The Wahpeton times., 1891-01-29
AN OLD MAIDS STORY.

Whlte mist was hanging about, and
the trees.in the square were shaking
off their few remaining leaves, as
though they were convinced that the
poor, black, shriveled things wereno
ornament, but rather disfiguration.
My knitting had dropped idly on my
knee, and l was thinking. My pet was
sitting opposite, thinking or dreaming
too, her deep eyes full of the golden
freight, her oval face framed by her
rich, soft black hair.
l was thinking, remember perfect
ly, what n different thing it must be to
feel old age creeping on if you had
some one beside you who had been
young with you and who grew sober
and gray when you did, and if you
had sons and daughters who rever-
enced and loved you as l loved my
dear mother long, long ago.
Strange thoughts for a little old
maid of 63; sad thoughts too, that
made the fire become obscured and
then shoot out long needles, until re-
collected that my pet was very fond
OF me, though there was no relation
ship between us.
She was all 1 had, for ourfamily had
dwindled and dwindled until there
We're only three representatives, and
between me and those two others there
was long standing estrangement.
The old house was wonderfully
quiet. Outside was the usual hum Of
the city traffic, distant nearly u quar-
ter OF n mile: inside, no sound but the
purring of my cat and the fiutter,
tutter of q flame in the fire.
A loud, energetic ring at the bell
startled us both.
"Why, auntie,' said Mabel" you are
asleep"
"Who can it be?"I wondered. "It's
not my day, so it is not likely to be a
caller. If it is, We must have the gas"
Directly after the room door was
opened and q name was announced
that took my breath away.
"Mr. Armitage."
Jane ushered in figure of which at
first | could only see that it was one of
the stronger sex, with an erect, almost
naughty carriage of the head
For u moment thought it was my
brother himself, as rose to my feet,
all trembling, but Mabel stirred the
fire into Il bright blaze, and saw a
dark eyed young man, not like my
brother, but so like some one else I
used to know, that forgot was a
withered old woman, and almost un-
consciously breathed the word:
Lionel"
"1es,". he answered, taking both my
hands into his strong grasp, "Lionel
Armitage; and this, then, is Aunt Dor
othy. What a tiny little aunt it is!'
He bent down and kissed me, q pro-
ceeding that gave the queerest sensa-
tion. could not have spoken direct
ly to save my life.
IL have come as q peacemakcr.
aunt, he Went on, using that title as
thoug h he had seen me at intervals
ever since he was born. "to make up q
family quarrel; though, upon my hon
or, now think of it, haven't the
ghost of an idea what it was all about.
However, my father begins to feel that
he is getting old; he doesn't look it,
though. He's an upright and hand
some as he ever was. Well, he thinks
it's time bygones We're bygones, and l
volunteered to come and see if YOU
We're of the same opinion"
: 81 should have been glad to be rec
onciled any time the twenty years, my
dear" said, wiping away a few fool
lsh tears, "But better late than never
am very, very glad. Sit down Lionel
and talk to me here, by my side. You
are not O bit like the Armitages, Lionel
"No; l am generally supposed to be
a kind of reproduction of my mothers
brother, who died quite young. Twas
named after him, you know"
eyes, ! know"
'"Iwenty years, aunt; what pity it
seems! For my part think family
quarrels are an awful mistake. Do
know | seem to have q recollection of
you, though the last time l saw YOU
| was little chap of six or seven. 1
had an idea you We're very tall, by the
way"
"Where is Julius-your father, I
mean? Is he in town."
"No, he's down at the old place; the
town house is wrapped in brown hol-
land at present. l am putting up at
Drayton's"
"My dear boy, you mustn't stay at
the hotel. l have two or three spare
rooms. Do make this yonr home while
you are in town." said persuasively,
but was almost surprised at the alac-
rity of his acquiescence.
"With the greatest pleasure; moth
ing l should like better, Aunt Doro-
thy" he said.
"And how does your mother look?"
1 asked next. "Is she as energetic as
ever?"
He WINGED.
"She was taken from us two years
ago." he said in a low voice.
! was too shocked to speak. nev-
er looked at the papers, or this news
would not have been no surprise to
me. For while We were silent.
There was agreat deal to be talked
over, however, and the hours flew bv
more quickly than ever, though they
always fly terribly fast.
~ must be going" he said, at last.
e"That Was six o'clock that struck.
l say aunt, wasn't there some one
here with you when / came in?"
'"That was Mabel Verdi, Lionel; the
cause Of the quarrel" And 1 peered