Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1900-02-15

here Aunt DeDOrun puuseu TOT want
of breath. She had risen to her feet.
Her wrinkled face was purple with IN
ger. and her gray curls seemed fairly
dancing with ire.
Poor. Lottie was the picture Of aston
ishment. She attempted to speak, but
she couldn't get a word In edgeways.
''To think that while l lay sick in my
bed an Ashton should be making love
to my niece. I.ottie Blair, II thought
an Ashton handled a penny OF my
money wouldn't rest quiet In my
grave"
Don't auntie me-" cried the old lady,
stamping her foot. I'll tell you what
I'll do, Lottie Blair; I'll take the noon
train to Ashtonville and I'll walk into
George Ashton's house before night,
and let him know whether his son or
anyone belonging to him will come
down to Starmount to make love to
anybody belonging to me, The set of
thieves"
Aunt Deborah kept her word. Noon
found her on board the train for Ash
tonville i'm spite OF poor Lotties tears
and representations.
After an hours ride the conductor
sang out: "Ashtonvillev' and Aunt De-
borah picked up her satchel--Aunt-
Deborahnever went anywhere without
her satchel--and hobbled out of the
car AS she was getting off the plat
form her foot slipped, her satchel fell
from her hand and she would have fall
en- after it, but strong hand caught
her and pleasant. hearty voice SAID:
.It is dangerous getting off these
steps. hope you are not hurt,
madam"
Yes. 1t is dangerous, and one might
break their neck before the conductor
would lend helping hand said Aunt
Deborah. whose temper was still at
boiling point.
'.The conductors are not as attentive
sometimes as they might be- and the
young man who had saved Aunt DeDo-
rah from falling stopped down to pick
up her satchel.
As he did so Aunt Deborah looked
him full in the face. 1t was n hand
some face. the picture of good humor,
and correspondent well with his hearty,
pleasant voice. Aunt Deborah did not
know whether it was his face or his
words that pacified her most. She was
believer all her life in first impress
sions, and she liked this young man the
moment she looked in his face.
II thank you very much. sir. Only
for you might have been hurt DO
/ you live i'm AshtonvilleT
The young man was elegantly dress
ed. but not too proud to carry Aunt
/ Deborah's satchel as he walked by her
side.
"Yes, madam he said, in answer to
her question.
Young man." and Aunt Deborah
stood still and looked up in the good
| humored face; young man, that's your
misfortune"
The young man had to stand still
I when Aunt Deborah did, and he could
/ scarcely keep from laughing as he
/ looked down at her solemn face.
Indeed, madam. | thought | was
very fortunate in living in Ashton
I Vile"
Fortunate in living where the Ash
/ tons live" cried Aunt Deborah; then
I lowering her voice. she continued, as
she laid her hand on his arm: Young
man, wherever there is an Ashton
there is bad luck"
Then madam" answered the young
man, his eyes twinkling, there must
be bad luck right here, for / am an
Ashton
You are an Ashton. Young man,
that is your misfortune. like you,
though. in spite of your name. Now,
who might You be-a son or a nephew
of that old villain. George Ashtong
Madam. I'm neither son. nephew nor
any relative of George Ashton. | have
been living here for the last three
months with my uncle. Mr.. Jerome. !
say living here. butt think I've been
i the most Of the time down at Star
mount with my cousins. the Gardeners.
/ saw you get on the cars at Star
mount. madam. If you live there, ]
1 suppose you know my cousins
Aunt Deborah stared Mt the young
gentleman for fully a minute; then
suddenly catching her breath she said:
Young man. are you acquainted
with young lady in Starmount named
Miss Lottie Blairf'
II have the pleasure of being ac-
quainted with Miss Blair and Mr.
Ashton wondered what the old lady
would ask him next.
"Well. Miss Blars Aunt Deborah
wishes you to call on her the next time
You come to Starmount. Good-day. sir
/ think I'll go back to she station and
wait for the down train.' And Aunt
Deborah walked away.
Aunt Deborah returned home and
made poor Lottie's heart glad with the
news that the young gentleman she
had referred to was not an Ashton OF
Ashtonville. Judge of that young gen
tleman's surprise when he called or
Aunt Deborah next day and found heI
to be the old lady he bad set down foI
''half crazy"
: Her conversation with him the day
previous was explained. and the ex
PLANTATION must have been satisfactory
for there was wedding before tho