The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-05-27
AUNT GRACE,

! Aos' OoC0uoe you nave WolteO 30 l00&!"
AUNT GRACE.
''1t's somebody's birthday to-day,
Aunt Grace
Clear and shrill above the ordinary
turmoil of the noisy breakfast table,
rose up Walter Percival's voice. Aunt
Grace went on buttering interminable
slices of bread for the apple-faced
twins, Pryphena and Pryphosa, but
Lillias. who was just old enough to be-
gin to observe things, noticed tho deep
tinge of color spreading over her down.
bent brow.
"Somebody's birthday" Willie took
up the refrain. "And somebody is
forty years old to day! Oh, my! amt
Aunt Oracle getting to be an old
maidp'
willie, hush!" said Lillias. How
dare you be so impertinentP"
But all the time in her fourteen-year-
old mind rose up the thought, Forty
years old! Is Aunt Grace really such
an antediluvian as that? Goodness
me! she'll have to take to cap and spec
tacles soon!''
| AT last Aunt Grace went to her room.
Lilias was busy practicing her music
lesson; the boys were safely off to
school. and little Picnic and Phosie,
in their crimson wooden frocks and fur
bordered hoods, were ''rolling
hoop on the sunny pavement
in front of the house. There
was moments time for peace
and rest. Aunt Grace could put Ito
water the roses which Mr.. Perceval
liked to see about the house, and which
he regularly sent in every day. She
could re-arrange the autumn-gold
hair which Walter had pulled down in
his last bear-like kiss and hug, she
could finish the reading of the psalm
which Phemie's piteous calls to ban
dage cut finger had interrupted be-
fore breakfast, in short, to use a con-
venient expression, she could take a
long breath"
And the first thing she did was to
walk up to the muslin-draped bureau
and take good long look into the
glass.
Forty years old? Yes, it was quite
true. Yet it seemed only yesterday
that she had passed the rubicon of
thirty! And those last ten years had
glided away like dream in the care
of her cousins children-those ten
years in which the one or two silver
threads had stolen into her braids, and
the almost invisible crows of time had
printed the network of their tiny feet
around her soft hazel-brown eyes. She
had only intended to remain a few
weeks when she came to attend the
death-bed of Helen Percival-she was
here still. And, after all, what had
she to show for all these years?
1.-The children love me,' she thought;
land Will says that make his home
an ideal one for him. Surely should
be satisfied with that, even. if, as Willie
said to-day, am getting to be an old
maid!'
Grace tried to smile as she uttered
the words to herself, but, in spite of
her effort, there was bitterness in the
smile. No woman likes to realize that
Father Time is swinging his scythe
above the fair roses and lilies of her
youth. Why should she care, how
ever. so long as Will was happy, and
the children loved her?
Even while she stood at the mirror,
a cloud had stolen over the sweetness
of the morning sunshine-a sad o.
tober wind, bearing falling leaves and
dust on it's pinions, moaned through
the street. With maternal care, Grace
ran down to call the children in. Old
Mrs. Merrimac met her on the door
step.
Its you, is it?" said she. 81
thought I'd just step in as l went by,
and tell you what bargains there was
in winter dress goods at Pickerson's?
I'm going to buy a dress for myself,
and shawls for my sisters .up in Coon
Hollow. Better 60 and look at 'em.''
"Thank you," said Grace; ''but Mr..
Percival does not like me to look after
bargains. He says there is almost al
ways something Objectionable about
them. He believes in giving fair
price for q good article. "
Mrs. Merrimac snuffed up her Roman
nose.
"Men know nothing about such
things,'' said she. '.By the way
Grace, Mrs. Colonel Hampton wants
an agreeable middle-aged companion
- make herself generally useful about
the house."
..Does she?' and Grace lifted her
eyebrows.
Il thought perhaps the place might
suit you" apologetically remarked the
old lady.
II hope am agreeable" said Grace
laughing;, "but as for being middle
She stopped abruptly. After all, what
else was she? The tell-tale blood
suffused her face in an instant, and she
finished her sentence rather alb
"And do not see how Mrs. Colonel
Hampton's warts can possibly concern
me.''
''Since Mr.. Percival intends to marry
again." nodded Mrs. Merrimac, II
thought perhaps
"What!" Grace Way was as pale
now as she had been crimson before.
mr.. Percival marry again! 1t isn't
true!''
And then she was vexed with herself
at the degree of emotion that she had
evinced. especially. as the owlish gray
eyes of Mrs. Merrimac were fixed curl
ously upon her face.
1T is true. though" said the old wo-
man. Mrs. Fox told me, and he told
her."
'Oh, then it is all right, said Grace.
struggling after her lost composure. Il
J, doubt not he will notify me in good
time. Will you excuse me if cali the
children now? The wind is blowing
up cold, and Pryphosa is inclined to
Group"