The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1882-01-19
JUDGING IN HASTE.

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 was
a cozier and moro comfortable place
than most parlors. with its red.and-
black striped rag carpet, its tall clock
inthe corner, the yellow-washed walls
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 IF the big
fsh.geranium in The window.
eyes," said Aunt Phedra, 'she's
coming back, or she wouldn't have sent
her trunk"
"No," said Mr.. Sunfold, 81 suppose
not" .
ssAnd 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 off, and
then asked, in rather low tone:
"Why?
because you are determined to
marry her." said Aunt Phedra.
"And why shouldn't ] marry her,
Aunt Phedra?"
Aunt Phedra wheeled around to face
her nephew.
"Because she's heartless little
fiirt," said she. .1.tAnd Pm sorry Ieye,
saaatGa her I1RsRk hs.atasass Z
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" .-
FH"I'm not so sure of that" said Aunt
Phedra, with a spice of feminine
malice. "She's regular coquet, Elsie
Bennett is, and she may iilt you as
we'll as another"
"In that, Aunt Phedra," said the
young man, slowly, 81 am sure that
you are mistaken"
"1'm only repeating what people
say" retorted the old lady. Chow.
ever, that's neither here nor there.
She told me to open the trunk as soon
as it came, and get out the black silk
dress pattern and send it to the dress
makers. I think myself" Aunt
Phedra added, incidentally, "that a
black silk dress for a girl of Elsis's
narrow means is simply piece of ex-
trayagance. Yes, Ralph, 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 Phedra, pro-
ducing a prodigious ring of different
sized leys-"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 Phedra," said Mr..
Srnfold.
If he couldn't see pretty Elsie's dim
Piled, blooming self, to be able to do
something fer 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-
dra.
"Baggage.smashers |" suggested her
nephew. "One can't travel without
having ones things torn to pieces.
Where are your keys, Aunt Phedra"
He knelt before the trunk, the old
lady standing solicitously by, as one
key after another was tested, without
apparent success.
"I'm afraid We shall have to give ii
up," said Ralph. "Stop! here is one