to it
knew, for / had seen people on the
piazzas and in the garden, notably a
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 l was
silenced SO peremptorily and unsatis-
factorily by Aunt Caroline, and saw
such painful expression come to my
Aunt jeans face that / dared not
press the subject further, yet deter.
mined to get at the bottom of the
mystery, for it was a mystery, by
some means Of my own making.
| / disliked to question the servants,
feeling a delicacy in so doing, but
bided my time until something should
turn up to unfold the secret.
/ had been there about three weeks
when one day l took book and went
down into the orchard to read. was
thrown upon my own resources fol
entertainment, outside my two aunts
society. really enjoyed chatting
with Aunt Jean-for, thus far, l ha6
met none of the young people Of the
village, which thought was rather
strange.
The truth was-I found out later
that my Aunt Caroline's sharp tongue
had made her unpopular; and Aunt
Jean was so sad and timid that II
was very seldom anybody ever came
to the house,
Well, this particular morning
took book into the orchard, and
finding very "shadie uooke" where {
huge old elm tree stood right w
against the wall, making very
pleasant seat with back to it,
climbed upon the wall, and, delic
iously ensconced in the "shadit
nooke," / gave myself up to the
luxury of an interesting story.
1t wasn't very romantic thing tc
do, il a natural one, but after hal
hour or so / got drowsy and fell ASLEEP
against the old elm tree, and pres
emily my book tumbled out of my
hand, and of course on the wrong side
of the wall. / woke with start
first, to bless heaven that / had not
gone over myself, and then to con
clude that it was a most distressing
piece of i'll luck that my book should
be over in the enemy's yard and nj
means at hand by which to get Il
back. At this juncture had the
breath taken out of me by stone
that came crashing through thu
branches within six inches of my
head. / scrambled to my knees a,
best I could in kind of dazed fash
ion, to see the good-looking yount
man not twenty yards away, stand
ing stockstill and covered with con
fusion. 1t truly isn't o usual thin,
in polite society for young gentle
man to throw stones at ayoung lady
Al first he was tongue-tied; then HI
hurried on to beg thousand pardon
Il l. "a. L. 4. L. II