The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-12-19
AUNT JAMES ONLY OFFER.

Ihe three Misses Iibbs were, without
doubt, in a fever of delight. Simply an
event was about to happen, which,
though 1T may more than once in q
woman's life, on its first happening is
especially frauynt with excitement.
One of the Misses Tibbs, the eldest,
Jennie, a very pretty blonde Of twenty
two, was about to be married, and nat
urally the talk and thought all ran to
matters matrimonial.
The three Misses Tibbs were very
busy, intensely SO, not really making
up the trousseau, for that important
matter had been intrusted to the hands
OF Madame Lollipop, the eminent mod
lste of Fifth enu and Twenty-third
street, but in evolving the hundred lit
tie nothings that are supposed to apper-
tam to a wedding, and that must, in
the majority of cases, emanate from the
home circle or near it.
AT tlis employment the three misses
were busy, assisted by their Aunt Jane,
who, as far as q surname went, might
as well have had none, for Aunt Jane
she was to everybody, even those who
could not ever claim a ninety-ninth cous-
inship. though really, Aunt James name
was Hopkinson.
The three girls-Jennie, the eldest,
named after her aunt; Josephine, the
second, aged twenty, named after her
Uncle Joseph, and Maud, the "babv,"
aged sixteen, and named after nobody,
had often discussed Aunt James charm
ing qualities and howprettv she must
once have been, but it had never occur
red to them to think of why Aunt Jane.
still at the age of fifty, renamed a
maiden, with no apparent aspirations
toward changing that condition. But
now, brought forth by what was soon to
happen to one of the trio, everything
that bore upon the subject came promi-
nently forward, and every acquaintance
of the female persuasion became sub
luct to discussion.
"Do you know" said Josie, "what
was the reason that Tillie Smith did not
marry John PENN"
"No!" was Jennie's response. Give
always wondered, but never knew
"Ill tell YOU. 1t was because, when
John went off. us he did after his en-
gagement, to Chicago on business, and,
of course, had to write Tillie letters, for
the first time she discovered that not
only he did not write good grammar,
but did not know how to use the capital
letter, and so she broke off the engage
ment. You know Title is very partic-
ular and teaches in a public school.
"Why, how absurd! |" said Jennie. IL
don't think my Tom is perfect in his
letters, but l love EN-, and I'm as glad
to get EN- as though they were classical
1y correct. l think it was a fortunate
escape for Mr.. Penn"
$50 do l." said Maud. 9TH never
put on such n~onsensical airs as that
with anybody. You know I'm too in
fantile-so YOU all say--to think of get
ting married, aud l think so myself,
but | can't help it If l don't like every
body that likes me. Now, you know,
you wanted me to explain why it
was that 1 wouldn't come down
stairs the other evening. when Young
Charley Keller called. Well, I'll tell
you. 1t was because when he came
last Wednesday evening, just a week
ago to-day, he leaned back in his chair
against the wall, over in that corner,
and he left that grease spot hat you
see there from the back of his head.
Now, girls. wen if l was ten years old
ell, l wouldn't want anybody coming to
see me that creased his hair SO as to
leave a spot on the new wall paper.
Welt | don't know, Maudic. hut
what you may DO right" said Jennie,
thoughtfully, "but 1 don't think l
would send my Tom away for that. I'd
try and clean the spot, and if / couldn't
I'd show it to him, and tell him he
must be careful the next time"
aunt Jane" said Jennie, impatient
ly, as if the idea had Just reached her,
show was it that you never married 2"
perhaps it was because l had no Of
fer" said the old maid with a smile.
"Oh, that's impossible, +" said the three
Misses Tibbs in chorus.
"Whv impossible, my dear girls?
Everything is possible" replied Miss
Hopkinson gravely.
"Yes. a%untie, but know that you had
everything attractive about you to draw
the best Of offers. Mamma says that
you were one of the most charming
girls she ever knew"
"Your mamma, my dear, is very kind,
but you must remember that she speaks
with tho prejudice of IL sister, and be-
sides that a does not look upon
these things with the. eyes of a man"
"Oh, but, auutie, | know for myself.
l can see how very pretty you have
been, and l can see that you have not
lost it yet. One can grow gracefully
old, and keep all their good looks to
those who love them, even though they
be a little shaded by age"
"Yes!" put in Josephine, "and there's
one thing ordained by Providence on
that point, which is that we do not see
those we are with every day getting
old. We never notice age creeping Oh
them unless our attention is particularly
called to t."
II think that may be so in some
cases." said Aunt Jane, smiling, "but
it could hardly be, girls, ia your cases
with ME. l have watched you from the
cradle up. and could almost count
every day. 1t may hold good with
those who are about the same age as
yourself. Now, l confess that I have
never thought of age as regards your
mother, and yet l am seven years older
than she is"
ooh, no; is just as young and
beautiful as ever" said "The Baby
enthusiastically, "and 1 remember her
for twelve years. No. Ling We no
tice the advances of age uf5an ourselves
meye tam we do on others. l know