Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-04-01

wealth had been manifested. their cor.
diality and politeness underwent a rapid
change, and l have Jared worse here
than with my brothers family.
Now, my dear Charles, YOU know
my utter triendleSsness. | have no
claims whatever on your kindness or
hospitality; but dare to hope that for
Toms sake you will give his widow a
place by your own fireside. Ny brother
told me you had had heavy losses years
ago, but L trust fortune has favored YOU
since then. AT all events. | shall not
be burden upon you, for | can afford
TO pay sufficient sum for ny mainte-
nance. Still | know that very f-w
would be found willing to take a Door
frail old woman into their family circle
without great expectations:' and.
though | cannot help hoping you will
be an exception TO my late experiences,
have no right to be disappointed if
you refuse. Talk it over with YOUR
wife and children, whose acquaintance
| am very anxious to make, and let me
have, If possible, an early reply.
This long letter must have tried
your patience already; so | will say no
more at present. except to present my
kindest regards to your wife and fat.ily,
and to assure you all that | will Oh no
account trespass on your hospitality if
l cause you the least inconvenience. |
remain. my dear ca lrlcs,
Your affectIonate sister.
MARGARET CLAYToN.''
Well" l exclaimed, with a sort OF
gasp, laying down the letter, this Is
certainly adding insult to injury on the
part of Dame Fortunel How. in the
name of all that is marvellous, are We
TO take another into the family when we
are on the verge of starvation already?''
''Come, come, Essie," broke III papa
Sit is not quite SO bad as that. Be-
sides, Margaret says she can pay for her
board and lodging"
"Y-e s." answered doubtfully; ''but
it's sure not TO be much. But who is
she. dadP Do you remember her at alp"
"Yes; when [ saw her last she was a
young girl of two or three and twenty;
but thirty years under an Indian sun
must have changed her very much"
Indeed, yes" said, 'but was she
nice? We never seem To nave heard
anything about her r
NO, pocr souIl'' replied papa "She
cut herself off from all her old friends
when she went with Tom to India. Her
children all died young, and now poor
Tom has gone too.n and fathers voice
grew low and husky as he thought of
the wild handsome brother whose bright
laughing face, as it looked out upon us
from the painted canvas, had been the
beau-ideal of our girlish fancies.
''poOr old auntiel'' 1 said gently. ''Of
course she must come to us. 1t seems
very hard that she should be so lonely
and desolate in her old age, doesn't it,
daddy?"
''Yes, indeed :" returned papa sadly.
but how ON earth can we have her
here, with two invalids on your hands
already?"
But she is not an invalid, papa?"
''Old people always are, more or less.
and, besides, she will want 50 much at
tentiOn and waiting upon. They never
move hand or foot, if they can help it,
in India; and poor little Mollie is almost
worn out already"
Not a bit of il. dadl'' said M0llie
bliskly. We'll manage somehow. The
spare room can be turned into sitting
room and bed room combined, and then
we sna'n't ALWAYS be obliged to have her
with u.s." and MollIe pulled wry little
face.
Everything was soon settled. Mamma
and Ethel agreed with US that poor
aunt's lot was worse than ours, mas
much as she had no one to love her or
lla l-fv,I 70 hnv In, 1aalfnfnfr
and, though We all had a few mIsgivings
as to what changes she might cause in
our happy home circle, yet we set 10
work cheerfully 70 prepare for her COM
ing.
She certainly had not let the grass
grow under her feet. We had received
her letter on Tuesday, and now on Fri
day evening we were expecting her by
the 6. 80 express.
The fire was burning brightly, aud
on one side of it, reclining on sofa,
lay poor mamma, with look OF pleased
expectation on her sweet worn face.
Opposite to her, in deep armchair, sat
Ethel. looking still pale and weak, but
very lovely too
''Aunt Margaret will think this is
small private hospital" said mamma,
smiling as l stopped to arrange her pill
lows.
81 only hope she won't turn invalid
too" replied. 1--WE have room only
for one sofa, and one armchair by the
fire. am quite glad it is such a mis-
cradle foggy night. 1t will make our
little room look so comfortable by COM
parison;' and with good deal of pride
| glanced round our snug apartment.
81 hope she won't be disappointed.
81 am sure she will not answered
Ethel. Everything looks so nice and
homelIkel Besides, papa told her we
were poor; so she won't expect any
thing wonderful"
''Harkl'' exclaimed MOllie. 81 hear
a cabl Is it going past2 No, it has
herei Go and open the door,
Esther >
| threw open the front door, and saw
papa assisting a lady to alight. In a
minute more he had brought her up to
me. and introduced me as his second
daughter.
Take care of your aunt, Esther,
while see after the luggage. he added.
welcome to Bristol, aunt Margaret"
said warmly, holding out both my
hands.
THANK you, my dear" responded
sweet low voice; and, throwing back
her thick Grape veil. she kissed me affec-
tionately.
MoIlie had followed me to the door,
and now held out her hand shyly.
s'This is our housekeeper and dear
little Cinderella" said. IF you are
not comfortable here, aunt Margaret, 1t
will be all Mollie's fault"
Aunt Margaret smiled, and looked
into Mollie's clear gray eyes.
81 have no misgivings," she said,
kissing her gently; and then we entered
The brightly-lit-up parlor.
The tears rushed to aunt Margaret's
ewes as she bent over poor mothers
,ofa: and [ think from that moment we
all loved her.
\ lyar