Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-04-07
THE SCENT or 4 DEAD ROSE

II shall say no more you may take your
own way, all of you. l shall never interfere
with you again, for good or bad, so good-b bye
TO you" and Aunt Paulett hobbled of on her
ebony crutch like the offended old fairy god
mother.
The family looked at one another with
blank faces as the door clapped smartly after
her.
Aunt Paulett was a woman of her word,
and, if she said she would go back to her hus-
bands people, go she would undoubtedly,
and then, what would become of them all |?
From that day-twenty years ago-when
she, childless widow, entered her sisters
scrambling, out-at-e elbows household, to yes.
terday evening, she had ruled them with a
rod of iron, by the might of strong will and
q long purse.
Easy going Mr.. Hilton and his fair, stupid,
good-natured wife, who spent placid exist
ence doing woodwork on the sofa, her ideas
seemingly bounded by the requirements OF
the last annual baby, we're mere ciphers in
their own house, under her stern, yet whole
some SWAY.
II Mr.. Hilton, after one or two cutting re-
marks from her ladyship, had sadly resigned
his ancient and comfortable fashion of spend.
ing the evening in his greasy old dressing
gown and down-at-heel slippers-if the SER
Lady Pauletts bell and hint of "Aunt Ara
bella" quelled the widest nursery riot-yet
the handsome premium which was to start
clever Jack on the road to glory as an engi-
neer, the allowance which sent studous
Pierce 10 college and saved him from filling
a stool in his fathers Office, Dora's pretty
gowns and trinkets, Emily's singing lessons
and the new piano. the summer trip to the
seaside, the winter pantomime and Christmas
party-in brief, all the comforts aud luxuries
of the family from the pony carriage to the
last baby's christening robe, came from the
generous hand of the same benefcent old
despot; and now, now all were melting away
before their astonished eyes like summer
snow, and Aunt ArabellA was of to spend the
rest of her days with the George Pauletts-
and why? Because, forsooth, pretty Dora,
instead of carrying out her aunts intentions
and waiting till, in the fullness of time, Spen-
Ger Paulett should return from sea, fall in
love with and marry her, had gone and en-
gagged herself to the parish doctors long
legged Irish assistant, with nothing in the
world to offer her but warm Irish heart, a
decent share of brains under his shock head
OF red hair, and an income which he modest
ly described as being mostly on the wrong
side Of his account. book as yet.
There was an appalled, silence, broken only
of into the distance.
Mr.. Hilton retired behind his newspaper
with the air of a man who had much to say
on the subject presently.
Mrs. Hilton shifted feebly on her sofa. The
smallest Hilton but one sat under the table
sucking its thumb and vaguely conscious OF
evil to come, prepared for wall In dis
tant window Dora wept and wept impervious
to all her Cornelius's vigorous whispers Of
consolation.
Pierce had withdrawn discreetly when the
storm broke, through the window into the
garden, where he was seen walking up and
down in dismayed meditation; and Jack, sur
reptitiously shaking his fist at the uncon
scious back of his would-be brother-in- law
followed Pierce. Meanwhile up the stair
case and down the corridor went Aunt Ara
bella briskly enough despite her lameness and
her eighty years She had two little rooms
in a remote corner of the house, sacred from
the intrusion of the most audacious of the
Hiltons. She entered the first of them, where
pale, meek young female sat sewing.
"Parkerm
"Yes, my lady"
~ want my trunks. Find them at one,
and pack up everything that belongs to me.
Long attendance on her imperious mistress
had deprived the gentle Parker of the powe
AASNA
acquiescence.
eyes, my lady"
"we go by the first train tomorrow, so bt
ready"
Eyes, my lady"
"And let some one take two letters to tn,
post for me tonight
eyes, my lady"
Lady Paulett passed on to the next room
a bedroom furnished with a magnificent ereo
ton of mahogany and satin damask larg,
enough to accommodate ten little old ladie
| like herself
There was a wood fire burning, rendering
dimly visible ancient spider-legged tables,
corner cupboard with treasures of old chin
and enamel elaborate works of art in patch
work; counterpane, cushions, &c, anC
some framed and glazed performances, il
tentstitoh, "Eleazer meeting Rebecca, 18Th
| Pro6igals Return" and "Ruth Cleaning,
with faces and hands Of painted kid faded by
age into ghastly whiteness.
Lady Paulett seated herself in q tall OLE
arm chair by the fire, while Parker lighted I
large silyer-branched candlestick and drew
| table near to her.
'My writing Parker, and you ma,
come for the letters in half an hour"
eyes, my lady, and while Parker hurried
of to rummage out her mistresss long for
gotten travelling equipments, Lady Paulett
| in her neat old-fashioned hand, indted tw'
short notes, addressed the one to "Mrs. Geo
Paulett Eastholm Hall, Wilmington, York
shire :" the other TO "R. j. Blaekett, Esq.
Lincolns Inn, London" She had finished
before Parker reappeared, and, after sittinl
thinking for few minutes, drew from he
desk folded paper. 1t was headed Memo
rsnda for my will, 1869" and contained sun
dry notes, over which she pondered.
''There are the letters Parker, Let then
go at once-but first bring me my dressing
case and jewel-case. They shall have what
have bequeathed 10 them now, before 60
I'll make no difference, and then I've don
with tham all forever-ungrateful set J"
Parker placed gorgeous inlaid dressing
case and a massive brass-bound Golfer befor
her mistress, and departed.
Lady Paulett drew the latter to her will
some difficulty. ''It is time an old womai
like me should be rid of some of those bur
dens, she said, smiling grimly as she turne'
the key and disclosed case upon case OF mo
rocco and velvet snugly slowed away. Sh
turned them out and laid them all open be
fore her--a brave show in the bright fire ant
candle-light.
Parker meanwhile stepped nOiselessly Il
and fro in the background, emptying the bil
wardrobe of it's contents aud bearing then
away to pack in the next room.
'Let me see DOrap She's the eldest. Sh
was TO have my emeralds. She'll take 1t as
delicate compliment to the nationality of tn
man of her choice. Bah he'll pawn them
what else can one expect? Well well,