New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-20
THE YELLOW DRAGON VASES.

lucillas husband, the Rev. Arthur t1eid, was
very fond Of strawberry jam-there were ohV
il seemed an absurd thing to fret over, but Lu,
ella felt unhappy because the strawberry Jam h"u
She had more reason for this than appears at
first sight JAM good heme-insae is,r tSe Macs
d padd Was IN tS humble nome Arthur Field
quite contented IL Lucilla gave nun, s5rawDe Ely
Jam and bread and butter instead OF pudolng al,er
neat She had saved many arnr her HUSBANDS
simple tastes. Now the favorte jam was nearly
exhausted. Lucilla looked sorrowful, the corners
You there, my iove?T a masculine voice called
from down stairs; steps were heard sscebJ ;l1
quickly and Arthur Field STOOD by his Wits side
" Here is letter for you, Lucy, he SAID =,
Lucila turned at once from contemplating the
strawberry Jam and held out her hand Tor thc aet
ter. She was tall, dark young woman WIN me
people described as pleasant. Her husband seemed
10 think so now as he looked down at her from his
superior height.
Tucia opened her letter eagerly and began to
read its contents she did so her cheeks flushed
her eyes flashed indignant fire, her whole charm,
Is is soon on grew to utterance in her voice:
"Oh Arthur. to think that should be treated
so My great aunt Lucilla, after whom was
is she, indeed, my lovep Poor soull I am
sory-when did it happen?"
Mr.. Field spoke in distressed voice -ae Snt In
could not understand anger in connection with IT
Yet Lucilla whom he knew so well, so very we'll
was absolutely trembling with anger.
When did your aunt die Lucy?" he repeated
Il can't tell you Arthur. Oh let me see, nearly
o month ago or course, the Vincents, Mary ana
wonder no wonder any, one could see through
their devices-they wheedled they coaXcd, they
petted, they fiattered, and they got their desires
Lucy, your words quite alarm me-your words
and your anger; May, see that letterS'
Lucilla gave her husband the open sheet of note
paper which she had been holding, deliberately
shut and locked the Jam cupboard, anS tne N
walked past a% h into GeT be own 'e
lie gazed after her retreating form in astonish,
ment then bent his gaze on the letter which had
caused all this disquiet.
He read the following words:= .,
"Red;crOss House, May the 10th "a
MY dear Lncilla-You will be surprised ana
quite suddenly on the night Of the It'll Of April
She must have died in her sleep, poor old dear u:
and evidently early in the night, for when her
maid found her she was cold.
Aunt Lucy was ailing for some time, and as she
was past eighty even her warmest friends can only
speak of her death as q blessed release. Our kec-
tor Mr.. Martin, preached very beautiful sermon
about her, and we had nice obituary notice In
serted in The Raven our local paper The III;
neral too, WAS both suitable and expensive; and
Ellen and l have quite the proper mourning-we
are wearing Grape up to our knees. OF course,
don't mean on our everyday dresses, which, how
ever. look as deep, being made OF capital wearing
stuff called crape-cloth.
We'll my dear Lucilla, tie will was rea' as is
customary, after we had returned from laying poor
day, and I am sorry TO tell you our new grapes:
on for the first time, got good deal spotted ana
injured SnSnf By the grant AUNT SSS 70
yer, read the contents TO u.s.. or course, we were
not the least surprised, nor will you be when you
get this letter. We are left everything; we knew
this would be the case when you dispeased all your
relations by marrying Mr., Field. don't suppose
anyone felt your marriage more than dear Anae
I,tax off nelt L he
nor said angry words. You know the proverD,
Lucilla, that Still waters run deep: this must
have been the case with Aunt Lucy, for when the
will was read we found she bad not remembered
you at all. eXcept-but shall come TO that pres
emily. ] want. first Of all, 70 let you know how
Elen and ! are left We shall have, when every
thing is sold. exactly ten thousand pounds apiece
by no means fortunes in these expensive days.
but still enough 10 he comfortable on. 10 be
frank, did really think that Aunt Lucy was much
better off She gave herself quite the ans OF wealth.
which she had no right to 20, for what is twenty
thousand pounds? But, Of course, as she has, left
us literally everything, we must not complain.
Did say everything? No, you are not quite for
gotten Do you remember those yellow Jars
those frghtfuI things which always stood a shelf
over the dawinp-room door-the yellow dragons.
we used 10 call them? Well, you are now the
happy pOssessor Of the yellowdragons. | think.
and so does Ellen, that this fact more than any
thing else, shows how your marriage wounded dear
Please, Lucilla, forgive me for not writing to
you sooner. but YOU can imagine what whirl
Ellen and | are both in, and as YOU were not left
ANYTHING to sneak Of and had practically turned
yonr back on all your relatives, we did not think
vases Fed Cross is TO be sold as soon as possible.
and OF course all the furniture Such old-fashoned
furniture would be quite useless to Ellen and me.
We have decided to take house in London, for we
feel that after the long weary years spent with
Aunt Lucila, il is due TO us to have what fun We
can. | will write again, or perhaps Ellen will
write next, to tell you our new address.
Believe me, my dear Lucilla,
"Your afiectionate cousin,
"P. ST. had almost forgotten TO mention that
the yellow dragons, very carefully packed even
now on their way 10 you we are sending them
direct by passenger train, carriage prepaid"
Mr.. Field read this letter through without the
smallest change Of countenance. If he felt anger,
his face did not show IT,. When he had read to
the very end, he folded the letter and returned it
to its envelope placed it for safety In his pocket,
and walking across the landing, tapped at his
Can come in, Lucilla ?" he asked.
Mot now, Arthur, she answered from the other
side Of the door. am particularly engaged but
| will be down TO give you your tea in ten
minutes"
He went downstairs without another word. a
nice and appetizing tea was spread on the dining
room table. Some strawberry jam graced the
board: there were homemade cakes, some crisp
tempting looking salad, wel-made toast fragrant
coffee and last but not least, two poached eggs in
a little silver dish.
When Lucilla entered the room she went straight
10 the head of her table, and poured out her
husbands coffee She did not say another word
about the obnoxious letter; her face was once
more pleasant 10 look al, but there were traces
of tears about her eyes and. although she tried
10 prevent it, her pretty lips took sad curve
whenever they were in rcpoSe. She chatted
brightly, however and even laughed when the
Reverend Arthur Field gave utterance to small
witticsm made a pun. lie was fond OF the
relaxation which puns afforded, and tuciiia won q
have thought herself altogether wanting in wifely
duty II she did not cheer her husband with smiles
Of approval after he was guilty of these intel
ectual efforts.
Tea was nearly over when there came a ring to
the front door The servant they only kept one
servant, her name was jessie entered the room to
announce the arrival Of a box.
ut is prepaid mas am" she said, addressing
Mrs Field; "where shall the man take it Pr
Let him leave II In the hall. Jessie. answered