The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-07-27

arted cit just came home from the
dressmaker's, and it is quite too stylish
for anything"
MY heart sank; Aunt Mahala would
hate the dress and its owner, thought,
as looked down at it. 1t was plain,
full skirt Of some silky material, with q
queer, gathered waist, and puffs at the
top of the sleeves; nothing fancy about
it, but if it was stylish, its fate was
sealed as far as Aunt Mahala was con.
cerned.
"Rob, something troubles you this
afternoon" exclaimed far sighted Ray.
"Do look so very hideous, and are
you sure that Aunt Mahala won't like
meW
"You are charming, my pet; but
| was thinking how naiserably poor I am.
Ray, have you ever reflected that with
my salary I cannot provide all the
luxuries to which you have been accus-
toned in your own home?"
"Rob, have you ever reflected that
80 long as have you 1 don't care q
penny for luxuries or anything else2"
"But when you are deprived of them
you may miss them more than you
imagine, my dear Ray" urged.
| - yOu hOCp Oh bdlh1uB III bhlo
ulous way shall think you are becom-
ing tired of me, and in that case there
is no use going to see your Aunt Ma
hala," exclaimed Ray, stopping short
aud pulling her arm from mine.
There, there, Ray 1 won't say
another word; we'll take each other for
better or worse, and I'll work--oh, how
1 will work to make fitting home for
youp
We had arrived at the house by this
time and I led the way at once to my
Aunt Mahala's room. The old lady
arose as We entered, and gazed steadil.!
at Rav.
Where did you get that dress2"
she demanded, without paying the least
attention to my formal introduction.
i" Madame Guthbert made it for me-"
answered Ray. manifesting no surprise
at my aunt's abrupt question.
"It's the first decent dress I've seen
on girl in fifty long years Why, child.
had one made nearly like it when
was girl; and bead york bag, too
exclaimed my aunt, snatching at the
dainty morsel of glistening steel which
| Ray held in her hands. "Just such
one as / bad given me on my eiRh
teenth birthday! I used to carry il
| wherever 1 went. but one day was out
in boat with lot Of young people and
some one dropped it overheard, and
that was the last of it. 1 can't under
stand how you happen to be carrying
one so near like it in these days." Aun,
Mahala said. in dazed kind of way.
"This was Grandmamma Ansdelps
when she was young Ray explained,
brightly. "1t's exactly like the fash
ionable ones now, and mamma said
might have it for mine. I'm knitting
lace" she Sent on, as my aunt con
tinued 10 gaze at her like one in dream;
$50 1 thought I'd bring it along anu
work while We talbed.'
"To be sure, my dear Sit righ,
here by me-" said Aunt Mabala, drawing
out the easiest chair and seating Ray IL
it.
All this time I had stood by. so as
founded by the old lady's amiability
tn It hardly comprehended what was
being said. Had she suddenly lost her
mind, or was Ray bewitching her2
They were soon deep in the mysteries
Of lace-making, and Aunt Mahala
brought out piece after piece of lace
yellow with age.
"All my own work when I was q
girl" she said and Ray pronounced
them lovely, and asked to copy some of
the patterns.
Never had 1 seen Aunt Mahala in such
a mood as this, and L could only be
thankful and hope for it to last.
"Rob, the poor old goose, doesn't
seem to appreciate lace work." Ray
said, with side-long glance at me.
"That's So" replied Aunt Mahala,
evidently agreeing on the goose ques-
tion. "And he can go about his busi-
ness, If he has any,"
left, and only returned in time to
take dinner with them, rightly Judging
that they would get along as we'll with
out me.
"Your aunt has given me the loveliest
hond-embroidered handkerchief 2" Ray
l-lormed me. "And she is going to
teach me to do the same kind of en-
broidery. Oh, I've had delightful
afternooni" she went on, turning to
Aunt Mahala, sand shall come again
very soon."
Robert" said my aunt, as Ray was
tying on her quaint poke bonnet to go
home, "Rachel looks very much as l
did at her age"
This was the worst insult of all, but l
bore it without murmur, and Ray ex-
claimed, impulsively:
81 hope 1 shall look as nice as you
when get to be your age!"
actually thought saw tears in Aunt
Mahala's eyes, when Ray threw her
arms around her neck and kissed her
good night, and her voice certainly trem-
bled as she said:
"G1od-night, my dear child. God
bless and keep you!'
"Rob, has your Aunt Mahala any
property p inquired Ray, soon after we
commenced our homeward walk.
"Yes, believe she has some," 1 an
swered, hypocIitically.
"Then / am sure she intends giving
some of 1t to you. She asked me how l
expected to get along as the wife of
poor man, and said should be very
economical. 1 told her we were going
to work together and make money; that
] should do most of my own work, and
all that She chuckled and nodded her
head, and kept saying. 'We shall see
we shall see + ana 1 couldn't help
thinking she meant to do something for
you. hope she will, Rob, for your
sake. 1 don't like to think OF your
toiling behind that desk to make bare
living for us"
mn n.