The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1883-05-03
AN UNDERGRADUATES AUNT.


small college, and in doing so conferred
upon it one of the few distinctions it
could boast--namely. that of possess
ing the very bashfulest man in the
whole university.
But his college did not treat him with
any excess of adulation on that account.
probably from prudent fear OF rub
bling the bloom off his modesty. they al
lowed him to blush which was
the condition in which he preferred to
blush.
He felt himself oppressed by pauci-
ty Of ideas and difficulty in knowing
which way to look in the presence OF
his fellow-men, which made him never
so happy as when he had fastened his
outer door and secured himself from
all possibility of intrusion; though it
was almost an unnecessary precaution,
for nobody ever thought of coming to
see Washington.
In appearance he was man of mid
die height, with q long scraggy neck
and large head, which gave him the
air of being much shorter than he real
" was; he had little weak eyes, nose
and mouth Of no particular shape, and
very smooth hair OF no definite color.
He had timid deprecating air, which
seemed due to the consciousness that he
was an interesting anomaly, and he
certainly was as imperyious to the or
binary influence of his surroundings as
any undergraduate well could be He
lived a colorless, aimless kind of life in
his little rooms under the roof; reading
every morning from nine till two with
a superstitioCsly mechanical regularity,
though very often his books completely
failed to convey sny ideas whatever TO
his brain, which was not particularly
powerful organ.
II the afternoon was fine, he general
ly sought out his one friend, who was a
few degrees less shy than himself, and
they went monosyllabic walk togeth-
or; or il il was wet, he read the papers
at the Union, and in the evenings after
hall he studied general literature -
n graceful term for noyels--or labori-
ously spelt out sonata upon his piano,
n habit which did not increase his pop
ularity.
Fortunately for Washington. he had
no gyp, or his life might have been
made o positive burden to him. and
with his bed-maker he was rather q ia
vorite as a "genelman what gave no
trouble '--meaning that when he OBJ
served his sherry unaccountably sinking,
like the water in lock when the sluices
are up, Flushing.on was too delicate to
refer TO the phenomenon.
lie was ting one afternoon over his
modest lunch OF bread and butter, pot
ted meat and lemonade, when all at
once he heard sound of unusual voices
and strange fiutter Of dresses coming
up the winding stone aircase outside,
and was instantly seized with a cold
dread
There was no particular reason for
being alarmed, although there were
certainly ladies mounting the steps
probably they were friends OF the man
opposite. who was always having his
PEOPLE up. But still Flushington had
that odd presentiment which nervous
people have sometimes that something
unpleasant is on its way to them, and
be half rose from his chair TO shut his
outer oak.
1t was too late; the dresses were rust
ling now in his very passage--there was
q pause, few fam, smothered laughs,
and little feminine coughs-then two
taps at the door
.Come in" cried Flushington, faint
The door opened, and his heart
seemed to stop and all the blood rushed
violently to his head rs large lady
came sweeping in, her face ripping
with broad smile of affection.
She horriled Flushington, who knew
nobody with the least ca'm TO smile at
him SO expansively as that he drank
lemonade TO conceal his c, Infusion.
you don't know me. my dear
Fredg' she said, easily. "Oi course,
not-how should you? rm--for good
ness sake, my dear boy, don't look so
terribly frightened. I'm your agnt--
your aunt Amelia, come over from Aus
traliar'
The shock was a severe one to Flush
ington who had not even known he
possessed ch Il relative; he could only
say: "Oh9n which he felt even then
was scarcely a warm greeting to give
an aunt from the Ant podes.
sch. but" she added. cheerily,
"lhafs not all; I've another surprise
for you; the dear girls ms S on coming
up, too to see their grand colleg,
cousin; they're inst outside. III cal
them iH--shall lP''
In ano' her second Flushingion' small
room was oyerun by q horde Of fe-
male relatives. while he looked on
gasping.
They were pretty girls, teo. many oil
them; but that was all The more dread
ful to him he did not mind the palmer
ones half SO much; a combination Of
beanly and intellect reduced him 10 a
condition Of absolute imhecility.
BE was once caught and introduced
10 n charming young lady fir m Newn-
ham. and all he could do was To back
feeby into a corner and murmur ''thank
YOU repeatedly.
He was very title better than that
then rs his aunt Singled out one girl
after another. ave won't have any
formal non ense between cousin, sire
said; - on know them all by name al.
ready. ! dare say--this II Milly, .hat S
Jane. here ora, and Kitty. and Mar
garet, and tha S my tile Thomasna
ave there by the book ease "