The Press., 1883-10-18
AUNT ANN.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

as he sat in his pew on Sunday, for he could not see her from where he sat and it charmed him so deeply that he began to take pains to discover at what concerts she sang, and to hire seats to hear her. Then he found out that she was beautiful, and 1t was very easy to get an lntroduc- tion to her, and after that easier still to fall in love with her, And then he began to call occasionally with flowers and books, and all the little offerings gentleman is privileged to make his lady friends.
 He was handsome, he was rich. Wheth- CT his connections were of good social po- sitiop or not did not matter, for no one ever saw any of them. He had the grace full manner of parlor knight, and all the accomplishments necessary and he had romantic eyes if he had not romantic heart
 Alice liked romantic eyes, and the man. ner of society. She was fattered by the attentions of man so highly thought of the guest of the best people. So agree able in his manners, so well bred. Final ly she felt that when he would say ''Will you ?" she could not say sNo." And con- ing to this point, she was pleased to think that he was rich, for she c )uld not doubt that there would be welcome in his heart for old Aunt Ann, who was her charge and care, and had been since her mother died, and she betrothed herself to him happily when the words she bad dreamed of were spoken, and waited for him to mention the subject of Aunt Ann himself. At last he did so It was after the day was set for their wedding.
 "Where will your aunt go after we are married ?" he asked. "Has she any rel atives ?"
 ''Not one beside myself,' Alice answer ed "We are the last of our race"
 'I thought so,'' said Archibald. s'And as I feel kindly to the old soul. I tell you what I'll do I'll buy her into the Old Ladies Home, at Primrose, and she'll be comfortable and out of our way. Eh, Alice ?"
 1T don't want Aunt Ann out of my way" said Alice. ''She is my dear friend and companion. She is not so very old, Archibald-not suitable for such life at all. In fact, while have my voice and fingers to keep her from it no such fall shall be hers. I can earn all we nesd."
 "But you forget, my love, said Arch ibald, ''my wife can't sing in public, or Mrs. Archibald Verne. You'll have no private purse aud as I hold the purse l shall provide for your aunt as I think proper"
 ''The proper way is that she will live with me, said Alice, quietly.
 ''But 8 wife must obey her husband that you acknowledge is ?" said Arch ibald.
 ''We are not yet married" said Alice, still more quietly.
 ''But we shall be in few weeks," said Archibald
 "When I am married my aunt will live with me-" said Alice. ''Share my home as she has always done, be my friend, my companion, always"
 She looked away from him as she spoke, but he looked at her ang1ily.
 five always said I'd never have moth E- er-in-law about my house, and an aUnt-in- law would be worse" he said, slowly. "We shall live at hotel, and an old-fashioned person like that would be i. the way. You don't notice it, perhaps, but your aunt is very old d-fashioned and quite-quite-im possible
 'Yes, understand the slang, replied Alice, "and other things are also quite inn possible. For instance, that should ir- suit Aunt Ann.''
 "She looked him in the face again as she spoke and drew from her finger her engagement ring, in which a costly dia- mond gleamed like star."
 ''I release you from your engagement" /" she said, quietly, and dropped it into the palm of his hand, outstretched at the mo- ment, in gesture which had followed the word impossible.
 The politeness and elegance, which were only the veneers of 8 coarse nature, chip ped off under the pressure of anger.
 ESQ.," said MT. Archibald Verne-'sso you are willing to give up all the advan- tages of marriage with me, and go on earning your living by your music, for the sake of a common old Scotch aunt, nearly in her dotage? No, no, Alice you want me to yield to you-that is all but I will never do it. I'll go so far as to board the I'll not have her with us. There's a com promise. Put on your ring and make the best of it.
 Alice rose, with indignation in her eyes.
 ''Thank heaven, I have not learned what you really are too late ? she said. "All is over between us. "
 She left the room as she spoke. Arch ibald Verne waited ten minutes, but she did not return fifteen, and still he was alone He rang the bell, and the one ser want, hurrying in from the kitchen of the neat little fiat, came wiping her soapy hands on her apron.
 s'TeIl Miss Alice I am waiting" he said, sternly.
 The woman took the message, and re- turned with twisted note, which he tore into fragments after he had read 1t, and scattered in the air as he hurried down the street.
 | After this, each went 8 separate way Alice sang and taught music as before. Archibald lived the life of gay bachelor
 How he came to speculate no one knew, but that he did it was certain-he doubled his fortune He was spoken of as mil lionaire-he bought pl ce i; he drove splendid horses. Suddenly there was crash. Where the money went it was hard to see, but it was gone. A red flag from the door of Archibald Verne. The millionaire WIS gone, as the soap bubble goes.
 Where the poor man, Archibald Verne, went nobody asked but his creditors.
 Ten years passed like a dream-ten years were gone-but looking at the facs of Alice Stanley one would scarcely have be- ieved it. Fresh, fair and sweet as daisy she seemed as she sat in beautiful apart ment looking out upon the sea. At the next window Aunt Ann was seated Her plain cap of spotted muslin was exchanged for one of real lace, fastened with dia- mond pin. Her alpaca gown no longer hung plain and straight to the top of her nr11nalla shnea Rich silk cI1t hy a mo-