Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-04-15
Gales aud Sketfhes.
ONLY Amt MARGERI.

..Girlsr' l have some news for you
Grapd news it is, but papa told me not to
mention it, 50 if tell you. you vii, let it
90 no further 20 and Connie Steadman
| glanced round at her friends. feeling her
self an important parsonage. as the youth
full possessor of secret usually does.
"Oh, trust US, Connie. we won't say q
single word to any one; we will De as
dumb as mutes on the subject" exclaim-
ed Kate Derwent: and her sister Mary,
and their cousin. Edith Salter. who had
come in like Constance for morning
chat. made the required asseveration. and
the quartette drew their chairs close. IN
delightful anticipation.
well, then, papa told us. yesterday
evening-but, Katie. there is some one
in the other ROOM" and Connie glanced
through the balf-open curtains into the
large drawing-room, at the further end
of which sat lady engaged in some quiet
occupation.
only Aunt imagery" answered Katie !;
she is copying some music for US, ana
won't hear if you speak low. Now do,
dear Connie. get on with your story. for l
am dying with impotence.
! We'll, then the house on the hill is
| let to a single gentleman, MIR. Maurice
Chester, very nice looking. very rich. who
/ intends to come and live in it himself.
and give no end of nice parties and balls.
expect. for he asked papa If there was
good society in the neighborhood. as ne
would not like to settle down in dull
place. Of course papa gave him good
report of the land. in that and every other
respect. and so he decided to take the
4
10 superintend the fitting up, etc"
"Oh, how glorious!' cried May, clap
ping her hands; now we shall have fun.
But, Connie, is he young, thought"
"Oh. yes. about thirty, papa thought"
answered Connie. rather doubtfully.
Thirty? Why, he is quite old"' said
Mary, disguised. from a seventeen-years-
old point of view. why, he will do for
Aunt Margery-we always call her an old
maid. and he is an old bachelor"
Nonsense. Mary, what stuff you talk"
said Kate. who being Internationally,
took a different view of the matter. "Thir
ty is not old for man. You only care for
boys, like George Burden Mary blush
ed. But YOU would not expect him to
buy house and estate, like this gentle
man. The only thing is is he engaged,
Connie ?'
"Ah, that cannot tell you. unfortunate
". asked papa, and he said very likely.
he hadn't asked him; but mamma thinks
not, because he would certainly have
brought the lady to see her future home,
if he had BEEN" said Connie.
Your mamma is right. Connie; he GER
tainly would have done So" said Kate.
decidedly.
And then followed quite an hours dis
cussion about the newcomer, in the height
of which, Connie herself, as well as the
other two. quite forgot the need of secrecy
and the lady so quietly occupied in the
other room must have been very deaf not
to have heard all the conversation.
She took very little notice of it. however;
the girls made just as much commotion if
they met new face at dinner party, or
were introduced to a strange partner at
ball for Maundbury was such quiet place
and so miserably short of masculine So
ciety. except the old and married. that any
chance acquaintance even caused quite
flutter among the manageable ladies.
How, then, could the news of apermanent
resident fail to affect them?
1t is said that at no age does a woman
give up the hope of marriage. but must
say at the risk of being disbelieved, that
no thoughts of the matter ever caused
Margery Derwent's pulse an extra flutter.
If her niece Kate had grown to the age
of %, beautiful and attractive as she was,
with only lovers .'who loved and rode
away," there semed little chance for her,
aunt Margery. with the faded looks and
quiet manners that sorrow and loss, and
| 80 years of life had lowered her love-
dream, but it had faded with the loss of
her father and all her fortune, except a
small sum which Just found her in clothes,
while her brother insisted upon her max
! his house her home. At first Mrs Der
went objected. but then finding Margery
very useful to call up in the night in case
of sudden illness. to help take care of the
children. and to make herself generally
useful. as poor relations are expected to
do, she ceased to grumble, and Margery
found herself settled at Derwent house,
with sort of half recognition in society,
the back seat of the carriage, the coolest
place at the 6reside always hers, in re-
turn for being constantly at every ones
beck and call.
She had never been a beauty, but she
had been pretty and lively. and much
/ souSut dltcT I'LL SoCltiN WHcu size WAS JHe
only daughter of a rich man. and at first
the change had been very bitter to her,
I but of late she had grown passively rec
onciled to her lot. Ten years of the same
unvaryng round had quite driven from
her mind any hope of change. She was
'only aunt Margery" to her nieces and
all their giddy circle of young acquaint-
ances. and had quite resigned herself to
remain so to the end of the chapter.
So she took little or no interest in the
flutter of preparation caused among the
girls by the coming of the eligible bach
elor. though with her customary amiabili-
ty. she was always ready with her advice
and assistance in matters of the toilet,
which were to help captivate him when
he came.
The girls had persuaded Mrs. Derwent
to give small evening party the week
after his arrival. and as that lady had seen
and approved of him as a ..capital match
for Kate" they had very little difficulty
in getting their own way in the matter and
arranging it on scale of grandeur never
before seen at Maundbury, except at the
stately parties given once year at nv
J / a,-.1 i