Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-10-23


81 never thought Of that" said Miss
Randall, opening her eyes very wide.
ITS not bad idea. A good, sensible
brown"
"Or soft olive or lavender" suggest
ed Kitty. "You must choose 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 dis
tractingly lovely little home"
"Di.racting, indeed" sighed Aunt
Catty. " But-yes, Kitty. You are
young and have the tastes of your times.
| will not thwart you. If you sit by the
fire | shan't miss my dear little stove,
perhaps: If you are happy, maybe III
get to like the newt 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 that
brocade. Rip it up"
"Just the thing = cried Kitty. delight
ed, but her aunt stopped her.
"Only, child, don't rummage. do
hate to have my things tossed and tum.
bled about. There's nothing in the gar
ret but old broken things, no good at
all. Promise me to leave them all
alone"
"All right, aunty."
Kitty ran gSily up stairs. She meant
to be very good; but she could not help
just looking at this old screen delightful
ly capable OF restoration, or that old
clock. banished for its irregular life, but
which when set in order, would look 50
well in the hall The hall Kit,y's
countenance fell! How could anything
be done to such pokey, common little
house Kitty sighed, as she lifted out
the heavy brocade, and wished these dec
orations might be applied to a somewhat
worthier home, something picturesque and
artistic.
However, she had gained much, and it
was with bright face she stood before
her aunt, laden with the old fashioned
fnery.
See, aun,y, it is perfec, beauty. /
brought down this lovely scarf, too. 1t
would make such a table cover. Did you
know it was there p
+" | never took one thing ou. Of the
trunk" said Miss Randall gravely. 1t
was bitter gift to me, and | scarcely
know why did not leave it behind at
the Masons. What weight it is, |
have always supposed it was her wed.
ding dress. ! think it will be real re-
lief TO me to send the stuff to the dye
pot. The mere thought Of its pink and
white fiowerines has always turned me a
little sick Just look how it is lined
throughout, and what shape. Aunt
Catty seized the scissors and began to rip
vigorously.
II wonder" she calculated. whether
Aunt Katherine real ly thought would
make guy of myself by wearing that
thing 70 be married in"
ION, no aunty, you would have
had to alter it, Of course but with plen-
ty Of tulle it might have been made love-
ly."
With my yellow cheeks - said
Aunt Catty, with snort. She ripped
on.
Kitty
Kitty, who had been daintily detach-
ing the old lace border from the neck and
sleeves, looked up startled, to see Aunt
Catty sitting perfectly limp and pallid.
staring at the silk, from which protuded
various stiff, greenish corners. What
was it: Kitty's mind was quick. She
jumped up; she tore recklessly at the
beautiful silk; the Innings fell apart.
Miss Randall sat paralyzed.
They fell around her. Greenbacks
without number! Fifty dollars. one hum
dred dollars-by twenties and forties they
came; and Kitty, growing methodical,
gathered them all up and put them into
aunty's lap,
~ do believe the whole sixty thousand
dollars are here, !" she cried.
They were. Sleeves. waist. all were
pulled apart, and the carefully padded
bills extricated. Just over the heart was
stitched little note:
Dear Niece: Think kindly OF me II you
can. II your James Lavatar Is q better
man than mine, you win hnd the real worth
of this, my wedding dress. II he Is what
think him, you are well quit OF him, and
you may thank me. In any case you are
sure to find the money soon, for 1t wouldn't
be you not to rip up and dye my old silk
and make 1t some use. Niece, may you be
happier womsn-whether maid, wife, or
| widow-than your unfortunate
AUNT KATHERINE.
Poor Aunt Catty. She could hardly
recover from the shock and surprise but
when she did it had a wonderfully soft.
ening effect upon her. A dozen little
bitter angularities and queernesses which
had grown out Of her time Of indignity
and disappointment dropped away at
once and forever. She looked younger
and sweeter than she ever had, her neice
thought, when she emerged, at last, from
long cry behind her handkerchief,
cheered by the knowledge that Aunt
Katherine had not insulted and forsaken
her, as all these years she had thought;
but had in reality saved her from what
might have been an unhappy marriage,
and applied the test to heart which
shrank back in good time, thank Heav-
en- And now, instead of soured, for
gotten old maid, lonely and drear as she
had considered herself to be, she walked