The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-11-24
MIR. ALIENS VISIT.

"How provoking !' grumbled Eri'
Cymon, as he took his seat at tht
breakfast-table. 'How provoking
that 1 should be called away just a.
Allen is coming promised to helI
him get school, too. No help
for it, though-so I leave you girls to
make apologies, and do the honors O
the house for my old friend. Many
scrape he's helped me out of at col
lege, and 1 want him to enjoy his
visit. Aliens a good fellow" he
continued, breaking open a cottony
puff ball of biscuit and taking a sip
of coffee from his blue -fowered china
cup. "But don't fall in love with
him, Val, for he's poor as-as 'pus-
ley, :" he added.
"Humph Much danger of me
falling in love with poverty-stricken
schoolmaster p replied Valeria, with
a scornful shrug of her shoulders.
Valeria was the beauty of the fam
lily, and put on airs accordingly.
''Why, Eric, never heerd of folks
bein' poor as pusley," put in old
fashioned Cousin Abigail, who hept
house for the Cymons. GIVE heerd
of 'em bein' mean as pusley, though,
afore now"
Eric smiled good-naturedly,
"Say poor as black-eyed peas,
then," he suggested. "They are
poor enough, in all conscience. But
Allen hasn't a mean streak about
him." he added-"unless it's mean
to be poor"
"Oh, Eric" cried Hilda, the
youngest, "is he's he cookbook
ing?"
"Good-looking? Of course. Hand
some as Apollo, or any other of those
old Grecian gods. But I must be off
only half an hour to catch the
now, and treat Allen Wen when; he
comes"
And catching UP his valise, Eric
hastily kissing his sisters goodbye,
shook hands with Cousin Abigail,
and strobe off.
Hilda, standing at the window a
few days later gazed at the varied
woodlands, with their foliage of GRIM
son and gold and dun, now rapidly
changing to brown, beheld tall
figure of a man carelessly dressed,
but handsome and grave-1ooking. and
carrying wel1-worn valise.
She hurriedly smoothed her nut
brown locks, Strengthened her ruffled
apron, and ran to open the door.
"Does Mr.. Eric Cymon live here?"
inquired the stranger, while a pair
of deep-tinted blue eyes scanned him
eagerly.
"He is handsome?" thought Hill
da. "Why, Apollo couldn't hold a
candle to him, I'm sure ?"
But aloud she answered eyes, sir, "
primly enough.
81 am friend of his" the visitor
hastened to explain. my name is
Allen"
"I know p interrupted Hilda.
eric was expecting you; but he is
away from home now He was oblig-
ed to leave on business but he said
you were to stay, just the same, and
he thinks he can get you a school
when he comes back. f"
And she led the way to the sitting
room, drew forth high-back, split.
bottom rocker for the visitors com
fort, and tripped off again in search
of Cousin Abby.
An amused smile showed in the
young man S handsome brown eyes a:
Hilda disappeared.
"That cannot be the beauty Erit
used to tell about" he declared tc
himself. Though she is pretty
enough, too, with eyes like wild bluet'
shining in the sunshine.
He was introduced to Valeria a
the dinner-table, but her naughty
bow and arrogant manners counter
acted the effect of her carmlne cheel
and violet tinted eyes, and he turned
from the faultless features and superl
coloring to gaze with more real ad
miration upon Hilda's FURNISHED
braids and soft blue eyes, which 81
reminded him of the woodland bluet
he had known and loved in the day
of his boyhood.
A bright wood fire was blazing II
the wide-mouthed kitchen fireplace
lighting up the cozy room with 1t
ruddy blaze, Frightening the newly
secured tin-pans which stood on tn
old fashioned dresser, and the polish
ed brass hoops on the tall cedar-woo
churn in the corner, giving an adde
warmth and lustre to the gally-striI
ed rag carpet on the floor, and eve
playing pranks with Miss Abby
brass-rimmed spectacles and shinin
steel knitting needles, that flew /
and out under her busy fugers.
For some reason or other, a wor
ried look rested on Miss Abby's usua
; ly placid countenance, and she shoe
her head from time to time, at las
giving her yarn a jerk that sent tt
. ball rolling into the middle of II
floor. "I must write to Eric. He Xxi
settle it and, besides, it's nothii
: more'n my duty to let him know ho
: things air a-goin' while he's ava,
Mr.. Allen pears like mighty goo'