The Opelousas courier., 1884-07-19

huge, TITLED cap; N wore d prlSh'
Nown wig, set a little awry v her
forehead, and massive green specta-
cles sat astride of her nose. while
brown cotton gloves adorned her
hands, and a green umbrella, carried
under the arm, threatened, with its
brass ferule, the eyes of whatsoever
was rash enough to crowd her move
ments in the rear.
"Aunt Feny's self, as | live and
breathel' echoed Bruce Montmartin.
"Charlie, if l were you, Id run for
it!'
drop her in the gutter and make
off with yourself" suggested another
young exquisite, superciliously strok-
ing down his moustache.
But Charles Early had too many
gentlemanly instincts to pay any heed
to the waggish hints of his compan-
ions. He stepped forward, chival-
rously.
ALLOW me to carry your basket for
you, ma'am?" he said. 81 am the
brother-in-law of your niece, Mrs. Ear
ly."
ooh, you be, eh?" croaked a feeble
voice from under the cap frill. swell,
you may take my umbril and basket,
and here's a paper o gingerbread l
fetched along for lunch, and a bottle
o root beer Farmer jenkins wife
sent me-it's dretful good for pimples
and sich-and I've got a striped car
pet-bag some'ers. with the key tied on
with a bit of red tape-and here's the
brass tickets for the trunks-checks
the fellow called 'em, if I remember
rightly"
Its all right. ma'am, l assure you,
said Mr.. Early, "step into the car
riage; | will see that your things are
brought here directly"
"What be them fellows laughin'at?',
demanded Aunt Feny, stopping short
with one foot on the carriage step, and
glaring at Messrs. st. Everil and Mont
martin through the green spectacle
glasses. 81 guess I'm as good as they
be if / amt dressed in the very last
agony of the fashion. I've got SO
seWed up in my flannel waist, over
and above my ~travelin' expenses, and
I'll go bail it's more than they'v got!''
A suppressed laugh here ran
through the little assemblage of spec
tators on the platform.
do not let their folly annoy you,
ma Fam" said Early, pleasantly. "st.
Everil, stand back" he added, steruly,
'if you have no reverence for old age
or womanhood, I viii teach you to re-
spect my right hand. This lady is
under my protection, you will please
to remember
Mr.. st. EveriI retreated, somewhat
discounted, upon his. companions
toes, and the old lady climbed, chuck
ling into the carriage.
young man." she began, when the
umbrella, lunch-paper, basket and bot
tie were safely slowed away. and they
were rolling rapidly over the city
streets. you've got a good deal of
moral courage. faint every city
sprig would be as polite TO an old
creetur as you've been, with all them
fellers pokin' fun at you,'
Our hero was somewhat embarrassed
at this plainly spoken compliment.
Il hope, madam" he said. ! shall
never be found lacking in the essen
tial qualities Of a gentleman, in what
ever circumstances | may be placed"
The antique dame nodded her cap
frills, and held silently on to her UNI
brella, without Yenturing any other
remark until they reached Mrs. Rob
ert Early's mansion.
Josephine was waiting for them on
the threshold; she clasped her ancient
relation closely to her arms, and there
was a sort Of triumphal procession up
to her apartment, which Charlas was
rather at a loss to understand.
Zone would think Josephine never
had had an aunt, fresh out of Noah's
ark before he muttered TO himself, as
he took up the newspaper and went out
to the vine-shaded piazza, there te
while away the time until such period
as lunch should be announced.
@Charliel"
He had exhausted the paper long
ago, and nearly fallen into a doze; bui
at his sister-in-law's summoning voice
he started to his feet and entered the
house.
Aunt Stephanie wants to thank yot
for all your kindness to her this morn
ing said Josephine.
agonfound Aunt Stephanie, Thought
Mr.. Early, advancing drowsily towart
the front room, where, in q sort Of ar
tinclal twilight. produced by satin cur
tains and Venetian blinds, he could
dimjv dnscrv q figure.