The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-09-11
OLD AUNT ZERUIAH.
BY AMY RANDoLPu.

Have the roses come, Bella
Yes, mamma, and they are all arrang-
ed. See how lovely they look ~
Isabella Ives lifted from the centre of
an esthetically arranged lunch table.
with covers laid for eight, silvered bas-
ket draped with cream white silk folds,
in which was disposed fragrant mass Of
the most delicious white roses and half
open buds
Mrs. Ives smiled approvingly.
You have exquisite taste, dear, said
she. "The table looks much like q
dream"
Nor was Mrs. Ives's judgment TO be
controverted. All down the centre ex-
tended mass Of feathery maiden-hair
! ferns the royal basket OF roses kept
guard in the middle, and at each end a
candelabra of porcelain-shaded candles
was wreathed in smils1 Cut glass and
silver, decorated china and glistening
damask were arranged to the best advan-
tage, and Miss Ives herself, fiuttering
lightly to and fro, was perhaps the pret-
tiesf object in the room-
AT the extreme end of the table, lit
tie old woman in a ginger-colored meri-
no gown, a brown-ribboned cap, and a
pairof steel-rimmed spectacles, was peer
ing at the curious little tinted depressions
in the oyster plates This was Mrs.
Zeruiah Paxton, commonly called Aunt
Ruey.
well, l nerer ~ said Aunt Ruey, with
a long breath. You city folks don't
manage things a bit as we do down in
Nephsnk had lunch party, week
afore come up here. Miss Dewey and
Patience Cook, and the ministers folks,
and the neighbors, said done things up
brown. We had riz biscuit and apple
sauce, and cold chicken and pickles, and
loaf o lection cakes, and bunch O.
daffydowndillies in a broken-spouted
blue pitcher, fixed so that the howershid
the cracks. And here you're going to
have six-eeven different sorts o. vituals,
and two Niger men to wait, and the table
cleared ana sot over agin betwixt every
sort O. food, and the gas and candlesticks
lighted, too, as il the Lords sunshine
warn't good enough for YOU y
its ne style, Aunt Ruey," said Bella,
laughing merrily.
1t amt the way l was brought up"
said Mrs. Paxton.
Mrs. I've. glanced fretfully at her hus-
bands old aunt as she squeaked out of
the room in pair of substantial leather
boots.
Bella" said she, doesl Aunt Zeruiah
absolutely persist in being present at this
lunch party7"
I'm afraid she does, mamma"
But it's quite impossible
Why il it impossible, mamma ?"
She doesn't know a single one of the
guests"
~Oh, well, she will ike the novelty Of
the thing" pleaded Bella.
Bella" groaned Mrs. Ives. shall
de in modification"
Mamma, vhy?"
That terrible old relic ofthe past ages
sitting at my table in her hideous brown
gown and cap, offering Mrs. Stiiytus Sey
mour receipt for making applebutter,
telling MISS Buckingham of the house
cleaning bee at the lninister's-compar-
ing our style of living with that Of Mrs.
Deacon Duckleyw
Mamma, don't mind IT," said Bella,
cheerily. She's darling old lady, and
l like her, and she mas read q great
deal, and she is exceedingly intelli-
gent"
Intelligent" groaned Mrs. Ives.
There isn't subject but that she will
express her opinion upon. l shall be in
misery the whole time. Dear Bella, do
persuade her that she has got head
ache, or sore throat, or something--or
give her an anodyne in a cup of tea
that viii make her sleep until the whole
thing is over"
Bella laughed lightly and went on ar
ranging her roses. Mrs. Ives spoke to
waiter from the great Broadway caterer,
who had just brought in box Of hand
painted MINUS, snd neither ofthem knew
that Aunt Rney, stopping in the hall to
tie recalcitrant shoe-lace had overheard
the brief colloquy between mother and
daughter.
So they don't want me-" said Aunt
Ruey TO herself Well, suspicioned as
much before. Bella is dear, sweet lit
tie girl, but Iszac's wife would be glad IL
l was gone home. And, upon the whole
l guess III oblige her I amt goin' to
obtrude myself or nobody"
Bella and Mrs, Ives were amazed at
the old lady's sudden resolve.
Well, if you really ni,sa go at once
said Mrs Ives, smoothly.
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