Marble Hill press., 1896-07-30
cha ,ondared a second or two longer.

then rose hurrledly, eXtlngulSnInS tne
little candle that stood in shining
brass candle-stick on the mantel, lis
tened q moment to the unbroken mo-
notony of Uncle Peters snores, and
muffling a shawl round her head, with
drew the bolt of the kitchen door, and
crept out into the starless gloom of
the November night!
1t was but a short distance, under
the leafess branches of the gnarled |
old apple tree and into the turnpike |
road. Aunt Miriam felt little con-
seience-stricken as she lifted the |
wicket Of Squire BrownelPs gate, and |
stole noiselessly up the chrysanthemum
bordered walk; she couldn't help won
dering what Elder Oliver would say ii
he were to become aware that she, the
sagest old lady in his congregation,
were prowling about like thief in the
night.
cts all for James sake" said the
venerable dame, under her breath, as
she pushed aside the great sweetbrlar
that hung over the panes, and peepeo
slyly into the window.
Mrs. Brownell sat in big armchair
by the fire, her feet swathed in flannel;
the squire was smoking his pipe over
three-days-old newspaper, and be-
fore a pine table, at the end OF the
room, stood a rosy-cheeked girl, OF
perhaps seventeen, the sleeves or her
crimson merino dress rolled up above
pair of exquisitely-dimple elbows,
and her hands buried in wooden tray
of flour-engaged in fact, in the opera
ton which housekeepers call setting
: a sponge" So much at home did she
seem in the culinary art that Aunt
Miriam said to herself, very decidedly:
: "This can't be the city visitor;
, wonder where she is?" when her
doubts were all dispelled by Mrs
Brownell's voice:
r "Milllcent, wish you'd write out the
recipe for that cake you made for tea
) i don't see where you learned to be
| so handy about the houae?"
"Why, grandmammn!' said the
. young lady, gaily, "you seem to forget
i that my mother was educated under
: your eye. She does nat believe that
French and music are everything that
e a girl needs to learn. Now do put
t those stockings down-Pll see that
they are duly mended by and BY.
q Aunt Miriam turned away from the
d window more bewildered than ever
le but with a very satisfied feeling stir
Le ring under the heap of prejudices thai
y had filled her kind old heart. If this
t were the much-talked of Mllllcent
things might not be so very bad aftel
Id all. And Milly worked at her sponge
e, the merry smiles dimpling over ne
n face. like sunshine on bed of roses
TX utterly unconscious Of the audience
be zone" who was now contemplating
retreat.
ne But the adventures of the night Wer
A. not yet at close AS Aunt Mlrtar
is groped her way toward the path, Ia
u menting the pitchy darkness OF tn
is night, and the cracking of the crls
ed leaves as her not very elastic foe
shufied through them, every pulse /
SO her frame came to a sudden pause
1T, terror, as pair of muscular arms Wer
N, thrown around her, and moustach
ou came in contact with her cheek! sue
OF a kiss-Aunt Miriam couldn't remen
ne ber it's like since the days when Pete
I'D Fenner eourted the beauty of the vi
lage. In vain she struggled breathles
go ly to escape-Whoever the 1ndlVidu'
sh might be. he didn't do things
m. halves, and evidently had no dispos
ny tion to relinquish his prize
7. eMy darling little Milly! how d
as you know | was coming to-night?
Then came another kiss, before Aul
Miriam could exclaim, in stified q
cents:
James Arnett, are you crazy? !
let go Of me. and behave like sens
BILE creature"
The arms unclasped with electI
i speed.
h "Aunt Miriaml how on earth
r Hush! don't speak above 20
Ibreath! There now-if you're going
laugh like that, you'll raise the towr
I'll can't help It, Aunt Miriam
gasped James, climbing to the 81
post and vainly trying to check {
gusts of laughter that would con
4. ssWhat will Uncle Peter say? "
sV would have expected to find Mrs. r.
81 ner. vice President Of the Dorcas
ciety?'
James, hold your tongue, II
don't want me to box your ears. 4
re- if YOU breathe word Of this to
! = = living soul
> .tWell | won't. Aunty-l VIC