The Democratic advocate., 1881-08-13

almost, if not quite, contemporary with my
grandmother. | had even constructed a
little romance about her No Que who saw
her photograph could doubt that she had
been singularly beautiful, aud [ decided
that in early youth she had lost her lover
by death, and had remained faithful to his
memory ever since. A lucky fellow he
must have been, thought l to myself, as
the face of the photograph 10 the guise it
must have worn some forty or fifty years
before rose up in my mind. What don
key am, to be sure! Here am making
fool of myself about woman who must
have been past her youth when was born
must try to fall in love with some one by
way of an antidote. But, somehow, none
of the girls whom | was 10 the habit of
meeting were fair enough or wise enough
to put the ideal Susan Ferrars from my
thoughts.
About year after had thus come into
contact with the Ferrais family, business
took me to within few miles of CARING
ham, and | determined to profit BY this
opportunity Of seeing both my unknown
correspondent aud my former patient. As
| walked up the Hill from the railway sta
ton | was@oSvFtaken by--Aiss- VielessA-
something taller than she was last year, and
every bit as unconventional. Just as
friendly aud affectionaie, also, for she
seemed really glad to see me, and Insisted
on my going straight to the rectory, to be
introduced to her father and aunt We
passed across green lawn, surrounded by
some fne old lime trees, through a glass
door into a matted hall, and thence into a
pretty drawing cool, shady, aud
flower secuted.
"Here is DIR. Ellison, Aunt Susan, call
cd out Violet, as We entered.
looked across the room, expecting to
s.e my ideal old lady, but the person who
came forward to meet me, uttering some
cordial words Of welcome, was quite young,
almost girl in fact, being certainly under
fve.and-tweuty; tall, slender, aud dark
haired, aud bearing curious resemblance
to my mental picture of Aunt Susan in
her youth
She paused suddenly on coming near
me, haif Withdrawing her outs,retched
hand
Il thought you said Dr. Ellison, yiO-
let.
so did, sail Violet, This is DR..
Ellison,
II beg your pardon, said the girl, re-
covering herself, II was under a wrong
impression with regard to you. lam very
glad to have the pleasure Of making your
acquaintance, and she motioned me to a
seat opposite to the low wicker chair from
which she herself had risen.
"Will you lock for your father, Violet2'
she said, after few minutes. "He will
be delighted to see DIR. Ellison.
And Miss Ferrars-am | not to have
the pleasure Of seeing her p | asked.
II am Miss Ferrars, said the girl,
lauching.
Il mean the elder Miss Ferrars, Violet 5
Aunt Susan
"But this IS Aunt Susau, said Violet
This Aunt Susan But your Auut
Susan is au old lady T.
is she ? | wasn't aware Of that
"Bat you gave me her photograph, |
persisted Il have il s;ill-a charming
old lady in mob cap
Il remember, said Violet, suddenly,
Il did 20 in for 4 bi, Of mysti6eatiOu.
You said in yorr letter TO me, Aunt Su-
san, that yoa had often heard your mother
speak Of Dr. Ellison, who vas such kind,
courteous old gentleman, and such clever
doctor, While | was reading the letter,
in came Dr. Ellison, hooking about as ven.
erablc as be does at present. In nspeakiug
Of you, be said something which showed
me that be on his part imagined you to be
on the other side Of ninety; so, Just for
fau, showed him that photograph Of you,
dressed for she acting eharades at the Ma
nor. did not intend 10 carry the thing
far, but | forgot all about it, aud DIR. Eli-
sou appears 10 have recognized in you his
ideal great grandmother, aud rcvered you
accordingly
That explains, said Miss Ferrars,
laughing, "tbe deicrential tone Of DR. FL
lison's letters l thought it proceeded
from the ehiyalrous courtesy of a gentle
mau Of the old school, whereas it seems
merely to have been respect Cor gray
hairs
"Bui, said I. still bewildered, "you
told me that your aunt was twenty-five
years older than your father.
II beg your pardon; | may perhaps
have told YOU that there was twenty-five
years difference between them, as there Is,
my father being the elder. BY the way,
suppose you, also, Aunt Susan, eoDIin-
ued al this time under a similar delu-
sion ?"
Il did, said Aunt Susan, laughing and
blushing. As told you, often heard
my mother speak Of DIR. Ellison, Of Cal
ethorp, aud il never occurred to me that
your friend could be ether than the same.
You know you never gave any more def
mite description of him thau that he was
a regular brick Ii seems to have been
a game at cross purposes altogether.
The consequences of this game at cross
purposes, with regard to my feelings, may
easily be guessed. But that these feel
ings, true and deep though they were,
should have been returned to Susan Fer
rars, is mystery at which | can only
marvel in heartfelt gratitude to the Prov
idencc which thus blessed me so far be-
yond nav deserts