Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-09-20
Aunt Alice.
1t was the beautiful voice of Mau

Stanley that first attracted Mr.. Ar
thur Norton as he sat in his pew on
Sunday, (for he could not see her from
where he sat) and it charmed him so
deeply that he began to take pains to
discover at what concert she sang,
and to hire seat there, and when he
found out that she was beautiful, it
was easy to get an introduction to
her, and after that, easier still to fall
in love with her. And then he began
to call occasionally with flowers and
books and all the little offerings
gentleman is privileged to make his
lady friends. He was handsome and
rich, and whether his family connec-
tion was good or not did not matter, for
no one ever saw any of them. He
was as graceful as a knight, and had
many accomplishments and he had
romantic eyes if fe had not roman
tic heart. Maud liked romantic eyes,
and the manner of society. She was
fattered by the attention of man so
highly thought of-the guest of the
best of people, and so well bred. FL
nally she felt that when he should
say,"will you?" she could not say,no,
and coming to this point she was
glad that he was rich, for she could
not doubt that there would be well
come in his heart for old Aunt Alice,
who had been her charge and care
since her parents died. Therefore
she betrothed herself to him happily
when the words she had dreamed of
were really spoken. She waited for
him to speak to her of Aunt Alice,
which he finally did after the day was
set for the wedding:
"Where will your Aunt Alice go
after we are married?" he asked.
"Has she any relatives?"
"Not one besides myself" Maud
answered. "We are the last of our
race"
81 thought so" said Arthur; "and
as 1 feel kindly toward your aunt, I
will tell what I'll do, I'll buy her a
place at the Old Ladies Home at
Primrose, where she will be comfort
able,a land out of our way, eh, Maud ?"
81 don't want Aunt Alice out Of
my way; she is my dear friend and
companion, and she is not so very
old, Arthur. She is not suited to the
sort of life you speak of at all, in
fact, while l have my voice, and my
hands to work with, no such fate
shall be hers. I can earn all we
need"
''You forget, my love-" said Ar
thur, ''that my wife cannot sing in
public,o or teach little girls their notes.
You will be Mrs. Arthur Norton you
will have no private purse and as [
shall hold the purse, 1 shall provide
for your aunt as l think proper"
"The proper way is for her to live
with me-" said Maud quietly.
ssBut a wife must obey her hus-
band. That you acknowledge is
right" said Arthur.
"We are not yet married." ans
wered Maud still more quietly.
Arthur replied, ''But we shall be
in a few weeks"
"When we are," said Maud, "my
aunt shall live with me, share my
home as she has always done; be my
friend and companion always
She looked away from him as she
spoke, but he looked at her angrlly
and said, "I've always said I'd never
have mother-in-law about my house
and an aunt-in-law would be worse
We shall live in hotel, and an old
fashioned person like that would bt
in the way. You don't notice it,per
haps, but your aunt is very old-fash
ioned and quiet. 1t is quite impos
sible."
Eyes, 1 understand" replied
Maud, "and other things are als'
quite impossible for instance, tina
1 should insult Aunt Alice
She looked him in the face as sh
spoke, and then drew from her tinge
her engagement ring, in which a cost
ly diamond cleaned like star. g
release you from your engagement,
she said quietly, and dropped it int
his hand.
$50 you are willing to give up a
the advantages to be gained by mar
rying me, and earn living by you
music for the sake of a common oil
Scotch aunt nearly in her dotage
No, no, Maud, you are only tryin
me, but will not yield. I'll boar
the old creature plainly in the coun
try, but I'll not have her with us
there's a compromise, so put on you
ring and make the best of it,
Maud arose with indignation i
her eyes and said, s'Thank heaven
have not learned what you are to
5 late. All is over between u.s. Sh
left the room as she spoke.
He waited ten minutes but she di
not return; fifteen, and still he wa
alone; be rang the bell, and the on
servant came hurrying in from th
: kitchen of the neat little fiat, wipin
r her soapy hands on her apron.
" "Tell Miss Maud | am waiting,
d he said sternly.
The woman took the message
NTand and raturned with lift