Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-01-04
ONLY AUNT MARGERY,

NlrlS! L nave some news for Won
Grand news it is, but papa told me not
to mention it, so if l tell you, YOU will LET
1t go no further?n and Connie, Steadmon
glanced round at her friends, feeling her
self an important parsonage, as the youth
tul Possessor OF secret usually does.
Oh, trust us, Connie, we won't say d
single word to any one we will be as dumb
as mutes on the subject" exclaimed
Kate Derwent; and her sister Mary, and
thelr cousin, Edith Salter, who had come
IN like Constance for morning chat.
made the required assevervation, and the
quartette drew their chairs close, in de-
hghtful anticipation.
Wen, then, papa told us yesterday
evening-but, Katie, there is some one
in the other room" and Connie glanced
through the half-open curtains into the
large drawing room, at the further end
OF which sat lady engaged in some
quiet occupation.
Only Aunt Margery, " answered Katie
"she is copying some music for us. and
won't hear if you speak low. Now do,
dear Connie, get on with your story, forr
am dying with impatience.n
"Well, then, the house on the hill is let
20 a single gentleman, Mr. Maurice
Chester, very nice-looking, very rich, who
intends 60 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 he
would not like to settle down in a 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 house. He will come here next month
20 superintend the fitting up, ETC."
"Oh, how glorious!" cried Mary, clap.
ping her hands; "now we shall have fun.
But, Connie, is he young, though?"
"Oh, yes, about thirty, papa thought, )
answered Connie, rather doubtfullv.
Thirty? Why, he is quite old!" sale
Mary, disgusted, from seventeen-year
old point of view. "Why, he will do fol
Aunt Margery-we always call her an ole
maid, and he is an old bachelor"
Nonsense Mary, what stuff you talk, ;
SAID Kate, who, being three-and- twenty
took a different view of the matter
Thirty is not old for a man. You only
care for boys, like George Burden
Mary blushed. 'But you would not ex
pect him to buy house and estate, lik,
this gentleman. The only thing isis h,
engaged, Connie2"
"Ah, that can't tell you, unfortunately
asked papa, and he said very likely, h,
hadn't asked him; but mamma thinks not
because he would certainly have brough
the lady to see her future home, if he ha(
been, " said Connie.
"Your mamma is right, Connie; he Ger
tainly would have done So" said Kate, de
cidedly.
And then followed quite an hours dis
cussion about the new conner, in the heigh
Of which, Connie herself, as well as tn
other two, quite forgot the need of secrecy
and the lady so quietly occupied in tn
other room must have been very deaf no
to have heard all the conversation.
She took very little notice of it, however
the girls made Just as much commotion
they met new face at dinner-party, o
were introduced to strange partner at
ball, for Maundbury was such a quie
place, and so miserably short of masculin
society, except the old and married, tina
any chance acquaintance even caused quit
a futter among the marriageable ladies
How, then, could the news of permanen
resident fail to affect them9
1t is said that at no age does a woma
give up the hope of marriage, but mus
say at the risk of being disbelieved, tina
no thoughts of the matter ever caused MAJ
gerry Derwent's pulse an extra futter,
If her niece Kate had grown to the ag
Of twenty three, beautiful and attractiv
as she was, with only lovers "who love
and rode away" there seemed littl
chance for her, Aunt Margery, with tn
faded looks and quiet manners that Sol
row, and loss, and thirty years of life ha
lowered her with, to be more fortunate
Margery had had her love dream, but
had faded with the loss of her father an
all her fortune, except small sum whic
just found her in clothes, while ht
brother insisted upon her making h
house her home. At first Mrs. Derwer
objected, but then finding Margery ver
useful to call up in the night in case {
sudden illness, to help take care of ii
children, and to make herself general
useful, as poor relations are expected
DO, she ceased to grumble, and Ma
gerry found herself settled at DerweI
house, with sort of half-recognition
society, the back seat of the carriag,
the coldest place at the freside alway
hers, in return for being constantly |
every ones beck and call.
She had never been beauty, but 81