The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-03-07
AUNT NORA'S BIRTHDAY.
A Story Taken From the Journal
of Miss Hazel Dudley.

JANUARY -, WEDNESDAY. 49, This is
Aunt Nora's birthday. Aunt Nora isn't
my aunt except as she is everybody's-
especially if they happen to be cousins by
marriage three removed, which is, [ be-
ieve, my exact relationship.
Aunt Nora and her brother (who was no
uncle, but only Mr.. Fairfield to mel were
left alone in the world when she was a
school girl, and he was quite old should
think, from what have heard nearly thirty.
He was Of a metaphysical turn, but papa
says that his wealth led him to make only
pastime of study. So he lived at the
homestead, and played at farming and
writing. What he did in earnest was to
bring up his unhappy little sister. He had
theories to which she was adapted. He
held views as to the action of the female
mind that she was expected to illustrate.
But she illustrated instead the action of
the female heart, for she fell in love with q
stray science lecturer whom Mr.. Fairfield
had for the moment taken up. This fas-
cinator had, mamma says, a tremendous
forehead and long hair, and used long
words and wore green spectacles, but
Moral may call her that when she was
younger than | am now-NOra had been
trained to adore mind, and she thought all
deed. Just as Mr.. Fairfield discovered that
Herr Professor was a humbug, he also dis
covered that Nora had run away and mar
ried him.
Mamma says that his wrath was terrible
He had lost not only his sister, but his sub
3ect. He seemed to turn to stone, and he
made will, giving everything except u
few thousands this father had left the es-
tate to his SOM to a cousin, Mr.. Alfred
Fairfield. He is Charles father. Charles
used to claim cousinship with me--about
the sixteenth, should say it was. l used
to like Charlie, but | will never, never like
the son of such a father, and when he up
holds him in it, too!
But Pm getting my story all higglety-
plgglety. This that | have written about
all happened ages ago, when Aunt Nora
was young, and to-day she is sixty.
She was married just year when the
Professor blew himself up with his Chemic-
ais, and she came back to the homestead a
poor little disenchanted widow of eighteen.
Her brother kind of forgave her, and took
her in; but it was years, mamma says, be-
fore he would quite trust her. At last he
did-no piece of petrifaction could forever
resist Aunt NOra's sweetness. There they
lived together ever since till last year,
when he died.
People thought that of course he had
changed his will, but it seems that he
didn't, so Mr.. Alfred Fairfield is to have all
Aunt Nora's property. | don't so much
mind the money-all money is alike-but
the HOmeStedd-there never was and never
will be another such delightful old place.
such rambling, Sabled house, such lawns
and groves and barns and orchards. O, it
is cruel, wicked, preposterous! To think of
her being evicted by that Washington
absentee, Just as though he were an unpaid
landlord. People here respected him
rather stood in awe of him as a superior
being-but always thought it very I'M
natural for him to leave Charlie here to 90
to school, and now to set himself up in law
just as though he belonged to no one. Still,
people say they are very fond of each
other. Of course he O2t9ht to give the
whole thing up, but the year for settling
the estate is over, and he evidently means
to keep it. o, | should think Charlie would
die of shame--he would if he were the
splendid fellow used to think him.
Mr.. Fairfield made great show of
searching for a later will, but people say
now it was only to ease off the first in
dignation. Every one is indignant, for
rich and poor dote on Aunt Nora. She
bears it like saint-her brothers. word
was always law and gospel to her. What
strange, beautiful life they lived together
he half buried in his books, she divided
between him and the little world she drew
around her Mamma says she has had
dozens of beauX, but she had had enough
of marriage, and atoned for deceiving her
brother once by her life's devotion. And
this is his return for it. 1t is so like her
dear, unselfsh self to have her young folks
birthday party to might, when her mourn
ing is so fresh and last things are so sad.
She says it mustn't be a sad gathering,
only one more added to the pleasant MEM
Dries of the old place. There won't be
dancing and the usual frolic--only music
and talk and games. The Flower Game is
to be the event of the evening. Mr.. and
Miss Howe and Charlie have the charge of
that. begged Aunt Nora not even to in =
vite Charlie, but she is so forgiving, and
she is 50 fond of Charlie. How can she be
HOW?
When Aunt Nora moves into the little
cottage from which she can see the old
trees Il dare say Mr.. Fairfield will cut
them DOWN | should like to go and live
with her, if it We're not for dear papa and
mamma. She says | am her dearest niece,
and she is my dearest aunt. To be sure |
have no real aunt, but it would be the same
If had forty.
/ was so impatient TO get off, that
dressed early. / have on my crirSson me-
rino, mamma said it was nicer than my
blue silk for going sleigh riding into the
country, and there l am TO spend the night.
Just 20 pass the time | came to my journal
b. write about Aunt Nora. II will be a