The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-02-28

nave CourdSc. WOIh utsiu Nv youh PioAoS7
sion, and grieve as little about Laura as
you can. II she ever did lovey you she does
so still, and otherwise she is not worth
the winning"
I did not agree with aunt Miles
theory, hut 1 said no more; my heart
was too sore. She took me over the
house and grounds; both looked cheer
full under the influence of the soft
spring; and then she told me how kind
Mr.. Elphinstone was, and how he had
been gradually weaned from his solitary
life to take pleasure in the society of
his daughters.
"And hope he is grateful to you
who have made it all endurable?"
said.
Aunt Milly smiled. eyes, I believe
he is; but I have only done what I
ought; the girls both love me dearly,
and it is sufficient reward to see them
improve"
did not see Mr.. Elphinstone, but I
earnestly hoped the solemn, coldly
polite, middle-aged gentleman had
shared in the general amelioration and
reform effected by the cheerful hearted
Miss Milly.
Months had glided into years ere I
again saw auut Milly. Everything had
changed with me; from boy had
grown a man. from toying to struggling
with the world. 1 had followed Aunt
Milly's advice, and had begun to reap
the fruit of it in the good opinion of
those whose opinion was worth having.
l had proved also the truth of her old
saying ''How sweet is the bread of
ones own earningr" Another of her
prophecies, alas! had come too true.
Laura Ashton had married-but 1 was
not her husband; richer man stole
the jewel of my boyhood's fancy:
but-and this was the saddest to bear
not before had found it to be false
pearl, unworthy of my manhood's wear
ing. But l will not speak of this; in
spite of aunt Milly's sage speeches, no
one can quite forget his first love.
When l next visited Elphinstone
Hall, it was in the golden days of mid
summer. thought had never before
beheld more lovely place. The old
trees We're so bowery and full of leaves;
the grass lawn so very green; the flower
garden so bright with blossoms. Age
and youth were not more different than
the ancient, cheerless hall of former
times and the beautiful spot l now
looked upon. Even aunt Milly seemed
to share in the general rejuvenescence.
The two years which had changed me
so much had not made her look day
older She had the same clear, fresh,
cheerful face and neat little figure, but
perhaps rounder, the result of a
happy life and few cares. Her
dress was as tasteful as ever, but not
quite so precise, and it was of richer
material. She wore, too, various hand
some articles of iewelry, remarkable
for unpretending aunt
Milly. I thought her pupils must be
very generous in presents.
We had not been talking long, when
a very graceful girl crossed the lawn to
the French window of aunt Milly's
room.
Il will come soon; go and take your
walk, Picnic, DEAR" said aunt Millv.
Wonder of wonders! Could that
beautiful fair face and golden ringlets
which saw through the open window
belong to the lackadaisical Miss Euphe-
mia of old? absolutely started from
my chair:
''You don't mean to say, aunt Milly,
that that lovely girl is Miss Elphin
stone?"
Most certainly" said aunt Milly,
laughing heartily-her own musical
laugh.
"Well, it I ever saw such transfer
nation. You are as much of a fairy as
godmother.'
''Not at all I only did as the garden
ar does with half cultivated ground:
pulled up the weeds, and nurtured the
flowers. AS for Phemie's beauty, [
never thought her ugly, though you
were too much occupied with your dis
gust at the place to perceive that she
really had a fair skin and pretty feat
ures. I have only made best of what I
found"
''And how has Miss Louisa turned
out in your hands ?" asked, smiling.
"Look at her; she is coming up the
avenue on horseback"
And very graceful, fearless horse
woman, the quondam hoyden seemed
her wildness was subdued into sprightly,
but not unladylike manners; in short,
Louisa had become what many men
would admire as fine, lively girl.
"Why, Aunt Milly," 1 said, "you
must have grown quite attached to these
girls; it will really be painful for you
to leave them
Il do not think of leaving them very
soon," said Aunt Milly, casting down,
her eyes, and playing with her golden
watch chain, while faint rosiness,
deepening on her still fair check, and
perceptible smile lowering
round her mouth were distinctly visi-
bic.
Indeed" said I, inquiringly.
eyes; Mr.. Elphinstone is very kind;
he does not wish me to go; the girls
love ME very much, and my cousin"
Follows his daughters good exam
ple!' I cried, at last arriving at the
truth. "Well, I don't see how he could
possibly help it; and so, dear aunt, I
wish you Joy"
Aunt Milly muttered something in
TotuTH DIuSueu DIS prettIly DIS girl OI
Is, and at last fairly ran out of the
room.
after all, everything was for the
BEST" thought I, as 1 attended the we'd
ding of Mr.. Elphinstone and his second
and loving sincerely;
though to both the affection was but
the Indian summer of their lives. He
did not look half so grave and austere
as I fancied, and really was very no.
man, in spite of his half
century; and if his winning little wife
trod only 10 years behind him in the
road of life, why, L have seen many old
er-looking brides who were not 30
years by the church register. After
all, what matter years when the heart
is still young? They both did right in
and the Indian summer shines
peacefully on them still.
I have nothing more to add, except
that l have been for two years mar
ried man myself, and therefore fully
sympathize with Aunt Milly's keeping
Of her seventh wedding anniversary last
week.