Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-11-27
"Lida," she said softly, "Lida, n

| saw your Aunt OOISlducte.yeS y ester
day, but there's somethin' reserved
about her. and | didn't like to ask
about you-whether you had decided to
go out as a govtrncss or not; because.
my dear. Joel ara | were talkin' last
night, and we J.. hought what a
ITO have me here
! We're old and we're alone, and
somehow we've both took fancy to
| you. my child. So when your Aunt
Constance goes back to the city. If you
choose to come here"-
Mrs. Nisbett paused abruptly and
! burst into tears.
1--WE had little girl once, my dear,
and If she'd lived she would ha' been
nigh about your age"
Ida let the leaves drop down on the
floor as she sprang up and threw both
arms round the old woman's neck.
"Oh, Mrs. Nisbett." she whispered
softly. "you are SO very. very kind.
Believe me, I appreciate it all. but
butt hardly know how to tell you."
Mrs. Nisbett listened intently. Ida
smiled and cried little and then whis-
pered SO low it was scarcely audible.
II am going to be married"
Married. CALCULATED Mrs. Nisbett,
with all woman's interest in this i'm
| portant piece of information. "And
who to?"
"Your son lives in Iowa-in Parting
toni"
Eyes"
"Well. did he ever mention the name
| off,
| Ida paused, her cheeks glowing
roses. Old Nisbett had come in with an
armful Of wood. bringing gale with
him from the frosty outer world.
I'm tell you by and by" whispered
Ida as she went back to her work.
"Joel IL go out again arter awhile"
| thought Mrs. Nisbett, land then I'll
hear about Lida's beau"
But Joel sat down before the fire
with a complacent satisfaction which
boded Ill for the qualification of his
wife's curiosity. and finally accompa-
MED Ida home, thus frustrating all
Ills W11C 0CSISAS anu CUltAAS OA ACL
chance of hearing Lida's story.
Dear mev thought she. II don't be-
lieve the man was ever born who
knowed when he wasn't wanted! How
lonesome it seems when Lida's gone!
What does the girl want to get married
for when could ha' took such sight
O. comfort with her? Oh, dear, dear!
1t does seem as If the world was all
askeww
The next day, in spite Of the weather
prophets prediction Of snow, dawned
clear and brilliant as the dying smile
of Indian summer. BY II o'clock Mrs.
Nisbett was dressed In her best silk
and cap, with the turkey browning
beautifully in the oven and the cram
berry tarts doing credit to themselves
as well as to their maker, the table
set. the fire high heaped with cracking
logs and the plates dressed with coro-
nails of autumn leaves. Aunt Con-
stance, tall, prim maiden lady of un-
certain age. stood before the bedroom
looking elass arranging her coinure.
Ida, in blue dress with a late au-
tumn rose In her hair, was tripping
hither and thither as light footed and
helpful as half dozen household fai-
ries merged into one. while Mrs. Mis-
bett stood regarding her with loving
eye, murmuring to herself:
"Well, well, 1t seems like it was the
Lords will to deny us of just what we
most want, but II l had daughter I
could wish she was like Lida."
AS the old kitchen clock struck /
Mrs. Nisbett. looking from the window,
gave little cry.
"There he comes-there comes Joel,
and, as / live, there's the boy with
himv'
Ida ran into the bedroom.
When she returned, Mrs. Nisbett was
clasped in the arms of tall, handsome
man Of four or five and twenty.
"Lida," said the proud matron. striv-
ing to disengage herself from the affec-
tionate clasp, this is my son Stephen,
and-why, what's the matter"
For Stephen had dropped her hands
with an exclamation of surprise and
ing crimson.
"Lida! Why, mother, this is a sur
prise indeed that you have prepared
for mep'
81 preparedy' echoed the astonished
old lady. "Well, that's a good un,
when I'm ten times as much surprised
as you be! Ida. what does this
meanY
"It means" said Ida, with demure
Bmile-she was beginning to recover
her scattered self possession-'it means
that this is the gentleman / am to be
married to"
Stephen cried Mrs. Nisbett, sis
Ida to be your wifer
''She has given me her promise to
that effect, at least" said Stephen.
looking proudly down upon his lovely
little fancee.
'sWell, If 1t don't beat all how queer
things do happenT said Mrs. Nisbett,
her face radiant. "And you've been
hvin' neighbor to me these six weeks
and / never knowed 1t. Ida, why
didn't you tell meT"
Because / never dreamed that Ste
phen Risingham, my betrothed western
lover, was anything to Mrs. Nisbett, !"
said Ida, laughing.
There tits, nowp' calculated the
farmer. How was she to know that
he was only my nephew, adopted when
his parents died, twenty good years
ago. We've always called him son.
and he's always been son to us. But
Ida didn't know. Old woman, what
do you say to Stephens wife"
Mrs. Nisbett clasped Ida to her
heart.
'T do say" she calculated, ''this is
the thankfullest Thanksgivin' I ever
lived to seev'-New York Daily News.
| His Preference.
'sWhat portion of the fowl do you pre-
| fer?"
| "Oh, anything but the Napoleon, sir!'
what do you mean?' asked Carver.
with a start.
'T mean do not want the bony part"