The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-03-05
AUNT N0RA'S BIRTHDAY.
A Story Taken From the Journal
CT Miss Hazel Dudley.

JANUARY l., WEDNESDAY. - This is
Aunt NOra's birthday. Aunt Nora isn't
my aunt except as she is every bodv's-
especially if they happen to be cousins by
marriage three removed. which is, be-
Heve, my exact relationship.
Aunt Nora and her brother (yyho was nc
uncle, but only Mr.. Fairfield to me) were
left alone in the world when she was 6
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
a 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 Il
stray science lecturer whom Mr.. Fairfield
had for the moment taken up. This fas-
cinatnr had, mamma says, tremendous
forehead and long hair, and used long
- words and wore green SpeCtacles, hut
Moral may call her that when she was
younger than | am nOw-NOra had been
trained to adore mind, and she thought all
that Uranium meant very much mind in
deed. just as Mr.. Fairfield discovered that
Herr Professor was Il humbu~, 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, hut his sub
ject. He seemed to turn to stone, and he
made n will, giving everything except n
few thousands (his father had left the es-
tate to his som to n cousin, Dir. Alfred
Fairfield. He is Charities father. Charles
used to claim cousinship with me-about
the sixteenth, should say it was. | used
10 like Charlie. but | viii never, never like
the son of such father, and when he up
holds him in it, too!
But I'm getting my story all hiSglety-
pigglety. 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
roor little disenchanted widow OF eighteen.
Her brother kind of forGave her, and took
her in: hut Il 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
Cil.iSStl HIS VII, i'us IL Ss'illS JndU ne
didn't, so Mr.. Alfred Fairfield Is to have al
Aunt EOra's property. | don't so much
mind the monry-all money is alike-but
the Observation-Disclosures never was and never
will lie another such delightful cid place
such a ranhlin :. 2ahlel house, such lawns
and groves and barns and orchards. O, il
is Crull, wicked, prepOSteroUS. To think OF
her being cvicSed 10y that Washington
absentee, Just as though he vera an unpaid
landlord. People here respected him
rather stood in awe OF him as n superior
hcing-Lut always thought it very I'M
natural for him 10 leave Charlie mere to go
10 school, and row to set himself up in law
just as though he belonged to no one. Still,
people say they are very fond of each
other. o. course he OHlnt Is give the
whole thing up, hut the year for settling
the estate is over, and he evidently means
10 keep it. O, | should think Charlie would
die of shamc-he would if lie were the
splendid fellow ! used to think him.
Nj. Fairfield made n great show OF
searching for a later will, but people say
NOW it was only to ease off the first in
di-n3t!on. Every one is indi Tnant, for
rich and poor dote on Aunt Nora. She
bears 1t like a saint-her brothers word
was always law and gospel 70 her. What
a strange, beautiful life they lived together
he half Gried in his books, she divided
between him and the little world she drew
around her. mamma says she has had
dozens o. beauX. Tut she had had enough
pf marriage, anu atoued for deceiving her
brother once by her life'S devotion. And
This is his return for it. 1t is so ike her
,lear. unseliish selfto have her Young folks
birthday party Tonight, when her mourn
in. is 50 fresh and last things ara so sad.
She saws il mustn't be a sad Gathering,
only one more added 10 the NleIS mem-
cries OF the old place. There wont be
dancing and the usual froiic-OIly music
= =
to he the event OF the evening. Mr.. ami
Miss Howe and Charlie have the charge of
that. / begged Aunt Nora not even 10 in
wife Charlie, Int she is SO forgiving. aud
she Is 80 fond of Charlie. How can she be
hoy:
VI hen Aunt Nora moves into the little
cottage from which she cen see the O.i
trees Y dare say Mr.. Fairfield viii cut
them DOWN should like to so and live
with her, il it were not ior dear papa ind
mamma. She SAYS | am her dearest niece,
and she Is my dearest aunt. To he sure |
have no rea! aunt, Tut it would be the same
Il had forty.
[ was - impatieI-- to get Off, that l
dressed carly. l have on INV crimson me-
riro. mamma said it was nicer than my
blue silk for going Siei-h-riding into the
country. ami there am 10 spend the ni.l.t.
.iust 40 pass the tine ] came to nav Journal
to write about Aunt Nora. 1t will be
''storv without an end."I guess, for after
this party there will be nothing more pleas
ant to tell.
Hank, there are the sleigh-beils, and
mother is calling me.
AT THE EAD-9iIDNIGHT.-Aunt
Nora told me 10 60 to bed and to sleep, but
l can't. My head is too full OF the evening,
and feel haunted by ghosts of Aunt Morals
past, but Sill more of her fuSlre. When |
got here this afternoon had chat with
Aunt Nora. and told her how | was fret
ting. and she said with a sad, sweet smile:
'The future isn't such hugbear at sixty
as It. is at nineteen, nv dear" But good
gracious, she may live 10 be ninety-her
grandfather did. Think of thirty or even
twenty years exile from the only home she
ever knew, with the exception of that
dreadful year with the sham Professor. 1