The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-03-21
AUNT BATES.

1 luCN4taDl6 anu as nuCu uItduGu as the
equinoxial gales.
This slangy generation would style her
"sponge," but the sentiment of hos
pitality was strong among the people Of
the South in those old days
Aunt Bates had fair, faded face that
bore traces of former beauty, and usually
wore lace kerchief, disclosing her
withered neck, because, as she was fond
of telling the girls, her "swan-like
throat had been the toast of all South
Carolina
As regarded her character, she posi-
lively refused to take a hint, and nothing
ever put her out of countenance. She
went from house to house, bearing tales,
and would have been a perfect fire brand
if her reputation had not been so we'll
known.
1t seemed doubtful if Aunt Bates were
capable of a sincere emotion of any kind,
but she seemed to feel a sort of pride in
the beauty of her two grandnieces, Gym
thia and Laura Lemarc. They were the
children Of her nephew, the son and
namesake of her favorite brother, Philip,
whose praises she seemed never weary of
chanting.
'Honey," she would say, ''there are
no men nowadays as fine and handsome
as Phihp-and your poor deceased pa
took after MIN. When l was a girl and
he was a baby boy, used to take him out
with me, and, honey, handsome young
gentleman sent me beautiful copy of
verses comparing US to Venus and Cupid. "
One fine day Aunt Bates appeared at
the house OF her cousin, John Dalrymple
She was his favorite aversion, and when
he found she had come to stay he col
lected all the clocks in the house, besides
borrowing several from the neighDors.
These he wound aad regulated so that
they would strike at all hours of the day
and night, and set them about Aunt
Bates sleeping apartment. 1t is needless
to say that her slumbers were not peace
full
Honey" she said, tlen next morning,
at breakfast, 81 don't think it agrees
with my health to sleep in room that
has so many clocks in it, so I'll Just go
on to Sabina's. She is always begging
and praying me to stay with her. No
butter, honey, thank you, Though it's q
great temptation when it's as beautiful as
yours How do you make it so beauti-
full, honeyl Inever see any like it any
where else. :"
Shortly after this Mrs. Dalrymple heard
victim of her visiting mania. I'm just
starved for butter, honey, because I've
been staying with Jane Dalrymple. I
never eat butter at James. She's too fond
of print, honey. These blue-stoekings
are always poor housekeepers.
Aunt Bates went 10 stay with Sabina
Lemarc, the mother of Laura and Gym
thia, as she had announced her intention
of doing.
Sabina was widow and in reduced
circumstances; for when her husband had
died three OF four years ago, his affairs
had been found to be in the greatest con-
fusion. Comparatively little was saved
from the wreck, and Sabina was obliged
to leave her plantation home and move
into little brown house on the outskirts
Of Beechville. 1t vas quite a mortifca-
tion 10 Aunt Bates that her favorite
grsndnieces should not be able to dress
as handsomely as their wealthy cousins;
but small as the house was, it was the
headquarters of all the young people, and
Laura and Cynthia never lacked admirers.
Sabina was sweet-tempered woman,
with fat, dimpled, cherubic face; but
she confessed that Aunt Bates always
upset her. She groaned in spirit when
Aunt Bates announced cheerfully;
''I'ye come to stay a good long time,
honey know you and the dear girls
have been lonely without me"
Shortly after Aunt Bates's arrival, Mrs.
Lemarc was called from home by the
illness of her mother.
'Set your mind at rest, honey" said
Aunt Bates. ''I'll look after the young
folks, and keep house for you. And, by
the by, though don't like to speak of it,
don't you think it would be Just as well
TO make the servants sweep under the
beisl There's always a coat of dust as
thick as blanket under every one of
them. Of course, honey, you don't mind
me telling you; for you wouldn't like
strangers calling you an untidy house
keeper
Mrs. Lemarc's round, sweet face turned
very red, and it was with difficulty she
reEressed sharp answer. Aunt Batess
relatives treated her with great deal of
generous forbearance-always saying,
och, she's poor, you know, and has no
home"
1t is doubtful whether even legacy
hunters could have endured her infper-
tinences, had she been wealthy.
Now that Laura and Cynthia held the
reins, the little brown horse was gayer
than ever. One evening they were play
ing blind-man's buff, with all its atten-
daut noise and merriment and Aunt
Bates took occasion to remark, during a
pause, q Laura, honey, feel it my duty
TO write to your dear ma to tell her how
beautifully you are taking care of every
thing. She'll be gratified, honey-she'll
,e very much grstifed" Then she re-
tired to the kitchen, and said TO Lucinda,
li4C sApui Cum ASuSAudnf 1oA AetA bItNSt
send word to your mistress to come home
right away, if she wants to find anything
left of the house. These young people
are the most torn-down pieces
But Lucinda tossed her head, and
shifted eudibly. ALI the servants detested
Aunt Bates, for she never gave them
anything but innumerable orders.
Presently, the young folks dispersed,
and none were left but Laura and Gym
thia, and the three Harrison sisters who
were going to spend the night.
Relieved to find peace, Aunt Bates
settled herself in front of the fire, in the
most comfortable arm chair, and placed
her feet, cased III shabby black satin
shoes, on the low fender
At this moment Frank, the man serv-
ant, came in with an armful Of logs. He
waited for some min ties; but as Aunt
Bates did not take the hint, and remove
her feet, he coolly stepped over them.
Frank, honey" she sail, in mild re-
prOech, yea p2zaz'i to step over Aunt
Bssss'ste