The Forrest City times., 1891-04-03
when I was . girli Dear, deari only

glazed ware, and the old woman look ed greedily at it as Mildred placed it in tho sunny window. "T'herc, dear, that'll do; and now, would you mind giving old Aunt Pa tience q kiss?" Mildred hesitated an instant. She could not help feeling an instinctive aversion to placing her rosy lips against the withered skin; but it was only momentary. She bent and kiss ed the aged crone with sweet cordiali- ty, and then left the room.
 "How ridiculous!' said Evelyn, curling her lip, as Mildred returned once more to her work. "The idea of your inconveniencing yourself so much for a creature like that,''
 "She is old, Evelyn, and very poor"
 "Then why don't she stay up among her own native wilds: am sure we don't want her here"
 Hush, Evelyn! the door is partial ly open, and she may hear you"
 'I don't care if she docs. Look, Mildred, would you arrange the trim mings in this way, with cluster of beads at every loop?"
 
 new ball dress, Evelyn Yorke soon for got all about the unwelcome intruder, who was sitting like some fairy god mother of nursery lore, beside the bright fire in the adjoining room.
 But Miss Patience, slowly expanding her claw-like fingers over the coals, and greedily watching the yellow play of the sunbeams above her cherished plant, did not forget.
 Are you going out with me this morning, Mildred2"
 Evelyn was standing before the glass, adjusting the pink, foam-like plume of her exquisite hat.
 "No- Aunt Patience is very ill, and l really think some one ought to stay with her."
 Nonsense it is only one of the old maids whims, and Bridget can make her gruel as well as you can"
 But Mildred quietly shook her head.
 Now, Mildred how absurd you are' Mamma will be very angry; and you know Mir. Raymond is going to be with us"
 "I don't care q fig for Julixs Ray mondm
 Mildred! when you know how anx- ious mamma Is that you should en- courage him!'
 Evelyn" said the younger sister, looking up with quiet deternlnation in her grave brown eyes, II love Charles Glenn, and him only. If I cannot marry Charles, then prefer to remain single"
 You will most assuredly die an old maid, then, said Evelyn. angriy.
 Better die an old maid than marry a man whom you detest, simply be- cause he is rich'
 What high-hown, sentimental non- sensel'
 "You may call it what you please, but am resolved on this one point"
 But you will so with us this morn ing. Mildrcd2"
 Il cannot leave Aunt Patience"
 Evelyn turned away with an angry toss of the pink plumes, and Mildred went up to the post of duty at Miss Patience Perkins bedside.
 You're good girl, my dear--a good girl, croaked the old crone. "It isn't every one would give up her own pleasures to sit beside an old woman, on a sunshiny morning like this. I'll tell you what. my dear, mean to leave you that rose-geranium in my will"
 Mildred smiled to herself at the im- portant tone in which Aunt Patience spoke.
 Il will take good care of it, aunt" she said.
 Il know you will, Mildred-I know you will. and you are the only living person I'd leave it to-
 She was silent few minutes, and then spoke.
 "Milly, 1t would be dreadful fate if a young girl like you were married for her money"
 Mildred opened wide her brown eyes: was Aunt Patience wandering in her mindy
 "But, if some good young man loved you for yourself alone, that would be quite diiferent-quite different. Milly, give me drink ot water; my old lips arc parched, and then place my little geranium where l can see it."
 Mildred obeyed, beginning to fearthat poor old Aunt Patience was very ill indeed.
 She was right for towards evening the old lady began to grow worse. and the doctor shook his saga head.
 "She is very old Mrs Yorke, and it isn't likely she will rally. Ican't give yon much hope. ma am"
 "Iow provoking" elaculated Eve lyn, when her mother rcameto her after the doctors visit. "Couidn't she die anywhere else than at our house?"
 Hush, my dear said Mrs. Yoske, holding up | warning finger; but 1t certainly IS very annoying"
 Mamma, can 20 to the Riders party. can't IT Nobody knows, Aunt Patience Is ill, and have set my heart on wearing the maze-colored silk,'
 "Well, really. Evelyn, I don't see why you couldn't go; Mildred is de termined to stay at home with Pa tience, in any event. so you may as well go and enjoy yourself
 Just at the hour of midnight, while Miss Evelyn Yorke. in golden silk. with roses iu her hair. was floating through a langnid polka-redowa, Mil dred knelt ut the bedside of a dying womanl
 "Milly, you have been good to me always, and l am very old. Years ago, when was young"
 The word died away into everlasting silence upon her lips, the grey shadows of death crept slowly over the wi inkled T