The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-02-28
soling me, how little did I know that

! nor Responded, Dut only Smlleu-a Ht-
tie sadly, perhaps and said she knew
even this disaster was all for the best,
though she could not see it at the time
She calmly made preparations for quit
ting her pretty home, confiding her
little handmade to one cousin
in whose kitchen the tidy Rachel
was gladly admitted, gave her few
household pets to another, and prepared
to brave the wide world. Some unfeel-
ing people forgot aunt Milly in her
trouble; but the greater part of her
friendly circle proved how much they
esteemed and valued her. Some asked
her to visit them for month, three
months, year: indeed, had she chosen,
aunt Milly might have spent her life as
a passing guest among her friends; but
she was too proud to do any such thing
At last third or fourth cousin-a
widower of large fortune-invited her
to reside at his house as chaperon to his
two daughters, young girls just growing
up into womanhood. This proposal,
kindly meant. was warmly accepted, and
aunt Milly set forward on her long jour
ney, for Elphinstone Hall was some
hundred miles OLA formidable dis
lance to one who had never been days
journey from her own home, now, alas,
hers no more. Still, neither despond-
ency nor fear troubled her blithe spirit
as little Miss NIilly set out with her val
orous nephew; for had pleaded so ear
nestly my right to accompany her to
Elphinstone's door that the concession
was yielded at last.
| Of all the gloomy looking old avenues
that ever led to the baronial hall, the
one we passed over was the gloomiest.
| Poor Aunt Milly shivered as the wind
| rustled In trees and the dead leaves fell
in clouds on the top of the post chaise.
We alighted, and entered hall equally
| lugubrious and not much warmer than
| the avenue. The solemn old porter was
warming his chilled hands ut the tiny
fire; he and the house were in perfect
keeping-dreary, dull and melancholy!
The master was very much in the same
| s+yle-a tall, black figure, with long
face and white neckloth, was the per-
sonified idea left behind by Mr.. Elphin-
stone. When he was gone, I earnestly
entr0ated aunt AIilly to return with me,
and not stay in this desolate place. but
she refused.
my cousin seems kind" she said.
HE looked and spoke as though he was
glad to see me-"
[ was too cold to see or hear much,
but declare I did not notice this
friendly reception.
MY dear Godfrey, she continued, II
will stay and try to make home here;
fhn .lc 1,n oh 10 fho,,
[ shall soon love them; at all events,
let us hope for the best"
Ny hopes for aunt Milly vanished in
to thin air, when, at the frigid dinner
table, where the very eatables seem
made of stone, saw two young ladies
of fifteen or thereabouts; one the rudest
hovden that ever disgraced female ha-
biliments, the other pale, stopping
girl with sleepy blue eyes, and lank,
fair hair. who never uttered a word, nor
once lifted her eyes from the tablecloth.
What will become of poor aunt Mil
ly?" I thought, internally. Yet,
there she was, as cheerful as ever, talk
ing to that solemn old icicle, Mr.. Ell
phinstone; listening patiently to the
lava-hood of Miss Louisa's tongue, and
now and then speaking to Miss Euphe-
mia, whose only answer was nod of
the head, or stare from her immense
blue eyes.
We'll" I mentally exclaimed, "aunt
Milly's talent for making the best of
everything will be called into full requ-
sition here, I suspect"
Nevertheless, when we parted, she
assured me that she was quite content;
that she should no doubt be very COM
Portable at the hall.
But these two dreadful girls-how
will you manage them, Aunt Milly?"
and faint vision of the tall, stout
Louisa, going in passion and knock
ing my poor little aunt off her chair,
came across my minds eye.
Poor things! they have no mother
to teach them better. I am sorry for
them; was motherless child myself"
said Aunt Milly, softly. "They will
improve by and by; depend upon it
Godfrey, oil will turn out well for both
you and me-"
"Amen!" said I in my heart, for I
thought of my own Laura. How diff
ferent she was from the Misses Elphin-
stonel And the image of my own be-
loved ecipsed that of desolate Aunt
Milly, L fear, before I had travelled
many miles from the hall
Aunt Milly's epistles were not very
frequent, for, like many excellent peo-
pie, she disliked letter writing, and only
INDUCED her very particular friends
with few lines now and then, in which
she fully acted up to the golden rule,
IF you have anything to say, say it; if
nothing say it, too" Thus my
information as to how matters were 60
ing on at Elphinstone Hall
was of a very slender
nature. However, when few months
rolled by, chance led me into the neigh
borhood, and I surprised Aunt Milly
with visit from her loving nephew.
1t was early in the spring, and few
peeping primroses frightened the aven-
he. Underneath the dining room win
dows was gay bed of purple and vel
low crocuses which / thought bore token
of Aunt Milly's care, she was always so
fond of flowers. 1 fancied the hall
did not look SO cherries as before; the
bright March sunbeams enlivened,
though they could not warm it. In
few moments appeared Aunt Milly her.
self, not in the least altered, but as
lively and active as ever.
She took me into her own little sitting
room, and told me how the winter had
passed with her. It had been rather
gloomy one with her, she acknowledged;
the girls were accustomed to run wild
LOUISA would have her own way; but
then she was guided by love, and her
nature was frank and warm, Phemie,
the pale girl who had been delicate
from her cradle, was rather INDECENT,
but-(oh what blessing these butts are
sometimes)-but then she was SO
sweet and gentle. I own, when
I again saw the young damsels
thus leniently described by aunt Milly,
l did not see the marvellous change;
Louisa seemed nearly as talkative, and
her sister nearly as insipid as ever; still
there was slight improvement, even
tn nv evos and GLADLY allowed omit