The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-08-20
A SLIGHT MISTAKE.
Seeseseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee&
M ARRIAGE is the saving of
Nl young man." said my Aunt

aunt.
| hesitated, for the assent to the con-
crete is more dangerous
Il am still very young said, meek
ly.
My aunt turned to nv mother
Whom shall Alfred marry?''
My mother shook her head
Somebody NICE" she volunteered.
Nv hat do you say to Letitia Brown
low" asked my aunt.
Il would prefer to say nothing to
Letitia Brownlow," interposed, hasti-
ly.
''Or Amelia Stafforth?"
'ls she not rather - nv mother
waved one hand-"and Alfred is so
Slim"
Il think she has very fine figure"
responded my aunt. Or there is Ger
trude Vi illiams; she will have a fortune,
if she outllves her sisters"
There are only five of them,'' said,
hopefully.
''Or Mabel Gordon?"
she has taken "A course of cooking
lessons" observed my mother
NO, none OF these" | cried. decisive
ly.
VI y aunt looked OIenGCt..
Very well, then, choose for your
self" she said. tartly.
/ thought for a moment
What do you say to Winifred Fra
ser?''
THAT minN?" cried my aunt.
"Oh, Alfred," echoed my mother
Why not" | asked.
such Il dreadful family" said my
mother.
$50 fast!" intcriected my aunt.
But have YOU never noticed the sun
on her hair?" | asked. innocentIy.-
My aunt drew hersen up.
We have not noticed the sun on her
hair" she said, with much dignity,
nor do we wish to observe the sun on
her hair
was justly annoyed. Il really think
il must be Winifred Fraser" l said
''She is very fond of me"
How can YOU be so cruel to me-"
cried my mother. Have YOU noticed
how gray my hair is getting? You viii
not have nae long" She drew out s,--
handkerchief.
You viii come to a bad end said
my aunt. Il always thought YOU were
depravcd. If you marry that painted
huSsy you must not expect my counte-
nance"
Under the circumstances l will not
marry Winifred Fraser" l said. with
great magnanimity, for | did not par
ticularly want my aunt's countenauce.
My aunt snifTed. You had better
not.
Il merely ioked,'' said, soothingIv.
remembering she had not made her
will.
Indeed"
The truth isl dropped my voice
- am in love with some one else"
And YOU never told me-" said NV
mother. reproachfully.
The girl love is not free
Married" cried my aunt.
Not married-but engaged"
Who is it?' asked my mother. gen
tly.
| was silent for a moment, and then
| sighed.
1T is Constance Burleigh.'
There was momentary silence,
broken 10y my aunt
Il did not know Constance was en-
gagged
lit is a secret; You must not repeat
what have told you.''
Il don't like these secret engage
ments," said my aunt, brusquely.
''Who told you?"
She told me herself"
''Nho is the man?"
II do not think | should repeat his
name
Il hope Constance is not throwing
herself away"
l shook my head doubtfuIly.
You know the man?"
/ nodded.
lis he quite-quite--
Again / shook my head doubtfuIIy.
Nv hat have YOU heard?' my aunt
asked, eagerly.
Il don't think ought to repeat these
things
''Iou can surely trust your mother
murmured my mother.
And my discretion" said nv aunt
Well" | said, II have been told he is
cruel to his mother
Really" cried the two ladies, in a
breath.
His mother told me so herself"
How sad" said my mother
Another relation of his told me he
was depraved.'
Poor. poor Constance" whispered
my mother.
And would probably end badly"
Il expect he drinks" said my aunt,
grimly.
Does Constance know this % asked
my mother.
Il don't think so.''
You did not tell her?''
"Of course not"
Il consider il your duty to-
Il really cannot"
Then WILL" said INV aunt. reso&ute-
Iy.
What | have said has been in con-
fidence"
Il do not care"
Il beg Nou not to do So
''It is my duty. / am too fond of
Constance to allow her to throw her
self away on this worthless man"
I shrugged my shoulders. '-Do as YOU
please. but don't mention my name. Hy
the way. Constance said she .0S..t.
probably call this afternoon
At. that moment the bell rang.
THAT may be She said my aunt, fy-
ing to the v-i-d dow ''T- - -
got up SLOWLY ana saunIereu lntotne
conscr> tory, which adjoins the draw
ing-room. From behind a friendly
palm l could see without being seen.
l saw my aunt look toward my mother.
IF we open her eyes" 1 heard her
whisper. lit may pave the way for
Alfred"
Ny mother said nothing. but l saw
the same hope shine from her eyes
The door opened and the servant an