The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-04-20
An Awkward
Mistake
BY HELEN F. GRAVES

BY HELEN r. G1<AV6S
81 NEVER thought to die and
leave her penniless. I never
thought
And here a sharp. sudden spasm
seemed to take away the voice of the
dying man; he gasped for breath, and
his wandering fingers seemed to grope
blindly in the dark, while little Juliet
burst out into sobs as she chung wild
ly round his neck.
Mr.. and Mrs. Montague Aylesford
looked blankly at one another. Mr.
Aylesford was much agitated. Mrs
Aylesford turned pale with amazement
ut can't be" hesitated Mrs. Ayles-
ford, in low tone, with an lnqulrlng
elevation CT her eyebrows.
ut must be-" nodded her husband.
And Juliet Dallas, throwing herself
wildly upon the corpse that moment
ago had been her living, loving father,
cried out:
Dead! Dead! Oh, bring him back
to life, some one! Don't let them take
him away from mel"
And then the poor child tainted.
my dear" said Mr.. Montague Ayles-
ford to his wife, I'm afraid this Is . bad
business"
my DEAR" said Mrs. Montague Ayles-
ford to her husband, I'VE have been
under a mistake all along!"
And they rang the bell for the hotel
chambermaid to come and 'look after
the forlorn young orphan. For Mrs.
Aylesford, who had dearest" and
darling" and sweetest oned" poor
Juliet for the last three days, under
the impression that she was an en-
bryo heiress, had suddenly grown cold
since Digby Dallas dying speech had
produced so different q conviction in
her mind.
do you think that we are under any
special obligation to take charge of
herr" Mrs. Aylesford asker, on the day
of the funeral, when poor Juliet sat In
her deep mourning weeds alone In the
room in which her father had died.
Mr.. Aylesford looked dubious. He
had Just been examining the papers
Of the deceased.
IL am convinced, my dear" he said,
that we have been kept Systematically
In the dark as to my Cousin Digby's
affairs. He allowed us-wickedly al
lowed us, as may say-to suppose
him q man of wealth, and here he has
actually had the-the presumption. my
dear, to go and die and leave greet
girl on our hands! A girl to be fed,
and clothed, and educated, and-and
all sorts of things, Mrs. Aylesford!
But in this account Of the existing
state of affairs Mr.. Montague Ayles-
ford entirely omitted to mention that
he had hurried from distant part of
the country to his relatives dying
bedside without any summons. There
he had volunteered of his own accord
to take the pretty young orphan in
charge. and there he had fawned on
Capt. Dallas after the most obsequious
manner, firmly believing in his wealth.
And now, after all, to be disappointed
it was a bitter cup to quaff!
.'It's the most unheard of thing that
ever transpired within my knowledge -
said Mrs. Aylesford. But, Of course,
we can't be held responsible, and it's
my duty to tell the girl SO at once. and
prevent any misunderstanding on the
subject"
She rang the bell and ordered the
servant to tell Miss Dallas to attend
her in the blue parlor.
Juliet came-a fair, shrinking young
creature, with soft, blue eyes. rose
fair complexion, and features cast aft
er the pure Grecian type, straight,
clean cut and aristocratic. Her dress
of deep black was plain, yet became
her like the robes of princess, and a
jet cross suspended round her alabas-
ter throat upon black velvet ribbon
was all the ornament she wore.
Juliet" said Mrs. Montague Ayles-
ford, sourly.
The orphan glanced timidly up. She
could not comprehend why Mrs. Ayles-
ford's tone had so radically changed
toward her during the last "a hours.
Eyes, Mrs. Aylesford."
.Mr. Aylesford and have been talk
ing your sad case over. It is nothing
extraordinary-in fact, it occurs every
day, and you may as we'll follow the
example of others in like predicament
and decide at once what you will do. y
Juliet looked little surprised.
81 thought" she hesitated, that
vas to live with you"
Mrs. Aylesford compressed her lips.
.'Of course, you cannot expect to eat
the bread of idleness,' she declared.
Mr.. Aylesford and are merely dis
tant relations. That we have kindly
interested ourselves in you SO far is
more than could have been expected.
Don't stare so," she added, with some
irritation in her voice and manner. els
there anything SO very extraordinary
in what have been saying?"
81 think there is" Juliet said, in a
sort of choked voice. 81 think"
She checked herself, but her eyes were
brimming over wit htears, and her lip
quivering.
II do wish you wouldn't make such a
baby of YOURSELF" said Mrs. Aylesford,
sharply. "Look the matter straight i'll
the face at once; you will have to do SO,
sooner or later. Mr.. Aylesford finds by
an examination of all the papers your
deceased father has 1eft"-Juliet shud-