The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-04-24

before, and this demand threw him into
a violent perspiration. He could not in
vent, and he was plainly racking his
brains to find some portion Of the tale
which would bear repetition when there
was another knock at the door.
AT this Washington was perfectly
dumb with horror. He prepared himself
blankly for another aunt with fresh
relay of female cousins or more old fam
lily servants who had washed him in his
infancy, and he sat there covering.
But when the door opened tall, fair
haired, good looking young fellow, who
from his costume had evidently just
come up from the tennis court, came
bursting in impulsively.
''Oh, say" he began, "have you
heard-have you seen? Oh, beg pardon,
didn't see, you mowl" he added as he
noticed the extraordinary fact that
Washington had people up.
''Oh, let me introduce you," said
Washington, with a vague idea that
this was the proper thing to do 'Mr.
Washington, Mrs. no, don't know her
The young man, who had just been
about to retire, bowed and stared with
a sudden surprise. do you know" he
said slowly to the other, 81 rather think
that's my aunt"
Tim afraid not, whispered
Washington. "She seems quite sure
she's mine.
"Wel, I've got an aunt and cousins
I've never seen before coming up to-
day, said the newcomer, land yours is
uncommonly like the portrait of mine. +"
IF they belong to you, do take them
awayp' said Flushington feebly. II
don t think can keep up much longer. "
"What are you whispering about,
Fred?" cried the aunt. lis it something
we are not to know"
HE says he thinks there's been q
mistake, and you re not my aunt, ex-
planned Washington.
"Oh, does hep" she said, drawing her
self up Indignantly. "And what does he
know about it didn't catch his name
who is her"
Fred Washington, " he said; THAT'S
my name"
"And who are you if he's Fred Lush
ington?'' she inquired, turning upon the
unfortunate owner Of the rooms.
''I'm Frederick Washington, he
stammered. I'm sorry, but can't help
itr'
'"Then you're not my nephew at all,
sirr cried the aunt.
THANK you very much, said Flush
ington gratefully.
You see, her real nephew was ex-
planning to her. there isn't much light
On the staircase, and you must have
thought his name over the door was F.
Washington, SO in you went, you know
The porter told me you'd been asking
for me, SO looked in here to see wheth-
er anything had been heard Of you, and
here you are. F"
"But why didn't he tell me?'' she
said, for she was naturally annoyed to
find that she had been pouring out her
pent up affection over a perfect stran-
ger, and she even had dim idea that she
had put herself in rather ridiculous
position, which of course made her feel
very angry with Washington. why
couldn't he explain before matters had
gone SO far2'
How was to known" pleaded Flush
ington. II dare say have aunts in
Australia, and you said you were one of
them. l thought very likely you knew
best. -
''But you asked after Uncle SamuelP'
she said accusingly. You must have
had some Object cannot say what
in encouraging my mistake. Oh, I'm
sure of itp'
"You told me to ask after him, and
did, +" said the unhappy Washington. 81
thought it was all right What else was
l to dor"
The cousins were whispering and
laughing together all this time and re-
garding their new cousin with shy adj
miration, very different from the man
ner in which they had looked at poor
Washington, and the old nurse, too,
was overjoyed at the exchange and de-
clared that she felt sure from the first
that her master Frederick had not turned
out SO understood as him, meaning
Flushington.
Eyes, yes, :" said Lushington hastily,
"quite a mistake ON both sides. Quite
sure Washington isn't the man to &c
and intercept any fellows aunt F"
81 wouldn't have done it for worlds
if had knownp' he protested very sin
cerely.
"Well," she said little Modified,
"I'm very sorry we've all disturbed you
like this, Mr-Mr. Flushington"-t
unlucly man said something about not
minding it now-'and now, Fred, my
boy, perhaps you will show us the way
to the right rooms?"
Come along then'' said he. "I'n
run down and tell them to send up
some lunch"-they did not explain that
they had lunched already you come
too, Flushington, and then after lunch
you and / will row the ladies up to By
ron's pool. F"
Eyes, do come, Mr.. Washington, .
the ladies said kindly, "just to show
you forgive us"
But Flushington wriggled out Of it.
To begin with, he did not consider he
knew his neighbor sufficiently well, as
they had only had nodding acquain-
lance before, and besides he Fad had
enough of female society for one day.
Indeed long after that he would be
careful in fastening his door about lunch
con time, and if he saw any person in
Cambridge who looked as if she might
by any possibility turn out to be rela-
ton he would flee down back street
F Anstev in Belprayia.