Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-04-22

II GU are aunt, ne salu, going
quickly to meet her.
She looked at the handsome face and
caught a quick gasping breath.
'You must be one of Johns boys
she said. GLOW like you are to your
father
81 am Fred, he answered ....
"Dear heart How you've grown!
Is your ma here? "a q
s'She is waiting for you at home" s.
The good old countrywoman had
never had the least doubt of a warm.
welcome at her brothers house, and
Fred certainly confirmed her expecta-
tons. He found the old tlack leather
trunk, the bag, the band box, the great
bullying cotton umbrella, and put them
all in the carriage without one smile of
ridicule. He made his aunt 90 to the
restaurant and refresh herself before
starting on the long drive home. He
listened with respectful interest to all
the mishaps of the long journey, and
sympathized with the
| ''Ruination of every mortal stitch
I've got On, dear, in the dust and
smoke
And he chatted pleasantly Of his
childish recollections of the :iny house
and wide farm where Sabina lived.
"You see, she told hun, II made up
my mind this year / would come to
/ London once before ] died I've tried
to come fore now, dear, but something
or 'nuthcr alters hindered. Dear, dear!
You're all growing up, / s'pose, and
YOU was but lot @ babies last time
poor John brought you to see me"
"Corinne is the youngest, and she is
eighteen. Wilbur is the only one
older than l am -..--,.-
eyes, I remember. Well, dear, Tin
glad that Johns wife brought up such
fine family I'm only an old maid,
but l do love children aid young
folks
Buta chill fell upon the kindly cd
heart when home was reached at last, and
four fashionably dressed ladies gave her
strictly courteous greeting. But for
the warm clasp of Fred's hand, [ think
she would have returned to the station
by the same carriage she came in, so
wounded and sore she felt.
"Not one kiss" she thought, Sand
Fred kissed me at the train, right afore
all the folks +"
Fred slipped silver coin into the
hand of the servant girl who was to
wait upon hts aunt, promising another
if she was very attentive, and himself
escorted the old lady to her room. 1t
was not often the young man IS indigna-
ton found voice, through it grew hot
over many shams and acts of hard sell
fshness in the house of his mother, but
he said some woros that day that called
a flush to the cheeks of the worldly wo
man.
1t was not very busy season, and,
finding Sabina was likely to have sor-
~ time if left to the other members of
the family, Fred asked for holiday,
and appointed himself the old ladys es
cort. He was too proud to care for the
fact that the quaint little figure on his
arm attracted many an amused glance 5;
but gravely stood by while new dress
for Dolly, the dairymaid, and Getty
necktie" for Bob, the ploughman, were
purchased. aaH7G .. 40lsit lsa8
He gave undivided attention to the
more important selection of new black
silk for auntie herself;and pleasantly &C
cepted new blue silk neck scarf, with
large red spots, that was presented to
him, appreoiating the love that promp~
ted the gift, and mentally resolving to
wear it when he paid promised visit
to the farm. He drove aunt Sabina to
the park. He took her to see all the
sights.
Once or twice, meeting some OF his
gentlemen friends, they had thought
'sThe queer old party is some rich re-
lation. uorman is so very attentive"
and had delighted Sabina by their def
erential attentions.
Once Fred had not counted on that
i'm picture gallery, Cornelia Cald-
well sauntered in alone. She had heard
of Sabina, in the disguised comments
of Lucilla, and knew she had no prop
erty buta miserable farm;' but she
greeted Fred with smile far more cor
dial than she usually gave her admirers
A little lump came into Fred's throat.
Then he gravely introduced the stately |
beauty in her rustling silks to the little |
old~fashioned figure on his arm.
..My aunt, Miss German, Miss Cald
WE'LL" a 4a
They admired the pictures together,
and the young lady was cordial and
chatty.
As they came down the steps, Miss
Caldwell said: a
"You must let your aunt drive an