New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-22
GREAT-AUNT SARAH.


be struck by the likeness between the living and
the pictured face; in both the same delicate oval
shape and colorless tint, the same clear-cut ars-
tocratic nose, great gray eyes and sensitive mouth,
the same finely arched brOws, black as the hair
which shaded them. But with these outward
features the resemblance ended MISS Frances
Latimer's had nothing of the fire, the indomlaole
energy and power of the older face there was
more patience, gentleness and. If less PRIDE more
soft and womanly dignity IN the expression ana
bearing of the younger woman with her shehI'
tall figure bent little forward in her high old
fashioned chair, her long white nngers moNlnS
gently about the coil of wool on her lap MISS
1870 ard attractive nictnre enough Her
thoughts were wholly retrospective, ana uhge"
with a little melancholy. She still wore mourn
ing for her greataunt Sarah the last near fSid,
five she had in the world, the woman who had
taken her as a pitiful little orphan TO the oId
ancestral home, and had been all the 1ather'
mother sister and brother the girl had ever known
The proud stern woman had ld0IZed TINS chlIu,
the last member OF one OF the Oldest families III
the county, and had thought nothlnS 700 SoVI IVr
her darling All that care and money cOuld 90
had been done for the little Frances hef eduCi-
ton had been OF the best above her natural aDlII
ties indeed, and il had left her well-pfeu geut!e
woman with delicate and somewhat artlStlcth tastes
rather than a cultivated and brilliant genius As
the girl grew to womalhoOd her social position: the
fact that she would be something OF an helr,o T
and Dcrbaps more than these her DAINTY chdrIi
Of neTson and manner brought several SlutOfs LOT
her hand She gracious and klndiy 10 an, az,
but her heart remained untOuchee ana old Nl' ~
La
own married life had been none OF the hlpplcS''
she had had no children and the current Iuta ""H
that this disappointment had emOlttercu heI nus nus
hand AGAINST her. BE tins as II may, IL Is CERTAIN
fbat his death left her with soured, warped ludS
ment of men and matrimony, ana II wouIu nav
needed strong feeling on the part OF frances gnu
super excel ent qualities on the part OF hcr suI!Ul
70 reconcile the old lady TO her marriage WIN
one of the despsed sex. Birth, fortune IoohS'
morals and manners, must all be oil the peSC III
the man lucky enough TO win Frances. AS yt.l
fifth still unmarried the nelghbors began 10
DESPAIR when suddenly her fatc met her III Cho
shape of pcnness sdlof the younger son Vi "
country squire of no great social prctenSlonS,
who came on q visit to his cousins the vicar OF
Latimer and his WIFE and VINO leii heaa oyer ear
in love with the daughter OF the Great House at
first irbt Of her on Sunday in the family pew.
Frances for her part had seen tall, commanding
figure and plain, frank face, redeemed ny uE-
mistakable intellect. and pair OF extremely peal
fiful kindly eyes, and had little bv Httir allowed
herself TO be won by a finer nature ana cleNyrcr
mind than any that had yet lmid court 10 NJ.
The relations between the Great House ana lne
Vicarage were all that was pleasant ana cordiaI'
Mr.. and Mrs. Graham spent at least one eVehlh9
every week with Madam and Miss Frances or
vice versa and common courtesy demanded tle
extension of welcome to their guest, the young
lieutenant. Then Frances had her district to
visit, and this necessarily entaled running INTO
the Vicarage on the way and asking advice from
the Vicar, or good Mrs Graham. or these oppor-
tunities il is needless TO say, Jack fanshaWe
availed himself literally and yet with such happy
the state Of affairs between the young people; so
blind are We when We most need our eyes.
If good Mrs Graham had her suspicious, She
kept them 10 herself. Jack had not taken her
into his confidence, and as yet his love-malung,
though serious enough, had been Of a tacit un,
administrative character upon which one coum
not easily dOgmatiZc. She did not see how he
could very well speak plainly his position as
pennilcss sailor with nothing to look TO outside
his profession made il impossible.
Jack though a modest man, had some reason
TO think that Frances cared for HIM, ana ne was
not going TO leave Latimer without securing, II
possible the greatest desire OF has life, the woman
he loved The night before his departure he ana
the Grahams dined at the Great House; lie had
had telegram that afternoon calling him home,
but neither Mrs Latimer nor Frances had any
idea of his intention of leaving.
lie determined TO speak to the latter some time
during the evening, and. as usual fortune favored
him Owing TO some little cOntretemps in the
kitchen, dinner was delayed for half an hour, and
as the evening was fine Madam proposed stroll
she was Justly proud. The garden was bounded
and crossed by walks hedged in with old yews,
rome ten or twelve feet high, and down one Of
these alleys, out of sight of the elders still ap-
praising roses on the lawn Jack cOntrived TO lead
Miss Latimer. He paced beside her, looking any
where but at her. Frances made no effort TO
break the silence between them she was always
q quiet person. and at last in sheer desperation
he said abruptly:
~ am going away for good tomorrow
Going away"
The suddn uplifting Of her startled gray eyes,
the touch OF surprised pain in her voice. the rush
II color 10 her pale face, betrayed Francess secret
he caught her hand and drew her toward him
with gentle force.
love me before / gol Tell me I may hope! l
never. never tell you how much
l love you how worship and
reverence you. Frances, speak TO me! don't
keep me in SUSPENSE he added, his eagerness
lending touch Of command to his voice
For all answer Frances lifted her sweet proud
f,,. 81.
or bushes, and looked him straight in the eyes.
For a moment he held her so and then caught her
In his arms
II was a night Of heaven TO BOTH and how they
came down 10 earth and the eXigencies of com
mon life and society they never knew. But do
what she would, Frances could not hide the new
Iicht on her face the unusual absence OF mind,
the fitful glance and ready blush At last Madam s
eyes were opened, and her anger grew with every
look at the happy young creatures mat ran
shave, q penniless nobody should have dared 10
MAKE his love so evident that proud gentle
woman like her great-niece tgreat-aunt Sarah did
Justice TO Miss Latimers dellcacy and breeding
even in her anger should have made il clear that
She returned H. left the old lady pale and speech
less with ind gnatiOn. The Grahams felt storm
IN the air. and despite jacks pleading looks ana
circumstances hurried home as early rs they
decently could and Frances's head fell all the
torrents Of her great-aunts wrath. Dunfm,
patient and gentle Frances remained throughout
The TRADE. but on point She was firm. Mr..
Fanshawe loved her and she loved HIM she would
never marry any one else, and she would marry
him whenever he WAS ready for her. The old
lady parted with her niece that night in cold dis
pleasure.
Am 90 expect the honor OF a visit from Mr..
Fanshawe before he leaveS?' she asked bitterly,
as She stood at her bedroom door; " or Is ms
affair 10 be conducted on modern pIlncples-wlth-
out reference 10 those in authority?
MIR FanshaWe said he would write both TO
you and me- replied Frances timldly
But the days went by and heightened INTO MO
weeks and there came no sign of Filter from the
young lieutenant. The Grahams went of for
their yearly holiday and Frances had no courage
10 sneak 10 her great-aunt after her first attempt
3, learn whether that Indy had heard from Fan
Shave.
III MIR Fansiiawe writes TO me il is TO be pre-
sumed that he will write 10 you' was all the
answer she received.
Her heart sank within her; hope deferred and
nd toll