The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-08-20
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A Country Girl
1Original.1

rOriginaLl
Matilda Thorne, country girl, re-
ceived an invitation for a visit to her
fashionable aunt, Mrs. Treaddle, who
lived on Central Park East, New York
The reason for the invitation was that
Matilda was down on list of legatees
for small amounts in the will of Scher
merhorn Wrinkle, Mrs. Treaddle's
brother, bachelor, aged forty,
and he insisted on seeing each and ev-
cry beneficiary. When Matilda ar
rived, Mrs. Treaddle, struck with her
beauty and freshness, was at once ter
rified lest her brother might fall in love
with and marry her. Since the bulk
of his fortune was to descend to Mrs
Treaddle that lady determined to head
off any such possible result.
Matilda" said the lady, sit is my
duty to warn you against the men Of
New York. Now, there's my own
brother Scbem. He has no conscience
whatever in the matter of a conquest.
He has broken many girls heart and
would not scruple to send you back to
your home Tilted and disgraced."
"Oh, aunty, how awfulI'
"Shun him as you would an adder"
But he is my uncle"
"Only by marriage. Even if he were
don't think that would protect you"
This was not the only safeguard
Mrs TTeaddle threw out against a pos
siblc loss of her brothers fortune She
gave Reginald Knickerbockery young
profligate with whom she had been
carrying on an intimacy, instructions
to win Matilda. thus preventing Scher-
merhorn from doing SO. Having thus
put up the bars, Mrs. Treaddle felt that
she had her brother cOrralled.
"Oh, aunty," said Matilda a few days
later, what do you think? Mr.. Knick-
erbocker-- But ! suppose | shouldn't
tell"
Tell me everything, my dear"
Last night when we were alone he
put his arm around me"
Indeed? What else did he doY'
"Oh, | don't like to tellr'
You'd better, my dear"
He kissed me-"
well, my child. congratulate you.
Mr.. Knitkerbocker is one of the few
fine young men in New York fashion
able society"
Isn't it nice that he's not like Uncle
Schem?'
Very nice. trust it will all come
out right and you will be very happy"
A fnNy nvanipoc lo ron Matilda ontorod
the drawing room in her accustomed
timid and hoiseless way and saw Mrs.
Treaddle and Reginald Knickerbocker
sitting on a tete-a-tete hand in hand.
The young man dropped the hand and
the lady looked annoyed. but she was
equal to the emergency.
Come here, Matilda. | want to con-
graduate you. Reggy has been giving
me his confidence just as if he were
my own son. He has told me of your
engagement to him"
"Oh, Aunty, how you surprise me!
Mr.. Knickerbocker hasn't proposed to
me-" She turned away with her eyes
bent on the floor
THAT is only because | was wait
ing said Knickerbocker, rising and
advancing toward her. ''for your
auhts permission"
why for that?' asked Matilda, turn
ing pair Of wondering eyes on him.
you dear, unsophisticated child"
said her aunt. "In our SET il is not
considered honorable for man to win
a girl without permission"
"Oh, aear.' said Matilda, q mild dis
appointment in her voice and eyes.
'Im so sorry! You can't be honorable.
Xou didn't have permission when you
kissed me-"
Mrs. Treaddle put a lace bordered
handkerchief TO her lips to hide a
smile. Mr.. Knickerbocker had my
permission to win you from the first"
she said.
Matilda looked as if she were going
to cry.
whats the matter, childY asked
her aunt
"Oh, nothing! NJ. Knickerbocker
asked permission to love me, then
loved me afterward. Suppose he hadn't
got permission. / should have been sc
disappointed" And, putting her hand
kerchief 10 her eyes, she glided out of
the room.
month passed, during which Regi-
maid Knickerbocker spared no pains to
make himself agreeable and restore
confidence. One day Schermerhorn
Wrinkle asked bis sister if she were
not going to give Matilda an entertain
ment.