The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-05-26
Aunt Patience Perkins.

"Mildred, thought you were alone.
l was not aware that Mr.. Glenn was
with you"
Mr.. Glenn took his hat and the hint
and departed, while Mrs. YOrke turned
reprovingly to Mildred.
but, mamma, ~
"My dear, we won't argue the point"
said Mrs. Yorke, setting her lips to-
gether with that firm contraction that
Mildred knew BODIED no good. 81 want
you to come and help Evelyn about
that tulle trimming now. It's such
pity that Aunt Patience should come
now, when We are so busy W
Evelyn Yorke, sitting at the window
in the midst of a cloud of tulle and
white ribbon, was very different from
her sister.
"Where have you been, Mildred ?''
she asked, petulantly. "I am tired to
death of being lectured by that hOrrid
little old maid. Thank goodness she's
taken herself off at last %
"Lectured About what, Evelyn ?"
"Oh, she thinks it very eXtravngant
for US to dress so handsomely and go
out so much with papa's income, and
she has been giving me her opinion Oh
the subject-impertinent old thing w
Mildred looked soberly down at the
white tulle.
'T am not sure but she is right,
Evelyn"
"Nonsense! What an absurd idea.
We are poor, of cOurse-that is, we are
not rich-but we shall never marry ad-
vantageously unless we dress like other
girls"
Evelyn" said Mildred, rather alb
sently, ".where has mamma established
Aunt Patience ?"
81 don't know; in the top chamber at
the back, believe"
mot in that dreary little room, with
no fireplace, and two broken panes of
glass %
"Why not? Isn't it good enough for
her? Besides, there is no other room
that can be spared"
"That will never do" said Mildred,
springing up. "She shall have my
ROOM"
'Your room! And where will you
sleep?"
ain the top chamber, to be sure. It
won't hurt me. Aunt Patience is old
and chilly, and it would be cruel to
banish her to a fireless room in the
depth of winter"
And Mildred went up to make the
exchange.
YOU'RE a good girl, my dear-a very
good girl ~ said Aunt Patience Per-
kins, as Mildred stirred the bright fire
an hour afterwards, and drew forward
the chintz-draped easy chair.
al didn't think you would have re-
membered the old woman's rheumatic
bones. One day you'll be old yourself
nnaF onH fhon narhapu
member how kind you were to me
And now, my dear, if you'll bring my
spectacles, and the knitting work, anC
my reticule, and don't forget the little
plant brought with me. Itsonly a rose
geranium, but I've had it these ten years
and somehow the smell of the leaves
takes me back to the time when was
girl. Dear, dear only to think how
long ago that was p'
1t was thriving plant in an an
tiquely-shaped pot of some reddish
glazed ware, and the old woman looked
greedily at it as Mildred placed it in the
sunny window.
"There, dear, thatll do; and now
would you mind giving old Aunt Pa
thence a kiss ,"
allow ridiculous ~ said EVELYN
curling her lip, as Mildred returned
once more to her work. "The idea o
your inconveniencing yourself so mucI
for creature like that %
"Are you going out with me thi
morning, Mildred ?"
Evelyn was standing before the glas
adjusting the pink, foam-like plume O
her exquisite hat.
mo; Aunt Patience is very i'll, and
llry think
with her."
"Now, Mildred, how absurd YOU are
Mamma will be very angry, and Vol
know Mr.. Raymond is going with us p
Evelyn" said the younger sister
looking up with quiet determination il
her grave, brown eyes, az love Charlie
Glenn, and him only. If I canno
marry Charley, then prefer to remain
single"
Evelyn turned away with an angr,
toss of the pink plumes, and Mildret
went up to the post of duty at Mis-
Patience Perkins bedside.
YOU'RE good girl, my dear-a goot
GIRL" croaked the old crone. at ism
every one who would give up her owl
pleasure to sit beside an old woman o,
sunshiny morning like this. I'll tel
you what, my dear, mean to leave yo,
that rose geranium in my will"
Mildred smiled to herself at the i'm
pOrtant tone in which Aunt Patienc
spoke.
81 will take good care of it, aunt,
she said.
81 know you will, Mildred-I know
you will, and you are the only livinl
person I'd leave it to-"
She was silent for few moments, an,
then spoke.
"Milly, it would be dreadful fate i
young girl like you were married 70
her money!.
Mildred opened wide her brown eyes
Was Aunt Patience wandering in be
mind?
"But if some good young man love,
you for yourself alone, that would b,