Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-07-17
A SLIGHT MISTAKE.

Marriage is the saving of a young
man., said my Aunt Tabitha senten-
tiously.
assented, for find it pays to give a
ready acquiescence to abstract PROPOSE
tions
You must marry" continued my
aunt
Il am still very young, said meek
ly.
My aunt turned to my mother.
"Whom shall Alfred marry? What do
you say to Letitia Brownlow, or Amelia
Stafforth?"
"Is she not rather'-my mother
waved one hand-'and Alfred is SO
slim.
81 think she has very fine figure, +"
responded my aunt. "Or there is Ger
trude Williams. She will have a for
tune if she outlives her sisters"
"There are only five of them," said
hopefully.
"Or Mabel Gordon?"
"No, none Of these" cried decisive
ly.
My aunt looked offended. every
well, then; choose for yourself" she
said tartly.
Perhaps that would help" I re-
marked thoughtfully.
"Well," said my aunt impatiently
after short pause, "whom do you sug-
gest?"
| thought for moment.
"What do you say to Winifred Fra,
ser?"
"That minxr' cried my aunt.
ooh, Alfredo echoed my mother.
"Why not?' asked.
"Such q dreadful family!" said my
mother.
$50 fastl" interjected my aunt
But have you never noticed the sun
Oh her hair?' 1 asked innocently.
My aunt drew herself up.
eve 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. "Ireally think
it must be Winifred Fraser" I said.
"She is very fond of me, and''-
Glow can you be so cruel to me?"
cried my mother. "Have you noticed
how gray my hair is getting? You will
not have me long" She drew out her
handkerchief.
"You will come to a bad end," said
my aunt. 81 always thought you were
depraved. If you marry that painted
hussy, you must not expect my counte-
nance"
"Under the circumstances, will not
marry Winifred Fraser" I said with
great magnanimity, for I did not par
ticularly want my aunt's countenance.
My aunt shifted. "You had better
not.
81 merely joked," said soothingly,
remembering she had not made her will.
"IndeedP'
"The truth is''-I dropped my voice
81 am in love with some one else"
"And you never told me-" said my
mother reproachfully.
"The girl 1 love is not Free"
Married." cried my aunt.
"Not married-but engaged" :"
"Who is it?" asked my mother gently.
was silent for moment, and then
sighed.
g 1t is Constance Burleigh."
1t would have been a most suitable
MATCH" murmured my mother.
Every suitable" repeated my aunt.
There was a momentary silence, bro
ken by my aunt.
81 did not know Constance was en-
gagged"
ssTf &c Vo,, ~
what have told you"
II don't like these secret engage
ments, said my aunt brusquely. "Who
told you?'
She told me herself"
"Who is the man?'
81 do not think should repeat his
name
81 hope Constance is not throwing
herself away"
I shook my head doubtfully.
''You know the man?'
l nodded.
''Is he quite--quite''-
Again shook my head doubtfully.
"What have you heard?' my aunt
asked eagerly.
II don't think ought to repeat these
things.'
"You can surely trust your mother, Z"
muImured my mother.
And my discretion" said my aunt.
'Well." 1 said, Il 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.
"And what else?" asked my aunt
"Another relation of his told me he
was dcpraved.
Poor, poor Constancer whispered
my mother.
"And would probably end badly"
81 expect he drinks" said my aunt
grimly.
docs Constance know this?" asked
my mother.
81 don't think So"
"You did not tell her?"
"Of course not. "
81 consider it your duty to-"
II really cannot. "
/