Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-03-07
JUDGING IN haste

Mr. halpn Sunioiu WaS smoh1uS liz
cigar before the kitchen fire.
He always went into the kitchen X
smoke his cigar of winter evening
He said it was to save the snowy mus
lin curtains OF his Aunt Phedra's pretty
parlor but in her secret heart Aunt
Phedra believed it was to enjoy the
light and warmth Of the huge open fire
And really Aunt Phedra's kitchen wa
a cozier and more comfortable place
than most parlors, with its red-and'
black striped rag carpet, its tall clocl
in the corner, the yellow-washed wall,
all festooned with shining tin, and
the big cushioned chair in the corner.
He was smoking his cigar, as We said
before; and Aunt Phedra was industri-
ously picking yellow leaves OIL the big
fsh.geranium in the window.
"Yes," said Aunt Phedra, "she's
coming back, or she wouldn't have sent
her trunk"
NO" said Mr.. Sunfold, 81 suppose
not"
"And I'm heartily sorry" added
Aunt Phedra.
Mr.. Sunfold knocked the ashes OF
the tip of his cigar, replaced on the
fire-dogs log which had rolled of, and
then asked, in rather a low tone:
"Why?
Because you are determined to
marry her." said Aunt Phedra.
"And why shouldn't l marry her,
Aunt Phedra?"
Aunt Phedra wheeled around to face
her nephew.
Because she's heartless little
airt," said she. "And I'm sorry / ever
adopted her and brought her here to
break the hearts Of half the young
men in the country"
Mr.. Sunfold laughed.
Let them take care OF their own
hearts," said he. "That is no business
OF mine. She loves me, and me only,
and that is enough."
I'm not so sure Of that" said Aunt
Phedra, with a spice Of feminine
malice. "She'sa regular coquet, Elsie
Bennett is, and she may iiilt you as
well as another"
"In that, Aunt Phedra," said the
Young man, slowly, ~ am sure that
you are mistaken"
"Pm only repeating what people
say" retorted the old lady. "How-
ever, that's neither here nor there.
She told me to open the trunk as soon
as it came, and ge. out the black silk
dress pattern and send it to the dress
makers. I think myself" Aunt
Phedra added, incidentally, "that q
black silk dress for a girl Of Elsis's
narrow means is simply piece Of e1-
trsvagance. Yes, Ralph, l know what
you're going to say-'If girl teaches;
school and earns her own money, she
has right to spend it as she pleases.
But that don't alter the common sense
of..the matter, And she never sent the
key"
Then you can't open it," said Ralph
Sunfold.
"Unless," said Aunt Phedrs, Pro-
ducing prodigious ring Of different
sized keys-"unless one Of these hap
pens to fit it. I borrowed 'em from
Luke Smiths wife, whose husband used
to be in the locksmithing business.
wish, Ralph, you'd come into the next
room and try it. I'm so afraid Of
breaking the lock-"
Certainly, Aunt Phedrs," said Mr..
Sunfold.
II he couldn't see pretty Elsie's dim
pied, blooming self, to be able to do
for her was the next best
thing; and he followed the old lady
with alacrity into the adjoining apart
ment, where a battered trunk stood
against the wall, like leviathan in re-
pose.
"She must have been dreadful hard
on her new trunk" sighed Aunt Phe-
Ira.
Baggage-smsshers |" suggest ID her
nephew. zone can't travel without
having ones things torn to pieces.
Where are your keys, Aunt Phedr ~
He knelt before the trunk, the, old
lady standing solicitously by, as one
Iey after another was tested, wit bout
success.
"Tm afraid we shall have to give it
lp," said Ralph. "Stopl here is one
aore on the ring. Eurekal We have
tho very thingr'
"Well, I declare" said Aunt Phedrs,
s the young man Lifted heavy lid and
'alanced it against the wall, eff that
Vasn't sheer good luck. Now for the
lack silk dress pattern and the Il i'm.
pipas. Eh--whAt7 4 gsutlsu sn'a