Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-03-08


into which he was gradually settling.
What was to do about it? Was it my
duty to submit tamely to such usurpa-
ton as this?
"Milesl" I cried, when the good old
woman was safely tucked up in bed in
our ting guest chamber, %has she come
to-stay?"
why. my DEAR" said my husband,
apologetically, she has nowhere else
to go. Ny sister, Corissnde, won't
have her in Chicago, and my brother,
Tom, quarreled with her long ago. But
she is avery good woman. She brought
us all up"
"Oh, yes, know, but-what is to
become of my German translations? my
SIS week?"
81 rather think you'll have to give up
that idea, Hannah" said Miles.
"And settle down into mere cook
a drudge housekeeper?
"a home-maker, dear, for Aunt
Vashti and me-, said Miles, fondly tax
ing my hand. But I jerked it from
him and ran away to hide my tears in
the secrecy of the little three-cornered
cupboard behind the stairs.
I cried all night long. 1 thought the
problem over and towards daylight I
made up my mind. Of what use was
my promise at the altar to love, to
honor and obey, if I could not reconcile
myself to such question as this? Yes,
I must accept Aunt Vashti Voorhees,
and make the best of her. 1 must give
up my dreams of independence and
work on in the old treadmill of house
keeping duties.
Itwould be difficult to put into words
the pangs which this sacrifice cost me.
Perhaps some reader who has passed
through the same heart ordeal may COM
prehend them. At all events, 1 rose
early the next morning, and prepared
the daintiest breakfast knew how to
cook.
"Thee is a good housekeeper,
Hannah" said Aunt Vashti, with an APP
proving nod, as she took her seat at the
table and glanced around the sunshiny
little room, where the canary sang and
the window glass shone like diamond
sheets.
I ran after my husband when he
started for his office and overlook him
on the stairs.
MILES," said I, "I've been wrestling
with the evil spirit within me"
II saw that something troubled you,
Puss," ne answered, kindly stroking my
hair.
"But I'm conquered" I whispered.
"Ill give up the German translations,
and devote myself to making you happy.
And I'll be very, very good to Aunt
Vashti."
He stopped over and kissed me. "My
own good little girl" said he.
That was reward enough for me.
Miles was not very great talker, but
every word he uttered carried weight
with it.
1 trimmed the wicker chair with rib
bons, and bought some chintz in pretty
shades of olive and maroon to make cur
tains for Aunt Vashti's room. As L was
hemming them the old woman herself
came in.
"Thee is making my room very pretty,
said she.
II want to make it seem like home,
Aunt Vashti," I answered smilingly.
"Thee is kinder to me than my nephew
Thomas wife, or even my own niece
Corisande, in the city of Chicago. 1
might almost fancy thee was my daugh-
ter. But listen, Hannah: 1 am but a
pilgrim and a stranger here in this
great wicked Babel of New York. 1 am
on my way to settle in Vermont, where
there is little colony of Friends we'll
known to me. And I have not been
truthful with thee and Miles,
my child, though I have in no case
sullied my lips with o falsehood.
Not truthful, Aunt Vashti?" I ut
tered.
Not altogether, my child, said; it
has pleased Thomas, Corisande and
Miles, all three of them, to imagine
why I know not-that was very poor.
[ do not deny that in my DAYS I have
poverty; but of late the little
garden that l owned in the suburb of
st. Louis has been cut up into city lots
and purchased of me at price that
seems little short of marvellous in my
ey es. When unite with colony of
Friends of which spoke to thee few
hundred dollars will be all that I shall
require. Here in this handbook is the
residue of my little fortune. Thee is
to it, Hannah-thee and Miles
for thee was ready to welcome me, as
thee believed, in poverty, and to share
thy scrip and thy crust cheerfully with
me-"
But, Aunt Vashti, I can't take i'll"
"Thee will have to, Hannah Thee
cannot help thyselfl As for me, shall
,eioice to be rid of the dross!" said
Aunt Vashti, calmly.
In the handbook there was an &C
count of little over five hundred dol
ars. In vain was Niles protest-in
7ain my remonstrances. For quiet OBJ
tinacy 1 do believe Quakeress excels
he world. She went to her Colony of
Friends" like nun disappearing into a
but she left her gold behind,
greatly to the disgust of Corisande and
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas.
Neither did we break mp housekeep-
ng. The next day after Aunt Vashti's
departure l received letter from the
suggesting that should take
he literary work home to do. 1t was
contrary to his usual practice, he said, |