The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-01-16

was such tiny creature she scarcely
looked her ace. Yet there was quaint
little mir of womanliness about inc
child. and her large hazel eyes lookeo
out gravely from the snowdfop face'
with its halo of chestnut curis.
Good morning, Rose" said MISS
Hartwell, pleasantly; but the girls heio
a little aloof, feeling that she owed
them an explanation for her failure 10
And who is this dear little girl?'
her teacher went on. .-
.sTbis is nv aunt from India, Miss
Hartwell.n Rose replied Then over
come by the mystifed faces before her,
she hid her own, and laughed I'LL she
fairly cried. ~,
"Rose Bellamy! What do you meanP
THAT baby, your aunt! You can
impose on us that way."
"But she is!'' gasped out kose'
almost in Mysteries, land there's
Younger one still, an uncle, eighteen
months oldl'' m
The girls looked at each other. They
had half mind to be angry. but the
ludicrous side of the matter struck
them, and they broke into peals OIL
laughter, in which Miss Hartwell
joined.
..And so you've been humbugging us
ali this tlme." said Maggie Grey.
What a shame, Rose!
mo, papa's been humbugging me.
said Rose, w,ping her eyes, land the
rest of us children. Mamma knew. but
he wouldn't let her tell us. He's SO
full of his jokes you know. Dear me!
YOU ought to have been there, when ne
brought Aunt Marion in and intro
duced her to u.s."
ut must have been funny enough"
said Fanny Grey. ''but, l must say, I'm
rather disappointed. We had pictured
a nice, jolly, middle-aged aunty, sort
of fairy godmother. And how about
that bracelet, you deceitful girl? You
said your aunt gave it to you"
swell, SO she did, my dear great
aunt Ellen. and she's Just the kind.
jolly soul you've been imagining. But
you must love my baby aunty, too, for
she's darlingn'
so she is!f cried Sophie Green, with
sudden enthusiasm. ''And. oh, just
look at the dear little thing. almost
ready to cry! Aunt Marion I've got
some sugar-plums in my pocket, and
we're real glad to see you. Did you
really come across the great wide seaP
''Ess." lisped the little one, smiling
through her tears. Il tuned in bid
boat" The girls, quite delighted to
think there were ttoo aunties, crowded
round the child to kiss and pet her.
while she, sociable little creature. met
| Al II. fr~sc II irr
manner. The ringing of Miss Hart
well bell brought them to order.
Take your seats, young ladies.
Rose, you may place your elderly rela-
tive beside you, and l will give her
something to amuse herself with"
Roses great-aunt turned out even
more s.jolly'' and kind than the girls
had imagined. She was very fond of
young people. and it was her delight to
| gather them round her. and tell them
stories of the wonderful country. she
had left Her room seemed to them an
enchanted chamber, full of delightful
mysteries, and sweet-smelling treas
ures. 'Aunt Ellen" they all called
her, and could not have loved her bet
ter, had she been q relative of their
own.
As for little Marion, her sweet dispo.
sition and droll airs of dignity carried
all hearts captive. The Bellamys only
regret is, that they can not keep her
and her aunt always with them.
The bracing air of Brookville has
worked wonders with the little stran-
ger already, and her pale cheeks are
biossoming with roses She fairly lives
outdoors, and is great pet with the
children of the neighborhood Indeed
they can scarcely tell which they love
best, the elderly lady. or the funny Lit.
tie .'aunt from India Clara Brough.
ton, tn Chicago Standard.
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