The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-03-23

ment, and they invited me to 60 over.
We went and saw, and conquered-that
is about all there was to it"
wall, L must say when I saw it all
pictured out in the pictorials with those
rowdy looking doctors, and the people
most scarf to death, never could be-
lieve, Clayton. that you were among
them" said grandma, betaking herself
to her rocking chair and snuff box.
1t was evident that "Rex" had soiled
his plumes little with grandma. When
she had made it all ur in her own mind,
she would call him Clayte, again, and
not before.
"Come Het," said John Brewster, "let
us have the story of the meat-pie."
We had returned to the parlor, and
Art had distinguished himself at the
fire place, which was of the old-fashioned,
generous kind. 1t is theory of Arts,
that no man ought to be an artist or an
architect who cannot build handsome
wood fire in Fireplace. Aunt Olpha
had gone down to Widow Penthouse,
with Thanksgiving basket, and Charlie
had driven off to see patient. The rest
of us were all there, reinforced by Het's
nine months old baby.
HET's STORY.
I believe shall have to cut both the
meat-pie and the smallpox, and begin
with Aunt Orpha. We had been married
about q week, and found time hanging
rather heavily on my hands, if was q
bride. Charlie was too busy, or too poor
to go anv where, so he brought me right
here, and then never found time to say
a word to me, or to pay me the least at
tention from morning till night. Mollie
had been mistress here so long, that she
resented the suggestion from me, and
always looked daggers if l as much as
ventured into the kitchen. l used to
spend my time mostly rumaging over all
the rooms, airing closets, and disgorging
bureaus. One thing puzzled me-where
all the pretty things came from--the
little knickknacks, and bric-a-brac.
Charlie had no sisters or cousins, a fact to
which allowed myself to feel resigned,
especially as I had so many, you know.
His mother died when he was baby.
How then could he have picked up all
these lovely bits that no one but a lady
could contrivc? It is really surprising
never believe how silly, and how miser-
able i was over it. One day he came in
with raging headache, and after l had
rubbed him into a temporary quiet, was
turning the sofa pillow for him, when it
came to me, that now was the time.
"By the way" las if it had never &C.
Cured to me BEFORE "who made this
sofa pillow? tits beauty; and should
like to know who did all the rest of the
lovely work about the rooms-the lam
brequins, and screens, and mats, and
chair-covers-andw while you are about it
you might as we'll tell me who made your
double gown, who embroidered your
slippers, and handkerchiefs, who pieced
your silk bed quilt?"
I had capped the climax then, and 1
was actually trembling all over. Charlie
sat up and looked at me, as if had taken
the last leave of my senses; and felt as
if had.
"Why Aunt Orphs, of course"
"Aunt Orpha"
eyes. certainly, Aunt orpha. Who
else could do it,"
Mollie brought in his dinner, and I
waited three minutes by the watch-it
seemed three housewife he addressed
not to me, but his appetite.
At last blurted out:
Zone would think you had never seen
baked potato before. Will you stop
eating long enough to tell me who this
wonderful Aunt Orpha is, and where she
is, and why you never spoke of her to
me?"
Charlie dropped his knife and fork and
looked across at me in amazement.
II have told you of her."
"Never-never."
"Well then, that is surely unpardona-
BILE. She was my dear mothers young
est sister; she was my poem-till knew
you"
That was silly. of course; but he said
it, and then he drew up letter from his
pocket, in which Aunt Orpha called him
''her dear boy" and actually announced
her intention of paying us q visit the
middle of next week. Then he told me
q little about Aunt Orpha-of what her
life had been, how she was engaged to
be married to sailor, how he was lost at
sea and she heard of his death the very
day that had been fixed for their bridal.
Oh / tell you--you don't any of you
know what Aunt Orpha is. No more did
then; but have been learning ever
since Charlie said one thing that amazed
me; he said she would be my "revela-
ton" wondered why. or how.
Before went to bed that night wrote
Aunt Orpha letter; my dear Aunt
Orpha-Charlie did it; that is, he failed
TO do ito tell me much of you, I mean,
and that is how it happened that l did