Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28


aunt in undisguised astonishment. 1T Is a
kidney potato, tell you-a sovereign remedy
against rheumatlsm! You are to keep it in
your pocket night and day." Il infer from this
that nv maidenly relative was under the i'm
preston that men slept in their trousers and
possibly that they were born in them.) IF you
had only applied to me in time, you see you
would have been spared all this dreadful i'll
ness. But put it in your pocket. 1t will at all
events secure you against the future"
And hereupon NV aunt went into long dis
QUESTION on the merits of the kidney potato
from a medicinal point of view. and recapitu-
lated iunumerable cases of cures effected by it
which had come under her own personal OBJ
servation. At least, believe she talked about
these things but truth compels me to admit
that listened TO as little of it as could.
Finally however, became aware that she had
something else. This time she produced a
check-book.
now regarded her movements with respect
full interest, which was no longer feigned
What methodical woman she was, to be surel
i am convinced that nobody ever took SO long q
time to perform so simple function as my
Aunt Johanna took to write that check. She
got her spectacles out of the case, rubbed them
with her handkerchief, settled them and re-
settled them upon the lofty bridge of her
aristocratic nose. Then she carefully opened
the magic volume, in which indefinite wealth
lay latent, and heedfully smoothed down the
slender pink leaves. With suspicious scrutiny
she selected a pen from among the bundle
which placed at her hand. dipped it cautiously
with straight back and corrugated brow, and
so began to trace the few but pregnant words
that were to place me on even terms with the
world.
AS sat watching this operation an idea sud-
denly occurred to me which changed my mood
from pleased expectancy to ominous misgiving-
now? 1t was of the last importance to the
prosperity of my matrimonial projects that my
aunt should receive favorable impression OF
Mary at their first interview. And although
in, enfn in
capable of producing other than good I'M
preston upon anybody, yet circumstances are
potent things. and there was no denying that
they would be against Mary were she to come
into my room at this moment. With such an
anxiety in my mind, 1t is no wonder if 1 found
my aunt's movements, even in writing me a
check, altogether too deliberate to be agree
able. Moreover, what reason had for sup
posing that. even after the check was written,
my aunt would Immediately depart? What
more likely than that she would regard 1t as
preparatory to a further session Of in
Unite length? 1t was not in nature
to expect that an elderly lady would
make a long journey and climb half dozen
flights of stairs, merely for the sake of giving
me a kidney potato and ESQ, and then vanish
ing like benevolent fairy. How imperturba-
bly, she sat in her chair? Surely no profes-
ence and self-complacency. became so
nervous that, by the time she had actually fin
ished the operation of writing the check, and
had torn it carefully out of the book, and had
returned the book to her reticule, 1 was feel
ing much more like bundling her incontinently
out of the room than like accepting her bounty
with the gratitude which is rlghtfully de-
manded.
1t was precisely at this juncture that brisk
knock came at the door, and the door was
opened. felt that turned pale. But mott
was not Mary; it was the doctor. de was Just
dacious and intrepid. My horizon cleared
again. i saw my wav.
l presented him to my aunt, whispered a
ND ha
changing a dozen general remarks, he turned
to me and exclaimed briskly:
''Now, my dear boy, are you ready?"
Quite ready, doctor"
Madame, presume. has no objectionY" con-
tinued the doctor, as he extracted an imposing
looking case of instruments from his pocket.
"EhG" said my aunt, settling her specta-
"only the examination" returned the doc
tor; "a mere nothing; now, then, my boy, of
with your shirt-quickp'
"E6r' cried my aunt, jumping up in dismay;
.;oh, the back and chest will think, be sufi-
cient; IL we need to look at the legs, we
"Gracious goodnessr' gasped my aunt, red
dening to the forehead; '1et me go-show me
the way out at once-I never could think of be-
ing present at-my dear Charles, why didn't you
This way, aunt, this way" said with diff
Guilty maintaining my gravity, while at the
same time taking shame to myself for the ruse
L
to you, dear aunt; it is most unfortunate that
the interruption should have come at this time;
but doctors. you know"
pressing through the doorway and venturing
to face me only when she was on the landing
outside. "And was going at any rate in a
moment, and only wanted to tell you, my dear
nephew, that-that am your aunt, and that
intend-that is, that you may expect-I mean
that you need not fear-in short. it will be all
right; And So On my dear goedhrey and God bless
kissed my unworthy cheek and hurried down
stairs
"Fine old lady. thatr' observed the doctor
when 1 hobbled back to the room.
THE world does not contain her equalizer
her ager' 1 replied. And now, doctor, all
have to ask of you is to follow her example" !"
What write you check for f5Or' exclaimed
he. mot mer'
Il expect nothing so sensible of you. What
I want is to be left alone. Solitude is to me my
medicine for this afternoon"
"Ahv' CALCULATED the doctor. smiling, with an
arch twinkle in his eye. We'll, I'm of, but
mind you! no more aunts of any age or I'll or
der you mustard plaster and tartar emeticr'
And with this threat and laugh he took his
"And now," said 1 to myself, sinking back in
my chair, "of course Mary won't come after
But was mistaken: she did come; and she
came in the most natural and unsensational
way in the world. She came-she was in the
room-for a moment she was in my arms; and
and felt as if our long separation had been
but a weary dream.
"My own darling Maryr'
Charlie, my love- how thin YOU arel I am so
gladr'
THAT am so thinf"
"Oh Charlie
Well, we were very happy. / was almost
afraid TO love her so much as did, and yet 1
knew that could never love her so much as
she deserved. We were together and we were
happy; that was all that either of us knew or
cared. But at last Mary declared that 1 must
"For," said she, "how can you pretend to say
you lcve me, if you cannot see my facef"
i do not love you for your face"
do you really love mer'
Love you! Lob, Maryr'
"But am SO stupidr'
"You must be the cleverest of women"
"Why?"
Because you can find something worth low
ing in me-"
flight the gas, sirr'
First. then, one more -. The matches
are on the mantelpiece; you can light the gas
yourself, if YOU will. wash nv hands Of il.
The gas was lighted. Soon after the middle
Temple clock struck tive in its most aggressive
tone.
"My father is dining at the Freemason,s
Tavern tonight" said Mary, "and he is going
to dress at his chambers; SO I can stay ever SO
long yet-if you will let me-"
"1f you stay here till ask you to go. Mary
you may make up your mind to leave as an old
woman"
The words were scarcely out of my mouth
when heard the outer door open. There is a
series of four doors between my rooms and the
outer passage. A heavy footstep sounded be-
tween the first door and the second. Mrs.
Swatman or her assistant imbecile had eyi-
IDENTIFY neglected to safeguard the approach,
and here was some unknown intruder forcing
himself in.
Mary" cried, "for heavens sake-into my
bedroom-Quickp
She appreciated the urgency of the occasion
and vanished like bird. just as the door was
closing upon her in walked her father.
Come. I'm GLAD to see you looking so much
you've quite a colorr'
Not doubt of it In fact 1 felt as thnugh