Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-11-24
AUNT AGATHA'S CONVERSION.
CHAPTER L

whip itp said my aunt.
With kerchief pinned over her well
developed bust. and apron tied aroun'
her figure, she was engaged in manufac
turing batch of lemon-cheese cakes 70
which the materials had been brough
into her neat little 'keeping-roonl' and
Just as with slet vcs tucked ap (she wa
rather proud Of her beautiful ARM sh,
as immersed in the mysteries of rolling
and patting. and buttering tins. and lin
ing them with crust, glancing out o.
the window, she had seen the immacu
late carriage of Miss Triple stopping al
the door, and gentleman handing out
that spruce and dainty little parsonage
Poor Betsy Ward, Aunt Agatha's only
servant, had likewise taken stealthy
peep, AMI she now hustled into the
room.
.Lor', num- said she, there's Mis-.
Tipple and 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 min
ute.'
No, Betsy. said my aunt, Miss Triple
knows very well that l make my own
pastry, and when she comes to see me
she must take me as am. There, open
the door,
And she complacently went on with
her rolling and patting.
The fact is, Aunt Agatha had nogreat
opinion of Miss Triple. Herself. though
very limited as to income, the represen-
tatiye of one Of the Oldest and most re-
spected families in Hilderstock, she did
not consider that Miss Tipple, whose
father she remembered as a well-to-do
grocer, was at all lifted to an equality
with her by her wealth, and she had not
formed very exalted estimate Of Miss
Tipple's sincerity or of her discretion, 50
that when she now entered the room,
Aunt Agatha, quite undisturbed by her
rich and irreproachable costume, looked
at her cooliy, as who should say: .Pve
tsken the measure of you, my lady. and
1 don't think much Of you
You'd better not come too near me-
said Aunt Agatha as Miss Triple ad-
vanced, putting out pretty little neat
ly-gloyed hand, for you see, I'm all over
flour. But those that fear feathers
shouldn'tge among wild fowl
My dear Miss Gayfer,' said Miss Tip
pie. who always placed a strong empha-
sis on her adjectives, you are so per-
fectly fresh and natural that it is always
charming to see you; so unlike the arti-
fetal world which is made up OF show.
Let me introduce to you Mr.. Jordan. nv
cousin, our new rector. l am sure Won
will be delighted with him.
My aunt acknowledged by a 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
with small pox, with crisp black hair,
and he spoke in low, mellow, cooling
voice, which most women found it pleas
ant to listen to.
l trust, Miss Gayfer,' said he, that |
we shall be very good friends. l under
stand that you are recognized power in |
Hiiderstock, and that your cooperation |
Is quite essential to success here
Ii you had said that am pretty well |
known here, where / have spent INV
life,' said Aunt Agatha, you would
have been well within the mark: as to I
influence you'll find that cur people
have, most of 'em. got a will of their
own-and its generally wrong
That's less hattering description of |
my parishioners than have had from
my cousin said he, with a smile.
An, well, you'll see. The proof of the
pudding is in the eating. don't mean
to say but what they are honest enough
and good-natured. But they are shift
less and wilful. SO that it's very hard to
Lelp them
am sure, my dear Miss Gayfer.' said
Miss Triple, that your example and
your instructions have gone far to cure
them of both these faults; and I know Il
you will appreciate Frank, nv cousiu.
who is the most methodical man in the
world. He has made an absolute con
quest of the Blackmans. and the WiIkin-
ses, and the Wakelings.' II
Aye said Aunt Agatha, with laugh
new brooms sweep Clean
OF one thing you may be quite sure.
Frank said Miss Tipple. turning to herI
cousin; Miss Gayfer will always tell
vru what she thinks H
l certainly shan't tell Mr.. Jordan
ior anybody else, what don't think.I
'aid Aunt Agatha; but all truths are I
Tot to be told
Presently. when the cheese cakes were ,
lnished and the apparatus dismissed. 8
diss Triple said: Ii
You really must let my cousin see
'eur exquisite fernery, Miss Gayfer.
Icu have such perfect taste in all these
matters, and manage them SO admfra- Z
ly.'
1t runs in the blood said nv aunt. lie
ot insensible to the hattery. sNy'Iu
sther was very fond of his garden, and
he that comes from hen must scrspe. /
Tut I've scarcely any pleasure togo In
, my garden now. since Miss Payne has Iii
tuck up that abo- -linable red-brick walif
the end of it. 1. scorches my eyes to II
'ok upon it. It's not much after air u
ie said. turning to Mr.. Jordan, .but
lch Is it is, come and see it. Is.