AUJT JANE'S OEY OFFER.
Tho Uireo Misses Tibbs wore, without
doubt, in a fovor of delight. Simply an
Grout was about to happon, which,
though it mny moro than onco iu a
woman's life, on its first happening is
especially fraught with excitement.
Ono of tho Misses Tibbs, tho eldest,
Jennio, a very protty blondo of twonty
two, was about to bo married, and nat
urally tho talk and thought all ran to
matters matrimonial.
Tho thrco Misses Tibbs woro very
busy, intensely so, not really making
up tho trousseau, for that important
matter had boim intrusted to tho hands
of Madamo Lollipop, tho eminent mod
islo of Fifth avonuo nnd Twenty-third
street, but in evolving tho hundred lit
tle nothings that nro supposed to apper
tain to a wedding, nnd that must, in
tho majority of cases, emanate from tho
homo eirclo or near it.
At this employment tho tnreo misses
wero busy, assisted by their Aunt June,
who, as fur as a surnamo wont, might
as well havo had none, for Aunt Jnno
nho was to everybody, ovon those who
could not evon claim a ninety-ninth cous
inship, though really, Aunt Jano's name
was Hopkinson.
Tho throo girls Jennie, tho oldest,
nnmcd after her aunt; Jo30phin6, tho
second, aged twenty, named after her
Undo Josoph, and Maud, tho "baby,"
aged sixteen, and named after nobody,
had oftou discussed Aunt Jano's charm
ing qualities and how protty sho must
onco havo been, but it had nover occur
red to thom to think of why Aunt Jane,
still at tho ago of fifty, remained a
maiden, with no npparont aspirations
toward changing that condition, lint
now, brought forth by what was soon to
happen to ono of tho trio, everything
tliut boro upon tho subject camo promi
nently forward, and ovcry acquaintance
of tho fomalo jiorstiasion becamo sub
juct to discussion.
"Do you know," said Josio, "what
was the "reason that Tillio Smith did not
marry John Penn ?"
"Nol" was Jennie's response. "I'vo
always wondorcd, but nover know."
"I'll toll you. It was becauso when
John went off, as ho did after his en- I
gngomont, to Chicago on business, nnd,
of course, had to write Tillio letters, for
tlio first timo sho discovered that not
only lio did not write good grammar,
but did not know how to use tho capital
letter, nnd so she broke off tho ong.igo
liiont. You know Tillio if) very partic
ular and teaches in a public) school.
"Why, how absurd !" said Joiinio. "I
don't think my Tom is jiorfoct iu his
letters, but I lovo 'em, mid Pm as glnd
to got 'em ns though thoy woro classical
ly correct. I think it was , a fortunato
oscapo for Mr. Penn."
"So do I," said Maud. "I'll nover
put on Midi nonsensical airs as (lint
with anybody. You know Pin too in
fantile so you all sny to think of get
ting married, and I think so mysolf,
but I cinn't help it it' I don't like every
body that likes mo. Now, vou know,
you wanted mo to explain why it
was that T wouldn't coino down
Utah's tho other evening, whon young
Charley Kocler callod. Wall, Pll toll
you. It was becauso whon ho camo
list Wednesday evening, just a week
ago to-day, ho loaned back in his chair
against tho wall, over in that corner,
and ho loft that grease spot that you
noo thero from the back of his head.
Now, girls, even if I was ten years old
er, I wouldn't want anybody coming to
hco mo that greased his hair so as to
loavo a spot on tho now wall papor.
"Well, I don't know, Muuilio, but
what you may bo right," said Jennie,
thoughtfully, "but I don't think 3
would send my Tom away for that. I'd
try nnd(ploan the spot, aiid if 1 couldn't
I'cl show it to him, and toll him ho
must bo carofnl tho next timo."
"Aunt Juno," said Jennio, impatient
ly, as if tho idea had just readied her,
"how was it that you nover married?"
"Perhaps it was because I had no of
fer," said tho old maid with a smile.
"Oh, that's impossible, " said tho thrco
Misses Tibbs iu chorus.
"Wiry impossible, my dear girls?
Evoiytliing is possible," repliod Miss
IloplciiiBon gravely.
"Yes, auntie, but I know that you had
everything attractive about you to draw
tho bust of offers. Mamma says that
you woro ono of tho most charming
girls sho over know."
"Your mamma, lnydear, is very kind,
but you must remember that slio speaks
with tho prejudice of a sihtor, and bo
sides that a woman doos not look upon
thoso things with tho eyes of a man."
"Oh, but, ami tie, I know for mysolf.
I can boo how vory protty youhavo
bcon, and I can seo that you havo not
lost it yot, Ono can grow "gracefully
old, and keep all their good looks to
thoso who love them, ovon though thoy
bo n littlo Blinded by ago."
"Yosl" put in Josephine, "and thoro'B
ono thing ordained by Proviconeo on
that
point, winch is tnnt wo do not seo
thoso wo aro with ovory day getting
old. Wo novor notice ago creeping on
thom unices our attention is particularly
called to it."
"I think that may bo co in eomo
cases," said Aunt Jauo, smiling, "but
it oould hardly be, girls, in your cases
with me. I havo watched you from tho
cradle up. and could almost count
every day. It may hold good with
those who aro about tho aamo ago na
yoursdf. Now, I confess that I havo
novel- thought of ago us regards your
mother, and yot 1 am seven years older
than alio is."
"Oh, no; mamma is just an young and
beautiful as over," Baid "Tho Ualiy,'-'
enthusiastically, "and I remember her
for twolvo years. No. I think wo no
tice tho advances of ago upon ourselves
moro than wo do on others, 1 know
that T think of it ovory day I look in
tho fflfuui and recognize that I am get
ting old."
Thoy all laughed ut this, and Maud
kkd to laugh a littlo herself, but alio
UirufidH off with:
"Well, tltfa isn't what wo woro talk-
ing about, girls. Jennio you just asked
auntie how it was that sho nover got
married. Let's hear about that."
"Well girls," said Aunt Jano slowly,
"that seems an unanswerable question,
but I'll try to answor it. Perhaps it
was upon the samo principal that some
men never got licli no matter how much
thoy try, it is so ordaincil that thoy
shall always bo poor, whilo others reach
wealth and honors, not only .vithoiit ef
fort, but with positively everything
against thom."
"Well, I don't think I mado any very
groat offort to get my Tom," said Jenny
thoughtfully, "and, roally, when I come
to think of it, I don't think ho has asked
mo right out. I beliovo it was under
stood between us perfectly beforo any
thing was said on tho subject, and
whon wo did talk about it I took it as a
matter of course."
"I bolicvo that is tho way in a majori
ty of cases," said Aunt Jane, laughing,
"and this mythical idea of popping tho
question is somothing that very rarely
occurs. As Jonny says, its all under
stood without it. Now, for myself, I'vo
been tho samo as engaged thrco or four
times, and yot I nevor received but ono
formal offer in my life."
"Oh I tell us all about it, auntie," said
tho thrco Misses Tibbs, hitching their
chairs up a littlo closer to Aunt Jane.
"Woll, it's hardly anything to tell,
girls, but if you desiro to hear it, I
must toll it. Put to explain what T say
about boing engaged without receiving
a formal offer, 1 will cito a caso or two
within my own oxperionco. My first
was when I was seventeen, and, as 3
then thought, as much a woman as T
am now. I was spending tho summor
on tho seashore with my Aunt Margar
et, and Aunt Margaret, having mado a
successful marriago, financially speak- 1
ing, herself, was intent on having her
noiccs do tho name, for sho lifc.l no
children, and so every summer she took
to fashionable pluces, and ovcry winter
to all tho balls and parties. I
"This particular sunilnor sho chona
tho senshoro, and there T met Harvey
Oray, who, though sevon years my
sonior, nnd who had been traveling for
thrco years in Europo, was, really, as
innocent as a child. Wo fell in love, ns
it is called, at first sight, and woro in
fatuated with each other. Of course,
out of this grow tho usual swcot com
munings, moonlight wnlks, boating,
guitaring, singing, and all tho inovit
ablo tilings appertaining to lovers, over
since tho world began.
"Aunt Margaret recognised tho mat
ter, nnd it suited her too well, as I
afterward thought. Gray was rich,
highly connected, handsome and of ir
reproachable character, theroforo a vory
dosirablo match. I say it all suited
Aunt Margaret too woll, and I'll ex
plain that by saying that whilo men nro
always ready to tako advantago of bejng
left by tho parents and guardians of tho
girl thoy aro in lovo witli nlono and
uninterrupted in their wooing, yet
there is such a thing as ovordoing this,
uo as to rather turn him against it. Ho
would-really bo better pleased with a
littlo opposition. 1 think AuntMnrgar
of. slightly overdid it.
"However, tho summer passed, and
wo wero happy, and I felt as much en
gagod to Ilnvvoy as though tho actual
words nail neon spoKon, and i nm as
suro as wo can bo of anything in this
life that Harvoy felt tho snnio way. In
fact wo talked freely of what we wero
to do in tho futuro, and thoro was noth
ing wanting but tho sotting of tho day,
when Aunt Margaret stepped in, which
I havo always thought was unfortunate,
to say tho least of it, for I am a decided
advocato of early marriages. Well, wo
woro to start for tho city early the noxt
morning, and for what occurred tho
previous ovoning I am indebted to Aunt
Margaret's own recital. I was dotaincd
in my own room packing, but was (o
incot Harvoy on tho piazza nt S) o'clock.
Ho was to go with us to tho citv tho
tost day, and 1 left him after dinnor
proinonading with my aunt. Whon I
roturned at 1) o'clock, ho was not thero,
and Aunt Margarot made his apologies
by saying that ho was indisposed nnd
had retired. Tho noxt day when ho
did not appear to go with us to tho city,
Aunt Margaret was forced to an expla
nation. Sho had asked Harvey what
his intentions wero, and ho had re
volted. "I thought my heartwns broken, but
Aunt Margaret said she had douo right,
and tluit tho man who nftor thrco
months of unlimited courtship, ns sho
looked upon it, that could not explain
his intentions had better bo got rid of.
I nover saw Harvey again until ho was
married, threo years after, when wo
met, as thoy say in Prance, with clovat
ed politoness. Ho married ono of iho
great belles of socioty, nnd iu two years
he was living u badiolor life in Paris
and sho was living in Now York City.
Perhaps Aunt Margarot was in tho
right; I do not know."
jlut tho thrco Misses Tibbs declared
that Aunt Margaret was not right, but
emphatically wrong, and nftcr discuss
ing tho mutter a whilo Maud said:
"Jlut, auntie, you haven't told us
about the ono real offer that you did
havo. "
"Yory woll," said Aunt Jano, laugh
ing, "I'll ski tho oilers I didn't havo
then, ami tell of tho ones I did havo, if
you Bay bo. You all romombor Under
wood, of course. Y'onr grandfather
bought it, Jennio, whon you wero n baby,
and wo all spent our miramor's thoro.
That's twonty years ago, and 1 was
thou what society calls passe in fact, 1
had beforo that mado up my miml to a
life of old mnidism.
"Ono day I had taken a fauoy to go
into tho kitchen ami mako n cake, I
did this boeauso ovorybody except tho
hired men and ono of tho chamber
maids had gono to tho city, oven tho
cook being away for tho day, tho hired
men off in tho fields, and Mary mid I
tho only occupants of tho hou.so. L had
begun my cake-making when I discov
ered tho want of certain apices, and
Mary volunteered to go to tho store to
obtain them. Sho hud hardly got aw ny
when I heard a Htep.aud raised my oyes
to seo a man standing at tho lutein n
door, which opened into tho path that
led to tho road, ,
"My heart was in my throat in an in
stant, and 1 remembered how utterly
ulono I was. Wo wero not afraid of
tramps in thoso days as now, but I
think n better specimen of that genua I
never saw. He was dilapidation Itself,
and na I looked at him in a dazed,
frightened wav, ho whined :
" 'Lady, I'm vory hungry. Won't
you givo mo something to cat?'
"As scared as I was I reasoned. I
would feed him and talk to him until
Marv roturned. nnd I would then send
hor for tho hired men, atid so I bade
him como in nnd I sat beforo him tho
contents of tho kitchen pantry, with an
abundanco of warm coffco from tho
otovo. Ho ato liko ono who had not
soon food for over a month, and as ho
ato poured forth thetalo of his troubles.
Ho had been a prosperous shoe-maker,
having at ono timo had as much as $100
in tho savings bank; but, as he declared,
ho had been mined by a bad wife, who
would not bear with his littlo foibles,
one of which was his conviviality, and
so sho loft him, and ho becamo a wan
derer. "Of courso I sympathized with him
in his troubles, "and under this the
stimulation of tho coffco, as soon as ho
could cat no moro, I found him on his
knees beforo mo, pouring out his ad
miration. Oh, if ho had but such a
wife as I was, what a dilTorent man ho
might havo been. A millionaire, per
haps Oh. will that girl, Mary, ever
roturn? but it was not too lato yet.
His wife was not dead, but ho was not
afraid of her. Would I marry him? I
"I don't know how 1 found words,
in my fright, but I saw that I must
temporizo, and I told him that tlio
offor was too sudden, that 1 was un- ,
ublo to decido at onco; that at any j
moment my father or brothers might
como down stairs, and I would rather
keep it a sccrot from them. If ho
would go awav now nnd roturn tho
next day at tho samo hour ho should ,
havo my nnswer. Ho promised ho
would, nnd very candidly confessed 1
that ho did not know whero ho should
sleep that night, whereat I took out my j
purso and gao him what money I had, i
about two dollars, and ho depnrted, and
that's tho only direct offer, girls, I havo
over received iu my life."
"Oh, Auntio!" went up in chorus
from tho throo girls. "How terrible!
Did ho como back?"
"Oh nol I Hover saw him again, and
as I did not know his name, you know,
girls, I could not hunt him up. When
Mary came back sho found mo stretched
upon tho kitchen floor, whoro I had
chosen to drop in a faint, and aftor she
iiau brought mo back to lifo sho wanted
to send ono of tho hired men nftor my
visitor, but I refused to allow her, for
what had tho man dono? Nothing 1
Ho was civil nnd quiet, and had gone
away at my request, and had loft it in
niy powor to say that I had received
ono oll'or at least in my lifo."
Pacts and Fancies.
"Conductor," said a Chicago man on
board an Illinois Central train, in a loud
tono of voice, "aro you suro wo haven't
passed St. Louis?" "Yes; wo aro
twonty milos this sido yet." "This
train stops their doesn't it?" "Yes."
I "Woll, don't fail to let mo kuow whon
I you get their." Then he settled himsell
back in his seat and smiled, when a St.
Louis citizen leaned across tho aisloand
asked him if any now buildings had
j beon put up in Chicago since tho tiro.
Kansas City Tunes.
Somo United Statos coins of raro value
aro found in a catalogue itstied by n
Philadelphia collector. A silver dollar
of 1801 is valned at $1500, a Carolina
olephant copper is rare at $150. A brass
coin struck about 181(5, said to be the
first com ovor struck in Amorica, and
ono of tho thrco existing, is worth $100.
On ono side nro iwo ships nnd on the
other tho llguro of a wild boar sur
rounded by tho words "Island Sommer."
First bridesmaid "You never tell?"
Second bridesmaid "Of courso not; 1
never do, you know." First bridesmaid
"Woll, "sho told mo in Btriot confi
dence, understand, that though Jack
was poor thoy wero going to travol ail
summor and stop at tho host hctols, and
that thoy got tlio money by selling their
duplicafo wedding presents. 1 wonder
whether my spoons aro paying part of
tho expenses."
This is how ono of tho gro.it social
problems is treated by tho Chester Citi
zen, Henderson, Tenn. : "Henderson
is getting too utterly stylish for its
ability. Lots of pooplo horo who
haven't got $200 worth of things go
dressed liko thoy had tho bulgo on all
the corner lots. Now wo noticod a lot
of little wee tots of girls going to school
tho othor day. Tho fathers of somo of
thoso girls wero not earning over $1500
a year, and, besides having to supply a
family of six, these girls must bodressod
as Princesses. Their isn't any sonso in
it. Thero was a day when" a calico
dress and n sun-bonnet woro good
enough for a school dress, and if llnor
toggery was put, on tho woaror was sent
homo with instructions to change. It
is vory painful for a littlo child to go
out in company dressed poorly when
tho majority aro clad in finory."
Bursting of Bubbles.
Wo have our seasons of speculation,
but tiro famous South Sea bubble crazo
raging from 1711 to 1720 was probably
the most delirious affair of tho kind that
tlio world has ovor scon. Whon tlio
speculative fever wis nt its hoight, stock
jobbing becamo tho solo business of all
classes in London. A multitude of
stock companies sprung up liko mush
rooms. Companies wero stnrted for
tho assuranso of soamon's wages, for a
wheel for perpetual motion, for improv
ing gardens, for insuring mid increasing
children'-! fortunes, lor making look
ing glasses, for improving malt
liquors, for iniforming against rob
beries, for tho fattening of hoes,
etc., etc. Shares roso to nmaziug
prices, and it was no uncommon thing
to sea them start nt four pounds a sharo
and riso to fifty pounds. When theso
speculative baubles burst thousands of
families wero reduced to beggary. A
few prudent mon realized great for
tunes, but tho general result was disas
trous in tho extromc. From that Ay
to thin it has been found that groat and
widespread speculation demoralizes
business ami labor iiiimitlles finances
and is always followed by a poriod ci
prostration.
iiihiilAOA.
Cdcgo Trilmno Prizo Story.
It w.i3 a otinny evening in Jnno, and
Pomulus Corners looked its best. Not
that its best was anything to boast of,
for it wns not much of a place, consist
ing only of a dozen or so straggling
houses, two "general stores," and a
meeting house, on a lino of tho Bosha
wa and St. Paul railway. All tho
buildings wero of wood, and most of
them painted a dark and hideous brown
though hero nnd thora n verandah of vi
vid grcon or a brilliant bluo doorstep
marked the dwolling of eonio unusually
ambitiotuj Cornoror. All dwellers nt
the Corners agreed that old Deacon
Tiflnnv's houso was "the smartest in tho
lot," and tins certainly could not be de
nied; it stood on n small piece of rising
ground overlooking tho railway
lrack,a somewhat conspicuous posi
tion, whoro the eleven different
colors which ornamented Is front
could not fail to bo observed of all trav
elers. Thoso eleven colors wero tho
prido of tho deacon's heart; ho would
stand by tiio hour nnd contemplate with
placid satisfaction and modest prido
tho grcon and vellow stripes of tho ve
randa, tho slate-colored cornice, or, best
of all, tho gorgeous now bow window
"to Mirandy'sroom." Tho dencon cer
tainly hnd, as was said ndmiringly at
tho Corners, "an oyo for colors." Even
his bee-hives wero nil pointed either
yellow or blue, and instead of being
clustered together iu a corner, as is
generally the caso, wero scattered pro
miscuously about, tho garden, according
to a new and originnl plan received by
their ownor, to whom their appearanco
afforded tho keenest satisfaction. It
was his greatest pleasure in lifo
to ainnd nt tho gate of a sum
mer evening, attired in a striped
flannel shirt, a palm-loaf hut and a pair
of trousers doponding on tho apparent
ly frail support of one suspender, luxu
riously smoking a long-atcmmed corn
cob pipe, and contemplating with inno
cent and profound admiration his many
colored domicile and its surrounding
beehives. Tho prospect might havo
been slightly marred for somo people
by the effect of Mrs. Tiffany's "wash
ings," which woro invariably in full
viow on either sido of the house it was
a peculiarity of Mrs. Tiffany always to
have something "on tho line." Put tho
deacon didn't mind; on tho contrary,
he rat her enjoyed the sight of a few li
lac calico gowns and "rising sun" coun-
ternrnes flanpiiiK in tho breeze. "It
kinder brightens things up, yo see," ho
used to sav. Put fond as ho wns of
bright colors and generously as ho had
boen ablo to gratify his tastoit did
one's heart good to seo how careful
tho deacon wns of his less fortun
ato neighbors' feelings. Ho would
stroll down So tho village of an evening,
and, gazing mildly nt tho particular
dull and dingy shade of brown which
ornamented tho residenco of his lriend,
tho blacksmith, would hypocritically
remark that ho "didn't know but what
such a color as that wasn't best for tho
.yes after all," and that "of it hadn't
bin for Miraudy's coming homo he
didn't know ns ho would hovput thet
thar shade of bluo onto tho bow-win-dop;
but gala generally has a leaniu' to
blue."
Miranda had beon away for four years.
First at school in a far-distant eastern
city, nnd then without coming homo
tho wont to Europe for n year, partly
as governess to tho two littlo sisters of a
former schoolmate, partly as compan
ion to thoir fussy invalid mother.
Mrs. Tiffany strongly dissaproved of
these proceedings. She was not Miran
da's own mother, and naturally ho? own
girls, Ag and Liz, took precedonco in
her eyes. Sho "didn't seo why that
palo-faced Mirandy should hnvo all tho
book-larnin'nnd t ravelin' thnr wasgoin."
Hilton this point tho doneon, usually
mild and yielding, had boon firm and
loyal to tho memory of his first wifo,
the protty, gentle, eastern girl, whoso
"bojik-larnin' " had been almost hor only
consolation in tho pino soltitudes of
Poinulus, and who had bogged of him
"not to let Miranda grow up West."
And tho deacon had promised and brave
ly kept his word, in spito of tho scold
ings and lachrymoso complainings of
Mrs. Tiffany tho second nnd her girls.
Twice during tho four years did tho
doacon visit her at school, and now at
last Miranda is coming home. It is tho
1 1th of ,111110, and she is to sail for
America tho 15th, and the deacon
stands at tho gato and lets his
pipe out half a dozen times aslio thinks
of his "little gal," and wonders how sho
will liko tho new paper in her room,
and whether "thet thar mosquity-cur-tain
hadn't ought er nboon bluo instead
o'pink."
Far away in tho smoko and noiso of
London, Miranda is parting with Fitz
gorald. "You know," ho says, "I shall bo back
in New York noxt year, prol-ibly for
good and then I shall pay a visit, to
what is it?" smiling, "llemiis? no,
Romulus, nnd carry you oll'likotho
knight in tho fairy talo, 1 hopo."
"i'ou won't liko it Poinulus, I mean"
sho answers, tlio cornel's of her mouth
trembling; "it it is so different I
hato it I" with quick passion, "aud yet."
dropping her voice, "I hato myself
moro for feeling so. O, help me,
holp mo lxnr it all 1" sho cries
suddenly, turning to him with a piteous
little gesture. He Nootl.es her half im
pntiently is it n shade of annoyance
which croeses bin face? And then,
"you must bo bravo, Miranda." ho says.
Sho moves away from liim.pushing tho
hair back from hor forehead and look
ing up steadily. "Yos," sho, answers.
"I will bo bravo and patient. " Then
presently, ns if longing to bo assured,
"You you will coino, I know you
will," with a littlo break in tho voico
sho tries to keep so steady. "Of
course," ho says, lightly. She looks at
him half w'onderingly. This parting,
which was so torriblo to her, can it bo
but a small thing to him ?
A dreadful feding of doubt and
loneliness comes over her. She turns
to tho window in dumb agony and
gazes into the crowded street. Fitz
gerald paces tho room a fow moments.
Then ho comes up to her. "Mi
randa," ho says, "this sort of thing is
awful, you know. Wo had far better
cut it short." Ho takes both her hands.
Sho is quito calm and passive now. It
seems to hor that all feeling has left
her. Through into ase suffering sho has
almost passed into unconsciousness of
pain; her face is whito and still. Fitz
gerald looks at her curiously. "Miran
da, listen," ho says gently, "wo can
write, you know." A littlo gleam ol
eagerness passed ovor her face. "Yes,"
sho answers, "t had not thought of
that" Then tho strango, cool apathy
returns. Sho lets him hold her in his
arms and press his lips upon hor brow
without a sign or word. She hears him
say that ho "will surely como noxt year,"
she sees tho puzzled look with which he
regards her, sho says "Ooed-by" in an
odd, hard sort of voice, which sounds
strango to her own ears, aud thon it is
all over and she is alone.
A littlo moro than two weeks later
tho deacon stands on tho little wooden
platform of Pomulus station waiting for
an incoming express train. His scanty
gray locks nro combed carefully ovor
his sun-burned neck ; the palm-leaf hat
has been discarded in favor of a very
stiff, very high, very uncomfortable
beaver; tho ono suspender is hidden by
a Sunday coat of supernatural black
ness and sbininess. Altogether the
deacon is "gotton up smart" according
to Mrs. Tiffany, who has Miorted con
temptuously at tho idea of "all this fuss
bein' mado for that Mirandy." Mrs.
Tiffany, however, is in a high stato of
suppressed excitement herself, as are
also tho girls. Ag has purchased the
gayest bonnet to bo had at tho Corners
(bluo satin and yellow feathers), with
the express aud declared purpose
of "tnkin' the shine out of Mirnn
dy's furrin' fixin's," nnd Liz lias spent
the greater part of thrco days in perfect
ing wonderful arrangements of her
molasscs-candy colored locks which ar
rangement is declared by hor friend,
Miss Price, who has lately visited Chi
?nao, to bo the "latest European" style.
It is a fearfully hot afternoon and thero
has been no rain for a fortnight. Tho
littlo grass plot is brown and dusty, tho
sun beats down fiercely on tho yellow,
sandy path. Insido tho houso an early
supper is sot on tho tablo, Hies aro buz
zing about tho wiro-gauzo covor which
protects somo sticky-looking "pro
Borvo," and a big bumble-bee. which
has como in through the window, and
accidentally tumbled into tlio powter
milk-jug, has managed to get out of it
again, much to his own astonishment,
una is slowly traveling across the table,
leaving littlo droppings of cream to
mark his progress. Mrs. Tiffany, hor
cork-screw curls gathered into a knot
behind ono ear, her sleeves tucked woll
ii) to tho elbow, displaying a liboral
expanse of red arm, is standing on tho
doorstep, Liz, nttired in a pink gown
and a profusion of cheap jowelry, is
lolling on tho horso hair sofa reading a
dimo novel.
And tho deacon brings Mirnnda homo.
Slowly and wearily the days havo be
come weeks, tho weoks months, and tho
months havo lengthened into years, and
two years have gono by sinco Miranda's
home-coming. It is ngain nn evening
in June, and tho deacon's palm-loaf hat
is used vigorously to bent oil' the niosqui-
tosashoand Miranda stroll down tho
quiet. deserted path. "Father, sho began
suddenly, I want you to do something
forme." "Now, that's kind o'cur'ous,"
remarks tho deacon, "for 1 was just a
thiukin,' Mirandy, what thar was I could
do fer to mako yer happior." "Why,
fathor," sho cries, with a littlo at
tempt at a laugh "what has put it
into your head to imagine that P m
not happy? Such a silly, old fa
ther !" "Mirandy," saya tho deacon,
quiotly, "I'vo kuowed.on it for . long
time I'vo knowed on it for months nn'
months. Did yo think I couldn't seo
tho look t hot's bin a grow-in' in yer
oyes? Did yo think I didn't know my
gal was frottin'?"
"Oh don't say that, don't sny that:"
sho cries, with a sharp pain in her voico;
I didn't know you noticed I havo tried,
I havo tried so hard "
"Thot's whar it is, Mirandy," says
tho doacon, tenderly. "Yonhov tried,
and I can't nbear to seo ye tryin to bo
happy. Don't yo try, Mirandy; don't
ye, now. Thet was whnt killed yer
mother." And tho dencon sighs.
"Somo folks," ho continued, oracularly, I
"Km do nappy agin Harcnmstances, ana
somofolkt; enii't. T'wnn't in hor na
tur, Mirandy, and it ain't in your'n.
Don't yo try, my pretty; don't yo try."
"Father, father I" sho sobs, and sud
dorly buries her quivering faeo upon
liis shoulder. Tho deacon gently strokes
hor hair. "Ef t'wonld do yo any good
to toll it, Mirandy," ha pays hesitating.
"Yes, I will tell you," Bhe answer
quickly. "I meant to havo told you long
ago. but, nt first, I put it off, nnd nftor
ward someh o w I could n't . "
And then, with eyes on tho ground
and littlo but trembling hands clasped
bofpro her, sho tolls hor story, how
Fitzgorald was tho undo of her littlo
chargo their mother's brother; how he
bad ti moled with thom all in Europe;
how ho hnd persistently sought her so
ciety, and how sho had at first tried
to ropulso him; how nt lost, ono
night in Yenico, ho Had asked
her to bo his wife, nnd she, loving him
dearly, as iudeed slio had dono all along
consented; bow thoy bad lecn too
vory, very happy; how ho had said that
ho was too poor to claim her for n long
time yet, nnd bado hor wait patiently
until tho timo should come; how they
bad parted in London, and then how
sho had heard throo times from him in
tho firfrt six mouths, tho last letter
from New York promising a poody
visit; how slo iiu answered it, and
after months had written again, and
how no nnswei had come, not oven a
liuc, uot a word, in all the long mouths.
And this is all. She doos not Hpcak
f tho sleepless nights and tho weary
ing days, cf tho feverish oagernes3 for
post-timo, aud the hopcleca blank when
it had passed the quick bounding of
her heart at every strango step, and
tho invariable sickening recoil which
hns followed, of tho uncongenial com
panions and surroundings which havo
mado these things doubly hard to bear
of all this she is silent. Sho tolls her
story quiotly nnd steadily, and tho dea
con listens without a work.
PV and by he says slowly: "I'vo bin
tbinkin' fer somo time, my protty, of
goin' on a tripsomewheres jistyounn'
me"togother. Would vo liko it Miran
dy?" Sho looked up in surprise, puzzled
at his manner nnd nl most wounded that
ho seems to tako so littlo interest; then,
bceing that ho is waiting for an answer,
sho says, trying to feign cheerfulness:
"Yes, father, very much. Is it to
Jacksonville?" naming a place somo
fifty miles distant, boyond which tho
deacon's little journeys seldom extend.
"N-no," says tho old man, hesitating
ly, "wo'UVo East, Mirandy. What
would yo say to New Yorkl" "O,
father, no !" sho cried, turning away
aud hiding her burning face in her
hands. "Not that I couldn't."
"Yo don't need to act so, Mirandy," he
says, gently. "Would I ask ye" to do
nuytliiiig ye hadn't oughter do? We'll
go tor yer Aunt Libby's, my protty;
sho'll be right glad to soe yo for yer
mother's sake." Then in a low tone and
hurriedly. "Thar's many things might
hcv hnppcned maybe ho went away an'
never got yer letters thar's no tollin'
'pears as if 'would bo moro comfort
oblo liko to know fer suro an' thnr's
that new reaper I was wactin,'" raising
his voico, "I'll be dead sure to get n bet
tor bargain up to Now York. I kinder
hated doin' tho job in Jacksonville:
'taint much of n place, anyhow. Kin ye
be ready in the moi nin.' Mirandy !" And
tho deacon assumes an air of pleased an
ticipation. Miranda's heart throbs wild
ly ;sho tries in vain to crush tho unreason
ng joy which fills her. and gives, against
her will, lightness and buoyanco to hoi
steps and brightness to her dark oyes.
She spends tho first part of tho night in
hasty preparations, ajjd afterwards,
with no thought of sleep, sits at the
open window of hor room, her head
buried in her hands, dreaming, peihaps,
le.is of tho future than of tho past.
In tho gray dawn of tho next morn
ing father and daughter aro already
on their way, and tho evening of the
second day finds them in New York.
Aunt Libby receives them with open
arms, aud to Miranda tho evening
passes liko a dream. Long afterwards
little scraps of conversation and anec
dotes of her dead mother camo back to
her, and when she tried to recall thom
more fullv tho stuffy, third-fioor parlor
of a second-class Prooklyn boarding
houso rose befo.-o her, and sho saw
again Aunt Libby's angulnr figuro and
kind, searching black eyes.
In tho morning she wakes lato from a
heavy, dreamless sleep, and goes down
stairs to find the deacon preparing for
a day in tho city, lie calls hor asido,
and, without a word, sho puts into his
hand a scrap of paper upon which sho
has written tho address Fitzgorald gave
hor. Her hand trembles a littlo as sho
does so, but otherwise sho is outwardly
calm and composed. Tho deacon glan
ces at her with a look of tender anxiety,
which soon changes to relief. "That's
right, my pretty," ho says, "true grit's
what does it, Mirandy, under all nar
cunistances." And then Aunt Libby
comes in, nnd tho deacon l'cmaiks that
ho is "as liko as not to hev n 'tarnation
lot o' bother about thet reaper, and meb
bo ho won't git back nforo supper-time."
Aunt Libby promises to "show Miranda
'round." And soon tho old man leaves
tiiom.
Somehow tho day, which has seemed
interminable, draws to a close, and to
ward ovoning Miranda is seated by tho
window, a small cousin on her knee, for
whoso benefit sho is improvising a fairy
tale. Each no-o iu her body thrills
with intense though suppressed oxcito
mont. What is it that sho expects sho
hardly knows anil will not ask hersolf,
but at every footfall on tho stops out
fcido sho starts and clasps hor hands
moro tightly together. A bright flush
is on hereheok, her oyes aro largo with
expectation. The fairy-talo in nearly
ended : "So you see, after all," Miran
da is saying, "tho knight camo back to
tho princess" thero is a stop outside,
tho door opens, and tho deacon cornea
in nlono. "Hev yo hov ye had a
pleasant day, Miranda?" lie begins tor
voudv. Miranda puts tho child off hor kneo
and ho runs" out of tho room. Then,
"What is it, father?" sho says, quietly.
Tho deacon gives a littlo uneasy
cough. "Thet friend as wo was speak
in' of tho othor day," ho says, slowly,
"he's married, Mirandy. "
Sho stands for n fow minutes looking
into the dusty street. Thon sho turns;
tho flush has faded from hor faco; sho
is vorv white. "I went shopping this
morning with Aunt Libby, tfthor," sho
says, in a strango, hard voico, "and wo
bo"ught tliia," taking a parcel from the
table, "for Liz. Do vou think sho will
liko it?"
Tho dencon chokes down Bomothing
in his throat. "I know'd yo bad truo
grit. Mirandy," ho says.
"Hush," sho answers, and kisses him.
Tho next day thoy go back to Romulus
Tho American Traveler.
Tlio silent, sprucoly attired melan
choly eyed American is tho pot of wait
era and tho cynosure of landlords. He
submit his lleeco to tho Bhearor more
passively than Europeans do, aud per
haps carea less for tho rosult of the
oporation, oinco holms como to tho Old
World to spend so many dollars, and
will not bo sorry to bo at homo ngain in
Chicago or Paltimoro or llrooklyn when
tho big pilo set asido for tho grand tour
iu tho Old World has meltod liko nnow
iu sunshine. Ho takes counsel with the
knights of tho napkin as to tho repast
lio shall order and the brand of the
olianipagno to bo uncorked for him;
needs an interpreter evervwbero; paye
linfu bills and dibtrilmtas lavish largos
unniurmuringly, and eems rather glnd
than not whon ho steams forth into the
Atlantic-homeward bound. All the
Year Pound.