The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-02-17
cellanenus.
A MOTHERS VANITY.

I've thought so ever since he married her,
twenty years or more ago, but I've never
said so Till now Now Harry's wife is diff.
ferent. But there! There's no need of my
troubling you with all this. I'll tell you the
story and then you can see for yourself But
what under the sun Solomon Penfeather
ever saw in Jennie Jenkins, I've failed to
find outl But there go again. But she is
a fool, it's past denying, and if | hadn't said
it after what's happened / think | should
have burst But feel better now and guess
| can tell the story pretty straight.
About q month ago, got a letter from
Jane, Selomon's wife, telling me that Pene-
lope CHATS my name sake) was going to be
married, and would | come up and stay with
EN- and help 'em get ready for the wedding
Now don't love Jane, but | do love little
Penelope, and as there was nice little note
from the blessed child asking "dear Aunt
Pen" If she wouldn't come, and as she asked
it very prettily, determined to go and help
the dear child have pleasant send off
Well, after ride of fifty miles in the cars
and two in Solomon's carriage flor the train
| took was an express and didn't stop at their
villageD | found myself at the old homestead
hadn't been there in ten years, but | was
prepared for all the changes by the let
tcrs little Penelope used TO write to ME every
two weeks, but what | wasn't prepared. for
was the change in Penelope since had had
visit from her at my own house six months
before. She looked about as little like pro-
spective bride as anything l ever saw, and
yet ! knew the man she was to marry was
well worthy my Penelope, and that is saying
great deal. was struck so with that girls
appearance. ! was dumb.
Pale and thin and bollow-eyed, with great
deep circles under her eyes, she lust looked
tired TO death. That girls going to be SICK"
| said to myself Il guess I've come to her
funeral instead of her wedding"
For the lands sake, Jane, whatever ais
PenelopeP" | exclaimed, as soon as | had her
alone.
"Why?"
"'Why?' Don't you see how she looks ?"
80, see she looks kind of pale, but then
she's in love you know, and girls Always get
pale then" and she laughed her easy laugh,
that hate SO yea under some circumstan-
ccs fairly hate that laugh Of hers, and this
was one of those circumstances; it showed so
plainly how blind she was. So didn't say
anything more saw it wasn't any use. But
made up my mind that I'd find out what
was the matter with Penelope, and mend it,
ifan "old maid aunt" who isn't supposed to
know anything about affairs of the heart,
could be of any use.
"Well Penelope" said the next day, right
after breakfast, NOW I'm all ready, thimble,
scissors, nnedle and everything to help in
making those wedding clothes" You see
knew Jane was full ofall sorts of NONSENSE
cal vanity and felt sure Of wedding tinery
aud pippery there would be enough and to
spare.
80, she's all done" said Jane, "she's been
done two months and more. She hurried up
SOFAS to have plenty of time to make her vail.
You ought to see her things. Pen show
your aunt Penelope your things" she said,
pride in every tone of her voice. "She's got
six white wrappers" telling them off on her
fingers, zone dozen white skirts, &C." II
shan't tell you all she had, you'd get as tired
OF listening as did) ending, triumphantly;
land Penelope, her wedding clothes cost
hundred dollars more than Colonel Thomp-
sons daughters did, and he's the richest man
in the town. And she was married with q
plain vail, too Just wait till you see Pene-
lopes." She turned to go to the kitchen,
while Pen led the way up stairs, very weari-
ly, | thought.
However, we went through the ceremony
Of examining the things, and praised all the
pretty robes about me.
6know just what you think, Aunt Pen,
and | don't blame you"
w nat 40 lnlnk, llttIe rem 7!
you think there Is great deal too
much"
"Yes, l do"
80 do l. didn't want all these things,
aud il was dreadful to sit here stitch stitch,
stitching, all these long, hot days, just for
the sake of saying had the most things. But
mother gave them all to me, and seemed to
have the matter SO much at heart it seemed
ungrateful in me to make any objection. And
she seemed so set on it; she said she only
had one daughter, and there would only be
one wedding in the family, and seemed to
take it so much to heart that l couldn't re-
sist. You know what mother is"
"Yes, l know what your mother is" |
answered, grimly, while l said to myself;
"She's a fool, that's what your mother is"
"Well, now, Pen, dear, you have month
10 rest. Wen have some long talks and long
walks, aud get ready quietly for the finale"
20, indeed, | haven't time for any thing
of that kind, Aunt Pen"
why notg What is there left to do? |
thought every thing was done?"
$50 everything is but my vail"
well, child, who ever heard of it's taking
month to make wedding vail ?"
"Well, I've been at mine every spare min
ute for two months and it isn't nearly finish
ed yet. I'm almost afraid that another month
wont finish it unless work at nights, and il
tries my eyes. Besides, James comes in the
evenings, and I'm not going to put him lside
for all the tinery in the world"
Let me see this vail" said, solemnly so
we went into the next from and there in
frame was the lovely filmy lace thing on
which this dear girl had been expanding her
time, nay, her life, for the past two months
as this some more OF your mothers work ?"
NO." she answered, innocently, ut is
every stitch mine, but mother insisted on it.
She said l knew how to make such lovely
lace things and that now was the time, and
she seemed so set on the lace vail as part of
the Show that have done it. 1t is lovely
isn't itg"
The child had not understood my ques-
ton but she had answered me. l said moth
ing aloud, but groaned inwardly Here was
all wanted to know. made up my mind
] wouldn't say one word then. The whole
thing seemed too preposteroUs for words
But likewise made up my mind that the
first chance got I'd take an old maids
privilege oftelling Solomon thing or two,
and I'd likewise say word in season to my
prospective nephew I'd have the thing
stopped, if had TO 60 to the city and buy
my namesake lace vail to crafty her
mothers vanity.
However, Penelope took matters in her
own hands and finished the business up by
fain,ing dead away. The doctor was sent
Tor and the case proved typhoid fever. As
soon as James found out what it was, he In