The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-10-22
Aunt Mabels Masquerade.

rooms of the Metropolitan Hotel,
in New York, a lady sat beside the
fire, reading over some letters she
had just taken from her travelling
satchel. She was not young, but
her silvery white hair, arranged in
loose rolls under her soft lace cap,
suited we'll her fair complexion and
large blue eyes, as yet undlmmed
by age, and undisfgured by specta-
cles. Everything about her beto-
kened wealth: the heavy gray trav-
elling dress she wore was of rich
material, and the trunks in the room
were Of the best make, and evident
Iy well filled. Rich diamonds
sparkled upon her delicate white
hands, and held the fine lace collar
at her throat.
AS she read letter after letter, her
lips curlcd in cynical smile, and
her thoughts ran something after
this fashion -.
"Thc rapturous tone Of delight
in these letters seems to be some
what oyerdrawn. My return from
Europe would seem to be the open
ing of Paradise to my brothers
widow and her two daughters, Julie
and Maude. Sister Kate's husband
does not write, but the letter from
her daughter Lizzie is certainly
gushing. But May Herbert-little
May, my namcsake and baby pet,
dear Mary's orphan child-writes
me only cold little note in answer
to my announcement that [ am
coming home after fourteen years
absence. I wonder if all the others
would write just such formal letters
if my husband had not willed to
me his vast fortune Ah, me! How
much of this affection is for clear
Aunt Mabel?' how much for her
dollars and cents? I wish / could
know something of. these relations
from whom [ have been parted SO
long. Brother John was cold and
selfish; are his girls like him
Sister Kate was feeble in purpose,
easily influenced, and burying many
good impulses under the fear of
offending her exacting husband.
Mary-ah, why are they all dead
Mary loved me. Mary would
give me a welcome if I came in
rags, without a dollar in my pocket.
| I wonder fit is a stale old trick,
a foundation for stories without end
but | wonder if 1 could find out
more about them all if I went in
masquerade? I'll try it. Fourteen
years must have changed me. III
see what kind Of girls these four
nicccs of mine have grown to be.
Strange that there should be no boy
to claim a share Of my money.
Only girls. Well, one of them may
find a pleasant home by sharing my
solitude. I wonder why May does
not love me as the others do"
Still musing, the old lady rose,
and opening one Of her trunks, took
from it number Of half-worn gar
ments; from these she selected a
black alpaca, which she deliberately
proceeded to tear in conspicuous
places, and soil with ashes from the
CRATE. From a lace cap she re-
moved all the trimming, and ILL.,
treated 1t as she had done the dress.
Removing her dress she put on the
black alpaca and soiled cap, care
fully put away her rings, watch and
ornaments, and tied over her head
a small breakfast shawl cf faded
crimson wool. Then wrapping her
self in a large blanket shawl, which
she made shabby in a few minutes,
she surveyed herself in the mirror.
Certainly she looked very unlike
the exquisitely dressed lady who
had been there a few minutes be.
tore, but she seemed well pleased
and q few moments later started
out.
Buying wide basket, she stock.
ed it well with needles, pins. tapes
buttons, and such small traps, and
walked rapidly till she stood in
front of a handsome brown-stone
house, on a fashionable street.
'u'm! John must have left IN:
family we'll off. Three stories ant
! basement, and all the modern i'm