Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-05-02
THE TWO AUNTS.


Not all at once, as written down,
but popping out ut brief intervals,
sharply and suddenly as pistol
shots, the above CALCULATIONS fell
from the lips of Mrs. Carpenter
Wainwright, as she sat beside an
open-grate fire, reading Il letter, a
lengthy letter, too, closely written
upon tour large pages OF paper
After she folded it, she said more
sharply than ever:
"Well, thank goodness her moth
er is no relation of mine!'
There fell a profound silence
upon the room after this last re-
mark. Evidently the news, what.
ever it was, about the woman who
was no relation Of hers, touched
Mrs. Wainwright deeply. Her
brow WAS clouded, and, as she
unused, angry flashes sprang more
than once into her large, dark eyes.
Upon all sides ofherwere evidences
of wealth, and her own dress,
though Il morning negligee, was
costly and i'll exquisite taste. She
WAS not young-past seventy yet
she carried her tall Ggure erectly
still, and her eyes were brilliant as
those Of youth.
While she sat in profound thought
there was a tap upon the door, fol
lowed by the entrance of Il young
girl, Just touching eighteen, with a
fair. sweet face, lighted by eyes us
dark as Mrs. Wainwright's own.
"Aunt Cora," she said, brightly,
'.shall | read to You nowm
The old lady looked into the
sweet face with Il keen glance, as
if questioning herself somewhat
about the girl, then she said alb
ruptIy:
~ have a letter from Mrs. Pope:
this morning."
"With news from Mill Village?'
the girl asked, look of pleasure
OH her face.
"You are very fond Of Mill Vii
lage9"
NO; l like the city much better
Still, there are some people in Mill
Village | am fond Of"
'Theoda West?"
The girl hesitatcd; then, lifting
her bright eyes, she said, frankly:
II love Aunt Mary, but l don't
think that | am very fond Of The
oda. She is very handsome, very
accomplished, and too fond Of pa
tronizing me-"
"Ahw
"You see, she has been pupil
teacher attheseminary, and learned
all the extra branches to teach
again."
''While you were making dress
es?n
Eyes. Aunt Mary let me choose
and | knew / could make Il living
at dress making, while scholars
were doubtful, so near the semi
nary"
"Your Aunt Mary was very kind
to youw
avery! She took me when poor
mamma died, ten years ago. She
could not give me luxury and pleas
ure as you have done in the last
year, but she never made any dit
ference between Theoda and my
self"
"H'm! yes. She isyonr mothers
sister, ] am your fathers. She gave
you Il share in the house Of care
and poverty. have taken you tt
this one, and will not forget you il
my will"
The girls face flushed under the
sarcastic emphasis of the words.
81 never weighed one obligation
against the other, Aunt Cora" SHE
said, quietly; ~ OH have been very
very kind to me-"
"Your Aunt Mary is an invalid
tooG
s'She is in consumption. W.
have feared every winter would be
the last"
Him! Well, my news is tina
your loving cousin, Theoda, ha'
eloped with the German teacher o
the seminary who has taken Il sit
uation in Philadelphia"
Yle fair face grew deathly pale
and all expression of positive hor
ror looked out from the soft, darl
eyes. There was a pause Of silence
that was painful. Then Este!le Ma
sou spoke in a choked voice:
81 must go to Aunt Mary"
500 to her! Nonsense, child
What claim has she on you9"
'The claim of gratitude
"But what can you do9 Yot
have no money!
81 can work."
"Have l no claim?"
"Only second to hers. You hay
been very good to me. But 20
have so many relatives that woul
= be glad to come and fill my place
, You are strong and well, with MOI
ey for every comfort. She is feeble
, sick and poor. Oh, how coul
Theoda desert heI? How coul
; she9"
"Do you know who this Germa
teochor James Kent jS2n