The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-03-05
New York city. so what's the use of pre-


eending?"
The impotence in the young mans
tone amazed his aunt almost as much
as the sentiment he uttered. Never be-
fore had he failed to show her respect.
On the contrary, the humbleness of his
demeanor had been a grievance to her;
1t did not become one of her own blood
to manifest the same awe before her
that am ordinary Ninth warder did.
The old lady Strengthened in her
chair, the lines about her mouth stiff
fened and her eyes glistened like her
knocker as she answered:
"Percy Deanl You forget to whom
you are speaking. You forget yourself,
sir, and your good breeding is evident
ly suffering from the associations you
permit yourself"
Percy was frightened. The last time
he had been rebuked in this temper
by his aunt was when he was boy
He meant no offense.
81 beg your pardon, Aunt Martha"
he murmured.
Mrs. Leveen took her knitting from
the table and worked busily at it till
she was quite calm. She looked up after
every few thrusts of her needle, indig-
nantly at first, then coldly, and finally
the habitual expression of kindness re-
turned to her face.
81 dare say you are in a hurry to
60 to town, Percy, and shall not de-
tain you much longer. You may tell
me something about this young-this
girl. How old Is she?"
"She is going on 10, Aunt Martha"
els she cultivated, educated? Come,
Percy, tell me all about her"
"She went through the grammar
school, I think, but she had to work
after that? So she can't play the piano
or sing, but she is a nice girl and can
tend the house and cook, now that her
mother is dead"
''That's right; she ought to be able
to manage her husbands household.
But tell me more about her. Is her
voice soft, are her manners gentle, is
she modest? Describe her to me, my
dear. Is she pretty?"
Percy was encouraged by the few
words of approval he had won.
"Aunt, she's beaut', that's"
what do you say, whatP"
81 mean she's beauty. She's got
blue eyes and blond hair and the incest
biggest, reddest cheeks. She amt what
you would call quiet; she's more lively.
like. You ought to hear her laugh
xuba~, x.,oSra doxzr ~, tho d0nLa piOhta
with the rest of the crowd. I'll bet you
could hear her across the river in Ho.
boken. And jolly? If she gets q mug
as Is too fresh she can jolly him along
to beat the band. But she's on the level,
too. She does the square thing by her
old man every clip. The housework
has to be done before she's in for the
game. And she slaves for her little sis
tiers and brothersjust slaves for them,
and yet she does 1t as willing. But then
she's good to everybody; always ready
to help out with work when neigh.
bors are behind or sick or have com.
pauy, and she sticks up for horses and
cats and all like that. You wouldn't be.
lieve she was that way. though, to see
her at a ball or dancing on excursion
boats up the river. She's good locker
and good dresser, and when she's out
in full rig-well, say, she's sight. The
other fellows don't do nothing whep
we're out"
Percy stopped short. Mrs. Leveen
had risen suddenly, and she stood erect
before him, tall and white and proud.
"Why, Aunt Martial" he exclaimed
'That's enough. Percy. Thank you
I see have been wrong, all wrong, in
this matter from the first. You shall
have your way, for it is right. l con-
sent"
"Oh, Aunt Martial" he cried, spring.
ing up and seizing her hand to kiss. Il
{ am so glad. But 1 knew you would
after hearing about her And say, aunt
you ought to see her once. You couldn't
help but like her and admire her
Everybody in the ward does. Why. do
you know what they call her, the men
down at the Grapevine? The way you
looked then made me think of it. They
call her the Pride of Greenwich Vii.
lage."-N. Y. Post.