The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-04-23

immigrants began to settle around us
But what's the difference, Aunt
Martha? It's all one now There amt
no Greenwich any more. It's all just
New York city, so what's the use of pre-
tending?"
The impatience 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:
it did not become one of her own blood
to manifest the same awe before her
that an ordinary Ninth warder did.
The old lady Strengthened in her
chair; the lines about her mouth stiff
fened and her eyes giistened like her
knocl<er as she answered:
Percy Dean! You forget to whom
you are speaking. You forget yourself,
sir, and your good breeding is evident
Iy 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.
Il beg your pardon, Aunt Martha"
he murmured.
Mrs. Leveen took her knitting from
the table and worked busily at il til
she was quite calm. She looked up after
every few thrustS of her needle. indig
nantly at first, then coldlr, and finally
the habitual expression of kindness re-
turned to her face.
II dare say you are in a hurry to
go to town, Percy, and I 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"
"Is 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 sar. a what?''
Il mean she's Z beauty. She's got
blue eyes and blond hair and the incest,
biggest, reddest checks. She amt what
you would call quiet; she's more lively
like You ought to hear her laugh
when we're down on the docks nights
with the rest of the crowd. I'll bet YOU
could hear her across the river in Ho-
bolen. And jolly? If she gets mug
as is too fresh she can jolly him along
to beat the band. But she's on the lev cl.
too. She does the square thing by her
old man every clip. The housrworl,
has to be done before she's in for the
game. And she slaves for her little sis
tcrs and brothcrs-iusi slaves for them.
and vet she does it 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
PAM, ard she sticks up for horses and
cats and all IKE that. You wouldn't be
levc she was that way. though. II Sc
her at bal or danc'ng on. excursion
boats up the river. She's good locker
and good dresser, and when she's out
III liil -Nfll. 81 SiAt = al sight ltt-
other fellows don't do nothing when
were out"
Percy stopped short Mrs. Leyecn
had risen suddenly, and she stood erect
before him, tail and white and proud.
''Why, Aunt Martial" he exclaimed.
That's enough. Percy. Thank YOU.
| see l 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 | knew you would
after hearing about her. And say. aunt.
you ought to see her once. You cor. r-.dn'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 Viii
l1pp N Y Post