The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-05-10
KATE SIBBERT'S AUNT.
CHAPTER l.

gables and lvled easements. 1t stood IN
. hollow nearly at the bottom of the
vale, and it used to nestle there retired
from neighbors But, recently, things
had been changed in that respect. About
q year and half ago great, smooth,
red brick mansion had built itself ON
hill not half mile away, glittering at
all hours of the day with modern plate
glass windows and flashing its gilt vanes.
At sunset it often positively blazed, put
ting all other buildings far and near out
Of countenance. The Grange was an
tnoyed, it became enraged--at least, Miss
Beamish, its mistress, did. For allsuch
purposes, she was the Grange.
Perhaps Prospect House was little
provoking. For one thing, it was mar,
|ried, and the Grange was not, and was
mot likely to be. Miss Beamish was not
solitary; she had a family in certain
way. There lived with her widowed
|Iister, Mrs. Sibbert, whose husband had
mot died till he got through her fortune
lin ill-speculations, but who left her, in
Its place, two children. The generous,
|high-minded old maid had opened the
doors Of the Grange to all three. This
occurred nearly two years ago. For a
|brief six months Miss Beamish enjoyed
. kind Of domestic glory. Every old
maidish air was laid aside. She bright
ened up, dressed more gaily, but in a
livery matronly sort Of way, and talked in
10 busy, rattling manner. She became
twice as active as before, quite futtering
the village with her suddenly acquired
family; as if she, and not her poor worn
sister, had brought about domesticity.
| At church she marshaled Kate and Will
lie down the aisle before her, their real
mother coming weakly in the rear of all.
1t is true there was something slightly
ridiculous in this doing. With Willie,
boy Of about fourteen, she might have
carried it off; but Miss Kate was taller
than her aunt by a head, and her elegant
beauty attracted all eyes, the ancient
mistress Of the Grange really being only
half seen. s..saf. 81
I But Miss Beamish's triumph in these
ways, even such as it was, only lasted for
the brief time we have named. Prospect
House was finished, and MIR. and Mrs.
Dixon, with real, complete, properly
gesided-overi family, took possession OF
Il. Besides Mr.. Dixon, tall, genial, in
telligent, and Mrs. Dixon, portly and in
clined to patronize, there were three
daughters, one OF them only little less
handsome that Kate Sibbert; and, final
ly, one son, a good-looking young fellow,
his father over again, with the ,advan-
tages Of being simmer, active and fresh.
Confronted with their carriage and its
pair Of high-stepping horses, the
pony carriage from tine Grange
looked shabby, or, if it did not,
it was because Kate wasin it At church
the Dixons made larger, more imposing
procession; the pew they filled was nearer
the pulpit, for they had bought that be-
longing to the old ruined Manor House.
j., Indeed, Prospect House seemed to have
money for anything. Mr. Dixon was a
large manufacturer in the country town,
some ten miles away, but was beginning
slowly to retire from business. Some
friendly advances on the part of the
Dixons were made to Miss Beamish, and,
at FIRST, she yielded to them with civilty.
But church bazar had taken place in
the little village hehind the hill.
Mrs. Dixon, unfortunately, contributed
an ottoman cover, which was preferred
by most beholders to one Miss Beanish
had sent. After this, wasit not newt
able that matters should end between
them? @ 'i9 M 4t'i
mo doubt" said Miss Beamish, "the
Dixons had bought the gsudy thing in
London, while every stitch in hers was
her of doing. But people had no powers
Of distinguishing" Fea @
There were whispers among the more
knowing ones in the village, that Miss
Beamish was not such simpleton, ather
years, to take offence from this cause.
Young Mr.. Dixon had begun to manifest
an awareness Of the presence in the place
Of Kate Sibbert. He was very often to
be seen in the vicinity of the Grange.
Miss Beamish having had a family for
only 50 short time was not willing that
it should be broken up by this young
man all in moment. The gossips said
she had taken advantage Of the bazar to
Get up her back at the Dixon family.
However the truth lay, it had scme-
how come about that an unhappy cool
ness there was. Unhappy it must as
suredIy be called. A more eligible
match for Kate could not be hoped.
Mrs. Sibbert's nervous, subdued looks
showed that she felt this while Kate's
pale face and downcast eyes at church
/ seemed to intimate that she had no part
in the feud, excepting to suffer from it..
But Miss Beamish was the head of the
family at the Grange, and she meant to
marry her belongings in her own way.
In this condition matters stood when,
IN autumn, an event of great Importance
to all the neighborhood happened.
The valley in which Nettleby lay
formed part Of the southern watershed
of that district of the Midlands. If
long-continued rains fell ON the borders
of two of the adjoining northern shires,
the vale was liable to inundation at
amazingly short notice from the overflow
ing Of the.river. Ii seemed rather an un-
fair geographical! arrangement. Nettle-