Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1891-12-23
CHAPTER Xxx.


AUNT MTrCuEtL SPEAKS
Hiram soon became rs placid and
self-satistied as ever. and the next
morning he went down town 10 his Of
ice with not n trace of the late dis
turbancc either showing In his features
or ranking in his conscience. For
several weeks everything went along
smoothly with him, and every day he fell
more and more in love with his churit-
able qualities and his Christian virtues.
Hiram Blatchford was not n man To
give way To any insignificant feeling.
and he did not allow conscience To de-
ter him for any great length OF time.
He at one time felt that he hadn't nj
ways done just right, but he managed
to shift the blame of his wrong actions
To some other persons shoulders, and
succeeded, To his own satisfaction, In
exonerating himself completely.
But another bombshell was destined
10 fall in the Blatchford camp. and II fell
with terrible effect. This bombshcll
camein the shape of an elderly maiden
lady known ns Miss Mitchell Blatchford,
sister 10 Hiram. who for some years
had lived entirely isolated from her
brother. She decided To pay Hiram n
visit, and. accordingly. one day some
weeks after the Christian aid society
meeting she alightcd ut IIirams door.
Hiram was not particularly glad 90
see his sister, for to tell the truth she
had an uncomfortable way OF speaking
her mind that Hiram did not like. He
distinctly remembered several occasions
when she had freely spent her opinion
of him and his way of doing, and she
had not always considered him In the
light of an injured innocent. He
knew that she would soon discover the
relation existing between himself and
his daughter, and he felt morally GER
tair that her sympathies would be with
thc latter, and that blowing up for
him would be the result.
Sarah was not glad TO see Miss
Blatchford either; and she not only
shared in Hiram's feelings, but She was
inclined 10 look upon any of his people
as iuteriopers when they presumed To
visit the house that ought TO bc sncred
To the Spicklcrs. She feared, moreover,
that this strong minded woman would
jar on her nerves, for she had under
stood from her husband how Miss
Mitchell was inclined 10 give vent, I'm
no uncertain terms, 10 her honest opin-
ions. Sarah felt that she was a good.
sanity creature; yet She was not anxious
that anyone should speak the truth
about her In her presence. If she could
have had her desire in the matter, she
wo1ld have had Miss Mitchclls visit
postponed indefinitely.
OF course Hiram and Sarah made an
effort to- welcome her, but the effort
was very much constrained. and was
lacking in warmth and feeling. Miss
Mitchell either did not notice this, or
ignored II for reasons OF her own. and
proceeded 10 make herself at home in
her brothers house after her own pc
culiar fashion.
Aunt Mitchell. rs she was usually
called by those who knew her well. was
of cold, taciturn disposition She was
distant and unsocial toward those who
were her best friends, and toward
strangers, or those whom she disliIsed.
she was frigid 20 the last degree. She
bad knack of forming pretty correct
estimate Of people on first sight. and
her first-formed opinion Of Mrs. Batch
ford was anything but hattering To that
lady's Christian character. Mr.. Batch
ford attempted TO make mp 10 her errntic
sister in-law, but on each occasion met
with such cold repulse that she soon
Ravv up the effort.
AvTt Mitchell preserved "a quiet, cold
dignity in her department 20 her
brother and his wife, and avoided their
society as much as possible. When she
was forced into their presence, how
ever, she maintained the bearing Of one
who Is making strong effort 20 hold
n