The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-02-16
ELsIE,s TRUNK.


cigar before the kitchen fire.
He always went into the kitchen to
smoke his cigar Of winter evening. He
said it was TO save the snowy muslin cur.
tais Of |. Is Aunt Phedra's pretty parlor;
but, IN her secret heart, Aunt Phedra be-
lieyed that il WAS to enjoy the light and
warmth Of the open fire.
And really Aunt Phedras kitchen was
cozer and more comfortable place than
most parlors, with its rcd-and. black
striped rag carpet, its tall clock in the
corner, aud yellow. washed walls all fes
tooned with shining tin, and the big
cushen chair in the corner.
He was smoking his cigar, rs we said
before; and Aunt Phedra was indus.
triously picking yellow leaves off the fish
geranum in the window.
Eyes, said Aunt Phedra, "she's com.
ing back, or she wouldn't have sent her
trunk"
NO" said Mr.. sunfold, 81 presume
not"
"And I'm heartily sorry" added Aun.
Phedra.
Mr. Sunfold knocked the ashes off the
tip of his cigar, replaced on the fire. dogs
log which had rolled OF, and asked in
rather low tone:
"Why?"
Because you are determined to marry
her." said Aunt Phedra.
"Aud why shouldn't marry her, Aunt
Phedra 2"
Aunt Phedra wheeled around to face
her nephew.
Because she Is Is heartless little flirt,"
said she. "And am sorry ever adopt
ed i..r and brought her here .n break The
hearts of half the young men in the
country"
Mr.. Sunfold laughed.
''Let them take care Of their own
hearts," said he. "Thnt is no business
of mine. She loves me, and me only,
and that is enough"
II am not so sure of that" said Aunt
Phedra, with spice of feminine malice,
sho is n regular coquet, Elisha Bennett is,
and she may jilt you, as we'll as another"
"In that, Aunt Phedra," said the young
man, slowly, "I'm sure that you are mis-.
taken"
II am only repeating what people say"
retorted the old lady. However, that's
neither here nor there. Sho told me to
open the trunk as soon is 1t came, and
get out;the black silk dress pattern, and
send it to the dressmaker's. think"
Aunt Phedra added, incidentally, "that
black silk dress for girl of Elsie's
moans is simply piece of extravaganza.
Yes Ralph, know what you're going to
say-'If girl teaches school and earns
her own money, she has n 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 phedra, prvduc-
ing n prodigious ring of different sized
keys-'unless one Of these happens to
fit it. borrowed 'em from Luke Smiths
wife, whose husband used to be in the
locksmth business. Iwish, Ralph, you'd
come into the next room yod try it. Pm
80 afraid of breaking the lock-"
Certainly, Aunt Phedra," said Ralph
Sunfold.
If he couldn't see pretty Elaie's dim
pied, blooming self, to be able to do
something for her was the next best
thing; and he followed tho old lady with
alacrity into the adjoining apartment,
where o battered trunk stood against the
wall, like leviathan In repose.
"Sha must have been dreadful hard on
her new trunk" sighed Aunt Phcdra. i
"Baggagesmashers ~ suggested her
nephew. Zone can't travel without hav-
ing ones things torn to pieces. Where
are your keys, Aunt Phedra?"
He knelt before the trunk, .he old lady
starding solicitously by, as one key after
another was tested, without any apparent
suc :ess.
'1'm afraid We shall have to give it
NJ" said Ralph. "StopI here Is one
more on the iing. Eureka! We have
1.-THE very thingW
ttyVall ,soo1n 20 aoiI 4 .,pt DhoIro
as.the young m,n lifted heavy lid and
balanced it against the wall, "if that
wasn't sheer good luck. Now for the
black silk dress pattern and the trim
mings. Eh-what7 A gentleman's pho.
tograph-two of 'em7 A box of ciga.
rettes? do hope Elsie hasn't got the
nasty habit of smoking, like those dread
ful Cuban ladies one reads about. A red
silk smoking-cap and pair Of Turkish
slippers, :,
fold, who had grown very pale. 1--WE
have nc right further to pry into another
persons belongingu."
Aunt Phedra turned upon him like an
enFnged lionness.
"She wrote me to look into her things"
said she, sand I'm looking. And pm
glad locied; for as sure as you live,
Ralph Sunfold, Elsie Bennett, my adopt
ed daughter, has got married on the SLY,
and these are her husband's things,
packed in emong hers"
"But that's impossible" said straight.
forward Ralph Sunfold. 'She is en-
gagged to mep
aOh, Ralph, Ralphlo cried the old
lady, bursting into The slow agoniaing
tears Of ola age, as she let her head fall |
on her nepheW's shoulder, "don't think |
any more Of her. She's q jilt---a heart |
less coquette Oh, my boy, my boy | |
she never was good enough for youl"
Mr.. Sunfold turned silently away. He |
would have pledged his life for the truth
and purity OF little Elsie Bennett; but /
what did these mute witnesses mean-the
Testimony of the laughing, handsome,
photographs, with the silky moustache |,
and the dark, audacious eyes?
What arc you doing, Aunt Phedra z"
he asked. with his attention at last at
tracted by her quick, sudden motions.
Shutting up the trunk, !" said the old
lady, brnsquely. "L'll send it back to
her at once. I'll not have such brazen- r
faced doings in my honscm
$40, Aunt Phedra," said Ralph, reso-
lutely. "Ifieither of US leaves the house.
it must bel. Elsie has a right to the
shelter of your roof. She is your adopt