Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-01-31
grandmother as two harum- scarum girls
were ever blessed with9"

were ever blessed wlthE"
They both hugged her in rapturous
schoolgirl fashion.
"By the way, grandma, can't we have
the best bedroom, with the big mirrors
Hetty and l want to come out in butter
fly style"
'I s'pose so," said Aunt Huldah, leni-
emily, looking with suspicion of tears
at the tall, handsome girls. She was
wishing their father, her only son, had
lived to see this day. A few minutes la
ter she followed them up to the best
chamber.
CLAWS massy me! What upon airth
amt you got crammcd into that bage
You call that packin', do you! Is that
all you're learnin' of ladylike ways2"
Hctty looked up with flushing checks
at this condemnation called down on
Millie, who only laughed. "Pshaw,
grandma! You have to squeeze things
into cabas. Look at this DRESS" and
she pulled out flimsy garment of SHIN
mering satin covered with lace, and gay
with scarlet bows.
"Goin' to wear that2" cried Aunt HUI
dah, in dismay.
Hetty smiled quietly, and brushed her
own pretty blue cloth. Millicent bit her
lip in modification. but she arrayed her
self in the condemned garment and ran
down into the sitting room, where Uncle
job sat in all the dignity of his old
broadcloth wedding coat, nibbling flag
root and looking contented. The sight
of Millicent brought deep frown to his
brows.
''Now, Millie, l amt a-goin' to have
the plain, old-fashioned folks a-comin'
here tonight put out with the sight of
sech airs in my gran 'darterl Take that
fummididdle rig straight off, an come
down here in dress like your sisters, or
not a step into my parlors do you go"
Millie rushed back up stairs, flung the
despised dress on a heap on chair, and
cried heartily. She upset Hetty's violet
water trying to efface the tear stains, and
finally, arrayed in her travelling dress,
tripped demurely into the parlor to join
her sister in conversation with the minis
ter, young man, with the stamp of col
lege fresh upon him. He was the earliest
guest.
Most of the guests arrived at the same
time, so that within half an hour the
parlors were filed. A stiffness hung
over this assemblage of old neighbors and
acquaintance, which turned into astonish-
ment when Miss Appleby bobbed into
the room.
She was an odd figure, clad in rusty
black dress, with scarlet silk handker-
chief across her shoulders and large
bunch of SALIVA, very much asl<ew, over
one ear. To complete this strange holi-
day gear she had two enormous bottles
dangling clumsily from each side, and
bore under one arm, true to Aunt Huldah's
prophecy, a large cotton-fiannel giraffe
decked out in ink-spots as large as ten
cent pieces, while chicken-bone artfuliy
fastened on, graced its nondescript head.
Bowing to the company, she placed
her gift on the table, where it careened
backward on abnormally thick legs in
tragic attitude, and then she looked
around the silent room for her hostess.
Aunt Huldah was absent. Hearing no
welcoming word or invitation, the old
lady shrank back timidly, and her hands
huttered up and down her dress. Millie
had been hiding her smiles behind fan,
buta the sight of the nervous, disturbed
glance she went impulsively to the
rescue.
"Dear Miss Appleby, grandma will be
so glad you came! Take this chair. l
suppose you know Miss Appleby, ladies
and gentlemen.
There were friendly mods and muir
murs now in response to Miss Appleby's
queer curtsys, as pretty Millicent placed
her gently in chair and chatted kindly
with her.
1 Aunt Huldah and Uncle Job were to
be addressed after the fashion of the old
service by the minister. ~ want to stand
as we did long ago." said Aunt Huldah,
''when we had no idea of life; and
want to realize the solemness of it.
So now they came into the room hand
in hand, both heads silver gray and both
hearts quietly happy The second ser
vice had all the soeninity of first cere-