Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-04-23

would wear when [ married. She
needn't have troubled herself to
write that bitter sneer in the new
will she made only two days before
her death. Of course you know l
never was married. Aunt Katharine
judged James Levater Alright. Per-
haps there is something in name.
After home and fortune went, the
lover soon followed. Never mind
| the details
! I went away just then as a hospi-
tai nurse, Kitty; and it did me good.
You know I had little property
from my mother, and / came to her
old neighborhood, when the war was
over, and hired this house. / had
twelve hundred a year to live on, and
peace and independence, if nothing
| else. / don't say L have not been
lonely and sad, Kitty but, if you
can content yourself here and put up
with my fdgetty ways, there'll be
some brightness left after all, in your
old aunty's life.'
Kitty felt the appeal, and respond
ed with a caress; but answered in a
hesitating voice:
You know, darling Aunty, you
are all l have to cling to now, and
this seems my right place; but-but
4 must speak frankly
Freely and fully, my dear. like
plain speaking
In the first place, Aunty, the
money question. l must pay my
share
Aunty looked thoughtful, then
nodded.
i see, dear. You would be most
welcome to what have; but / know
what it is to be born Independent.
You shall do as you like
'Oh, you dear, sensible thing
cried Kitty, giving her hug. Now,
that is comfortable. Let US have it
all over at once. You say you have
twelve hundred a year. | will put
in another twelve hundred, and we
can live nicely on that, in a very
small way. Can't we?'
kitty, Kitty, that's twice too
much.
Not one cent, aunty. | couldn't
possibly live on less. We will have
two maids, and make a pretty gar
den with lots of roses and vines.
'Earwigs and slugs,' remarked
aunty, grimly. And the maids will
quarrel. Well, 60 on. You haven't
got through, / can see.'
Just one thing more foundered
Kitty. This house (don't feel bad,
dear) is so hopelessly ugly
Ugly Well, l declare Kitty
Randall, do you mean to drive me
crazy with modern art? Are you GO
ing to tack up japanese fans and
idiotic paper parasols all over the
walls? Must l have a row Of kitchen
pie plates on the mantel shelf and
stick sunfower in the middle of the
dinner table? Are you an aesthetic
young lady, Kitty?'
Kitty laughed heartily.
Don't be afraid, aunty. l only
want my earwigs and slugs, and the
maids shan't quarrel; but | want
some low chairs and a pretty little
table and lamp, and a place to put
my piano and my various pictures
and pretty things. And l want to
send away this dreadful stove and
have an open wood-fire. saw some
beauties of andirons and brass
fender in the attic, aunty.'
sWood-fires make lot of dirt,
Kitty
The new girl can sweep it up. Let
us put this carpet in your room, and
stain the floor and put down rugs.
It's so much cleaner. | see you are
going to say Yes you dear. There
is just one thing more. / saw trunk
in the attic-the trunk L guess; and
most beautiful old silk dress-the
dress, aunty?
| Yes, Kitty, the dress. What now
Am to wear it to church with a
peacock feather in my hat?'
| Not quite. 1 was only thinking
what a lovely sofa cover it would
make
kitty pink and white bro
cadet
Not exactly. Have it dyed
L never thought OF that, said Miss
Randall, opening her eyes very wide.
sIt's not bad idea. A good, sensi-
BILE brown
sOr soft olive or lavender sug-
gested Kitty. You must choose a
pretty paper, first, you know, and
then color to harmonize. Oh, you
dear, good aunty. | do believe you
are going to let me have my way,
and turn this house into distract
ingly lovely little home.'
'Distracting, indeed! J sighed Aunt
Catty. 'But-yes, Kitty. You are
young and have the tastes of your
times. I'll not thwart you. If you
sit by the fire. / shan't miss my neat
little stove perhaps. If you are hap
I py, maybe I'll get to like the new
) tangled ways
DO let me kiss you, dear Aunt
: Catty. / am SO glad. ] wish | could
{ set to work this moment.
| well, dear, you can. There is