| Show agn f r CO C IR 1 a 71 C ja 05 kall wet 4 OP O 00 I 1 IP P P r 2 MU mw L zo j I 1 0 U BY EIM OW you had better go to bed dora said mrs matri morrion on to the girl who stood bv the kitchen window peering out at the stars tars because I 1 want you ou to nse rise a little earlier than usual tomorrow we expect an old aunt of mine very rich and disagreeable and I 1 should ill e her to find the house in apple pie order she used to be fond of isabel and might settle some mon men ey on her it she ma marries aries dr bostwick so go to bed like a good girl you 11 need the rest N ery we me I 1 aunt catherine you cn depend on me replied the girl wearily as she sought her bare little room wondering what her father would cay ay it if he could see her now a maid ot of all work for his brothers vile aunt abigail arrived in due course ot of time accompanied by a large amount of baggage she was short and very straight with a severe as hect and black beadlike bead like eyes which seemed to look straight through one mrs morrison and isabel received hei her with effusion and displayed great affection for the parrot and poodle hei inseparable n companions aunt abigail affected to be quite deaf used an ear trumpet dressed with wretched taste and invariably ensconced herself in a conspicuous place in the drawing room with the parro parrot t and poodle on either side while isabel entertained her callers much to that young lady s vexation and arid cha grin she was an inquisitive body and not too proud to visit the kitchen n where she soon made the acquaint ance of dora and at once took a great fancy to her why don t you go up to the parlor once in a whiled she asked dora one day as the girl sat in her little realm reading you dont don t seem very sect able dora smiled showing the pretty white teeth I 1 am afraid my presence would not be the most agreeable thing in the world to my aunt and cousin I 1 prefer to remain here I 1 have my books you see pointing to a large well filled shelf humph pretty relatives ivest 1 pretty relatives I 1 say oh I 1 see through it all I 1 I 1 im ni an old woman but I 1 en not blind for all that and have you no friends childe laying one handkins hand kind ly on her shoulder dora smiled although the brown eyes filled with tears I 1 en afraid I 1 have become hard ened I 1 am like the miller of the dee I 1 care tor for nobody no not I 1 and nobody carea cares tor for me but I 1 care tor for i 5 ou child miss ITO for r est placed her arm about the acang girl always remember that I 1 am your friend it if you value the liking of an old woman dora returned the caress fervently oh indeed M ss forest I 1 do you are so good to me I 1 shall never tor for get it miss forest forea shook out the folds ol 01 her gaudy silk and rose to go it s a shame why mamma I 1 can t begin to tell you how disappoint ed I 1 am the only reason in the world that we put up with that dis agreeable old woman was because we expected a share of her money the old ola miser and now that the bank has f ta led and her money is gone 1 in sure we do not want her nere liere any longer isabel tossed her head angrily mrs 0 I 1 4 k zd 0 J 1 I I 1 I 1 I 1 iff I 1 1 I 1 W II 11 1 J I 1 I 1 I 1 dora morrison raised her hands with a con cil atory gesture hush dear of course it must be a disappointment to you just now of all times but then poor aunt abigail must feel her loss more keenly still it s very unfortunate unfortunate I 1 sho she ild say so she ot eight to have better sense than to deposit her money in a shaky con c cero ern like that at all events we can t keep her any longer that s certain ill soon let her know that this is not an alin almshouse shouse isabel dear you should really not be so vehement we will go to the theater tonight to night and talk this over in the morning im I 1 m really sorry tor for the poor old lady she seems dreadfully worried and went ment out a short time ago through all that rain and t returned yet three hours later harold bostwick ran lightly up the steps of the morri son residence and was about to ring the bell when his attention was ar rested bv a confusion of voices in the hall he heard beard a tearful voice cry beseechingly oh aunt catherine do send tor for a doctor I 1 in afraid her leg Is brok en the steps were so icy and she slipped and oh dea dear 1 wont you help me isabel no indeed I 1 will not stir a step disagreeable old beggar ill wager mamma it s only a scheme now she s penniless to impose herself on our 04 Z I 1 I 1 A 4 I 1 J I 1 1 I 0 J V ft 11 I 1 I 1 4 04 severe aspect bounty and were we re poor enough now heaven knows you may do as you like and stay at home from the thea ter but I 1 for one shall not trouble myself about her the rhe door slammed behind isabel and the colloquy was ended the doctor stood irresolute for a minute and then rang the bell mrs morrison Morr lson flushed and nervous came to the door she greeted him with at fectea gayety just in time dr bostwick I 1 have a patient for you it if you don t mind aunt abigail has had a fall and I 1 en afraid the dear old soul has dislocated her ankle she s so careless and such a trial with a resigned sigh you must not notice a word she says tor for she talks very queerly sometimes and imagines that we have in some way insulted her she led the way into the dining room where a young girl with bronze curls hanging in contusion confusion about her shoulders stood bending over a lounge upon which was propped an old lady dora glanced up with startled eyes as the doctor entered then hastily looked down while a rosy flush man tied her brow miss forest rose with an impatient gesture no dr bostwick I 1 don t need your services thanks to this good child here I 1 m all right save for a few bruises I 1 slipped and tell fell twisting my ankle slightly but not so badly but that I 1 m able to leave this house it if you 11 II call a carriage thank good ness I 1 know my friends now and if it I 1 am poor I 1 ive ve enough to take me to a place of shelter and keep me there tor for a while too get a carriage dr do botwick the young man was gone but a mo me ment and returned to announce that he had secured a passing ca and now dora dear it you are ready and willing to go away with an old woman who will only be a burden why we 11 start at once oh dear aunt abigail you have been so kind that it will be a pleasure to work tor for you and I 1 know we shall be happy together dora with dr bostwick s help pro ceedee to assist miss forest to the carriage and mrs morrison watched them depart with a scornful smile wien when the young doctor entered the hoise ho ise a few minutes later he carried with him the remembrance cf a lovely face lit up by a pair of innocent brown eyes which drooped beneath his ardent gaze the carriage bowled along one of the most fashionable streets and finally stopped before a fine residence we get out here dora I 1 ibis his Is our hoise holse ho ise you s and mine miss forest lorest chuckled with elight as she glanced at dora s face it was a study As she began to comprehend the situation great tears welled up to the brown eyes oh I 1 im en not such a poor old beg gar as they imagined my dear that was all a fib about my money being lost I 1 know now who cared tor for the poor old woman herself and not tor for her money and little one it if silk dresses and a carriage and servants to do your bidding will make you happy why you shall have them that s all oh au auntie uthel its lust just like a fairy story 1 was mas all that dora could say four months later isabel morrison with a strangely beating heart broka the seal of a large square envelope which the postman had just brought and with a cry ol 01 rage aasne it to the floor the wedding cards ot of liar ilar old bostwick and dora mor morrison risen |
