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

THE AUNT FROM INDIA.
Not "Drled-up Pussy Old Thing" as
Some of Roses School Friends H adj Inn
agined She Might he.
Gan aunt of ours from India is COM
ing to stay with u.s."
From India! Oh Rose, how perfect
ly delightful" and the girls locked
around their pretty schoolfellow, all ex-
element and curiosity.
what. lovely things she win bring
you! wish l were in your place."
as she young and pretty, Rosep Or
is she kind, jolly, rich old aunty. who
will doat on her nephews and nieces,
and perhaps carry one of them back to
India with herr"
Il am not quite sure about her age"
replied the young girl. You see
grandpa been married three times,
and there are three families of children.
1t mixes things up so! asked papa
last night, and he said she wasn't very
old"
.'0h well, that means she isn't very
young. forty perhaps. Rose, you'll be
in clover! Girls, just think of the India
curious old boxes and things!"
''And the stories, the wonderful
stories she'll have to tell herr broke
in Gerty Cartwright 81 should care
most for thai"
"Rose, you'll ask us in to see herp
OF course we don't mean all at once"
''Yes indeed, want you all to know
her, and as she is to be with us year,
there Ii be plenty of time for her to get
acquainted with everybody. she's had
fever, and it left her very delicate.
The doctor said she must have an en-
tire change of climate. and that's the
reason she's coming to us. =
I" Does she travel alone?'i
+" No, her aunt is coming with her,
one who has lived with them several
years, and then they have friends on the
steamer. Grandma couldn't leate on
account of grandpa, who's not very
well himself, just now"
He's lived in India, long time,
hasn't hep''
"Oh, yes. He's nearly sixty, and
has spent half his life there. But there
goes the bell"'
Funny, that Rose don't know more
about this aunt that's comingr' wills
pered one of the girls to another, as
they followed her in.
Well, there's q reason for l.. I've
heard that General Bellamy, who's o
very determined old gentleman, didn't
like his sons marrying an American
| girl There was no intercourse between
them for years. But two years ago,
when Roses little brother died, Mr..
Bellamy wrote to his father. He an
swered and reconciliation took place. :"
"Well. / hope Roses aunt won t
her father. Somehow l begin to imagine
her as dried-up, fussy old thing, al
ways in a worry about her health, and
ready to order everybody around. And
if that's so, l shan't envy Rose, any
more. / assure you"
Over three weeks had passed, and
| still Rose s'aunt from India was the
general subject of conversation in the
school. India, chat far-away, en-
chanted country. any one who came
from there was sure to be invested with
romance, no matter how dry and pro-
sale the person might turn out to be.
And there was n mystery about the ex-
pected stranger that piqued their Curl
Osity. She was called Aunt Marion, F"
and was not rery old; that was all the
information they could CLEAN from
| Rose.
At last news came that the steamer
was in, and that MIR. and Mrs. Bellamy
had gone to meet their guests. Great
was the excitement in the school, and
the moment Rose appeared next morn
ing, she was overwhelmed with ques-
tiOns.
what does she look like, Rose"
How old is she?"
''Is she at all what you expected
and do you find her real jolly and
kind?'
"She isn't like any thing expected, u
said Rose, laughing. but shan't
tell another word, except that she's
very sweet, and that / just love hel
already. Tomorrow she's coming u
visit the school, and you shall all see
her and be introduced to her."
"Oh, Rose, how splendid! But won
you Just tell us how she looksp"
"No!" persisted Rose, stotitly. But
look at this bracelet-isn't it prettyi
Aunty brought it to me-"
'.Oh, what beauty! Girls, look al
the dear little bangles.
''How nice it is to have an aunt from
India. Rose we can't wait till to-mor.
row to know what she looks like"
well, you'll hare to wait. said
Rose. and not another word could they
get from her on the sub ect.
The next day was bright and pleas
ant, and the girls focked early te
school all agog to see the mysterious
stranger.
1t wanted some minutes Of the time
for opening. Miss Hartweil, who. t6
tell the truth, felt considerable curiosi