Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-03-13
One Old Maids Romance.

II used to think they were all SOU
and hateful, ;" said pretty Lucy Gray t.
her friend, Clara Dalton, as they sat on.
summer afternoon on the river bank
their fans and their tongues equally in
motion.
I She referred to the old maids, of course
that much abused class of individuali
having become at last the subject of theil
conversation.
"But since I saw your Aunt Marga
ret" continued the vivacious little maid.
en-, II have changed my notion. Your
aunt has queens name, Clara, and she
is queenly herself. She 10 SO stately and
sweet, SO good and gracious, that since
have seen her. have been puzzled my
self to distraction to account for her new
er marrying. The conclusion I have
come to is, that she could never find any
body good enough for her, but then she
is SO affectionate and charitable and
sensible, that am not sure that was the
real reason, after all. I know she thinks
good husband is a desirable possession
and would be shrewd enough to choose
the right man If he offered. And she
had offers, no doubt. It's mystery to
me. Iwould like to ask her all about it,
only Pm afraid to-" concluded Lucy
Gray.
Clara listened with patience to this
medley of question, logic, and reflection,
and when the speaker ended, folded her
fan, and putting it against her pearly
teeth, bent her head over 1t In thought
full way, making = very pretty picture of
maiden meditation.
What are you thinking about?" ask
ed Lucy. II was not soliIoquizing, and
I rather expected my inquiries would
receive your attention, Clara. I don't
suppose you can satisfy me, though, or
you would have done 50 before, as you
have often heard me mystify myself
bout your aunt, the incest old maid that
ever bore the title"
"Lucy," replied the elder girl, at last,
II am as much interes ed in the matter
of Aunt Margaret's single life as you
are. Even now, for though have heard
the particulars II am not fit to be trust
ed, you know,) I am sure there is q
| when she was hardly more beautiful,
though differently beautiful, than she is
now. There is mystery about her. 1
have questioned mamma on the subject,
but she always seems disinclined to tell
me anything, and looks SO strangely that
I feel rebuked. Perhaps 1 oughtn't to
know, and am content to remain in
| ignorance if thought it would cause my
dear aunt the slightest pain to feel that
had been informed. Sometimes, Lucy,
am almost glad that auntis IAN old maid,
because she redeems the class. Not that
am going to admit that they are more
| disagreeable than others, for expect to
belong to the sisierhood myself some
day." said Clara, which was only anoth-
er way of saying that she didn't expect
| to.
After more talk on the same subject,
the end quite as unsatisfactory as the
beginning, the young ladies resumed
their books, and read till the pages grew
dim before their sight, and the drowsy
sounds of the summer afternoon lulled
them softly to sleep. Beautiful they
looked, reclining on the rustic seat,
book fallen from the hand of each-a
picture for any artist. Nor was it with
out q beholder. Seated short distance
above them, in the green shadows of q
large maple, was Aunt Margaret, view
ing them with an expression of fondness
on her face, tempered by a soft, and 1
had almost said a smiling, melancholy
She had approached unobserved by the
chatting girls, just at the moment they
had abandoned their talk for their books,
and caught the concluding words of the
SIuCI-uCI OciOfCu anu uleCS.
The words evidently called up sad, and,
it might be, tender recollections. What
ever the character of Aunt Margaret's
heart-experiences might have been, it
was plain that they were not wholly un
happy. There was something in her air
that expressed both hope and resigna-
ton, it was hard to say which was most
suggested. She approached the sleep
ing couple. They began. to stir little
uneasily perhaps it was their dreams,
but as they were no doubt ofa very pleas
ant kind, we must conclude it was the
flies that troubled them.
"Girls !" What sweet, strong voice,
so richly womanly! "Girls" repeated
Aunt Margaret.
They awoke in pretty confusion.
"Oh! aunty, is it you ?" they exclaim-
ed together, when they saw who the in
truder was. "How you startled us!"
"Never mind. my dear; you startled
me just before you went to sleep"
Double confusion now seized them
they both called her) was smiling very
pleasantly, though little sadly, their
fear of her being offended at their con-
versation vanished, and seeing their op-
portunity, simultaneous "Do tell us
your life story, aunty," came pleading
from the anxious and admiring girls.
Aunt Margaret looked more beautiful
than ever just then sunbeam struck
through rift In the leaves, and lighted
up her face like saints; it was not too
late yet for her to win some loving heart.
II will tell you the story of my life
my heart story if you please-all but the
ending; that is to come"
The young ladies looked surprised and
more interested than ever.
Eighteen years ago." began Aunt
Margaret, "before either of you had en-
tered this many-colored life, I was living
in Manchester with my sister-your
mother, Clara; and being then in the
hey day of my youth, and having every
opportunity Of acquainting myself with
the best society Of the place, was of course
enjoying myself exceedingly. I was
called beautiful by some -"
"By all, aunty," interrupted the lis
teners.
Aunt Margaret's smile was hardly a
disclaimer, and she continued her story.
II had what are called admirers, whose
attentions were so constant that they
were at times little burdensome-even
a vain and f1attered girl of eighteen likes
her freedom, you know, girls-but I do
not think had real lover until met
a young lawysr-Arthur Graham; and
-and before we had seen each other
many times there was q very pleasant
understanding between us. 1t was the
old story up to the time our engagement
was announced, and preparations were
being made for the wedding. Arthur
Graham was noble-hearted NANNY
family were all pleased with him; his
standing in social and professional cir
cles was the best, and a happy future
seemed opening before me. BUTT is not
worth while to look with certainty for
happiness in this world, my dear girls" 7"
Aunt Margaret paused, aud look of
pain came over her features. Lucy and
Clara were silent.
| "The very morning of the day we
were to be married. she resumed, "a
terrible event occurred, preventing the
expected grand wedding to which our
friends had been invited, many of whom
came only to be shocked at the news
which awaited them or met them, for it
flew fast, and profoundly agitated every
circle in which we had moved. Arthur