Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-11-30
From All the Year Roundl
Aunt Agatla'S Conversion
CHAPTER 7.

With kerchief pinned over her we'll
developed bust, and apron tied round
her figure, she was engaged in manufac-
turing batch of lemon-cheese cakes for
which the materials had been brought
into her neat little excepting room, F"
and, just as with sleeves tucked up (she
was rather proud of her beautiful arm)
she was immersed In the mysteries OF
rolling, and patting, and buttering tins,
and lining them with crust, glancing out
of the window, for she had seen the
immaculate carriage of Miss Triple
stopping at the door, and a gentleman
handing out that spruce and dainty lit
tie parsonage.
Poor Betsy Ward, Aunt Agatha's only
servant, had likewise taken stealthy
peep, and she now hustled into the
room.
''Lor, mum" said she, s@there's Miss
Triple and q strange gentleman; let me
clear away the things while you go
and make yourself tidy. They can
knock again, and I'll have 'em away in
a minute"
''No, Betsy" said my aunt, &c Miss
Tlpple knows very well that / make my
own pastry, and when she comes to see
she must Just take me as [ am. There,
open the door,
And she complacently went on with her
rolling and patting.
The fact is, Aunt Agatha had no great
opinion of Miss Triple. Herself,
though very limited as to income, the
representative of one of the oldest and
most respected families in Hilderstock,
she did not consider that Miss Triple,
whose father she remembered as we'll
TODD grocer, was at all lifted to an
equality with her by her wealth, ard she
had not formed an exalted estimate of
Miss Triples sincerity or of her discre-
ton, SO that when she now entered the
room, Aunt Agatha, quite undisturbed
by her rich and irreproachable costume,
looked at her coolly, as who should say !:
I've taken the measure of you, my
lady, and I don't think much of you"
You'd better not come too near me, !"
said Aunt Agatha. as Miss Triple ad-
vanced, putting outa pretty little neatly
gloved hand, for, you see, I'm all over
-four. But those that fear feathers
shouldn't go among wild fowl"
"My dear Miss Gayfer,' said Miss
Triple, who always placed strong en-
phasis on her adiectives, you are so
perfectly fresh and natural that it is al
ways charming to see you, so unlike the
artificial world, which is made up of
show. Let me introduce you to Mr..
Jordan, my cousin, our new rector. [
am sure you will be delighted with him. :"
Ny aunt acknowledged by word or
two, the new rector's salutation, took a
good look at him, and didn't feel by any
means so sure about it.
He was tall, pale man, much marked
by smallpox, with crisp black hair, and
he spoke in low, mellow, cooling voice,
which most women found it pleasant to
listen to.
81 trust, Miss Gayfer," said he, "that
we shall be very good friends. under
stand that you are a recognized power in
Hilderstock, and that your cooperation
is quite essential to success here"
eff you had said that [ am pretty well
known here, where have spent my life, y
said Aunt Agatha, ''you would have
been well within the mark. As to in
huence, you'll find that our people have,
most of 'em, got will of their own-and
it's generally wrong.
s'That's lesshattering description of
my Pensioners than have had from
my cousin" said he with smile.
"Ah, well, you'll see. The proof of
the pudding is in the eating. I don't
meal to say but what they are honest
enough AM willful, SO that it's very hard
to help them"
s'I am sure, my dear Miss Gayfer, Z"
said Miss Triple, that your example
and your instructions have gone far but
know that you will appreciate Frank,
my cousin, who is the most methodical
man In the world. He has made an alb
solute conquest of the Blackmans, and
the Wilkenses and the Wakelings"
'Aye," said Aunt Agatha, with a
laugh, "new brooms sweep clean
"Of one thing you may be quite sure,
Frank, said Miss Triple, turning to her
cousin; Miss Gayfer will ALWAYS tell you
what she thinks.
81 certainly shan't tell Mr.. Jordan,
nor anybody else, what | don't think, %
said Aunt Agatha; "but all truths are
not to be told