The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-05-10
- n en- islsis lssIun75Yf ,zsaid
J. sRleken n,

for pretty Lesbia was cook, chamber
maid, waitress and all in that particu-
lar establishment. 81 had a letter
from Aunt Nabby Wildwood, yester-
day, about that dictionary. She
wants it. She's coming to-day to see
about it,
but promise it to me-" said Mrs.
Wildwood, coaxingly. Dear Cousin
Lesbia, Mr.. Wildwood is so anxious to
obtain it for his collection of antique
publications.
"Oh, it isn't old enough to be be of
value us antiquen' said Lesbia, who
was honest enough"
But he has set his heart on it,"
pursued Mrs. Wildwood, growing
more earnest, as she heard the rattle
of wheels in the distance, and beheld
through the tiny-paned window a de-
pot wagon, bringing to the scene no
other than Aunt Nabby herself. do
let me have it Lesbia!"
And she placed the twenty-dollar
bill, coaxingly, in Lesbia's hand.
But l shall be cheating you," said
l.esbia, looking at the bill in amaze
ment. do let Inc see Aunt Nabby
about it firstn'
No, no.'' said Mrs. Wildwood, as
| out, in high disputation with the dri.
yer as to whether Il coin she had given
| him in payment was genuine or not
Give it to HE now. And here is my
sealskin cape; you were just admiring
it. I'll make you Il present of it Les
bia-a wedding gift, dear"
You are very kind" said Lesbia,
with IL radiant face. And if you
really care for the dictionary"
And so it came to pass that the die
| tionary was safe in Mrs. Matthew
Wellwood's possession, when Aunt
| Nabby hustled in, full of the iniqui-
ties of drivers, the Inconvenience of
| travelling, and the threatening twinges
of her annual rheumatism.
What" she cried, as her eye
caught sight of the fat volume in her
niece's lap, you've gothic dictionary,
after all. But of course you'll let me
have it, Sarah ANN
Certainly shall mott" said Mrs.
| Wildwood, exultantly. Mr. Well
wood has set his heart on possessing
| it.n
"And I've just sold it to her." add
ed Lesbia, as she assisted Aunt Nab
by to unite her bonnet strings
The old lady heavcd deep sigh.
Wal, it don't matter so much
said she The main thing was to
find the dictionary. And if you'll
! Just let me copy out the recipe fol
making waffies, Sarah Ann, that S
pinned on the page W-first of the
WIS, you'll see-it'll be jest as good as
if had it myself"
THE recipe for waffies!" cried Mrs.
Wildwood. WAS that all you wanted
of it?"
THAT was ALL said Aunt Nabby
briskly. "Samuers wife, she was Il
dreadful good hand at waffies, and she
never would give nobody the recipe.
But knew where she kept it, and
was always tryin' to get at it. And il
you'll just let me copy it out"
Mrs. Wildwood grew pale. The
ceiling of the little, old-fashioned room
seemed to swim around her.
Was this the end of the dictionary
mystery? Had she entertained the
Grubb family for ten mortal days,
had her piano broken, her china
cracked, her nerves shattered for this
Had she paid twenty dollars, IL seal
skin cape and her travelling expenses
to Poke Hollow all for IL recipe fol
waffies.
The buzz of conversation went on
all the same, and Mrs. Wildwood re.
covered at her leisure. She returned
to New York that afternoon, carrying
the old dictionary, although Lesbia
endeavored to induce her to remain
by the promise of waffies for tea, made
after Aunt Hannah's famous recipe.
And when Mr.. Wildwood discover
ed that there were no thousand dollar
bonds, nor hundred dollar bank-notes
hidden in the dictionary-nothing but
definitions, inkblots, and one or two
cooking recipes pinned to the pages,
he INDUCED in eXecration more deep
than loud.
Its all that meddling old cats
faultr' said he, referring, doubtless
to Aunt Nabby. "And I'll never have
her in the house again"