Passaic City record., 1891-07-25

1
SIT doesn't" she answered. 'It is
Aunt Calista."
ssWhy is it Aunt Calista?" George
questioned, and wondered if all men
were moved to be as protectingly gentle
to her as he was. ''She isn't here, is
she9"
.sNo." Kitty's humorous little smile
remained, with just enough of shyness to
be pretty. s'But l seem TOTO feel her,
you know-almost!"
Her listener laughed, since he could
not help it. So did Kitty.
"she must be "a terror, so to
speak," he ventured.
"Oh, no! She is-well, Aunt Calista, !"
said Kitty. 'sThat describes her best,
somehow. She is my fathers sister, but
not bit like my father. She has always
lived in Wyndham, and Wyndham is
very different, 1 supposed"
different from" George queried.
s.From our little old farm" Kitty an
swered, smiling.
'sAnd you've never visited Wyndham
and your Aunt Calistag"
How interesting was every fact con-
cernlng this sweet-faced girl-her every
wordl
"No. Mary went first, then Celia.
But now that they've married, it is me
or nobody. She visited us year ago
Aunt Calista-and lately she wrote for
me to come"
"Wall2"
"Well, and-and I'm afraid she
doesn't really want me. Mary and Celia
are different. I don't think-I really
don't-that Aunt Calista approves of
men
She looked rueful and serious. Her
pretty mouth was family pouted ten
drill of hair blew across her delicately-
blooming cheek.
Was Aunt Calista blind or insane2
George wondered in real impatience.
But he said, mildly:
"Why not2"
Was she saying too much9 Kitty
knew she was. But he was looking at
her with deep, respectful interest
with that quiet, gentlemanly air which
had made her sorry for seeming to be rude
to him at first.
"Well, I'm not quite SO ladylike as
the Others" she responded, gravely. He
stared.) "I'm different. I like things
just such as the boys like. I've tramped
around in the woods with them till I
know as much about birds and trees and
things as they do. like to fish, and
I'm even getting to be decent shot.
And Aunt Calista doesn't admire it."
81 cannot conceive why not!" said
George, warmly.
ssShe doesn't. She said so to father.
And when she saw me once running
after one of the cows which had got in
to the wrong lot, and washing off the
buggy another time, when father was
busy, she told mother she was afraid 1
was hopeless.
George Floyd coughed. He did not
venture to smile, her face was so gently
serious. But the visions which rose be-
fore him shut out all else for moment.
He saw her among the tall greenery of
the woods, bare-headed, warm-cheeked;
he saw her tracing path across dewy
pasture, singing-or whistling, maybe;
he saw her in the barn and the meadow,
in SOD sattly old wagon, perched in
haystack-and saw always her innocent
eyes and sweet-expressioned mouth and
rumpled faxen hair. HIS heart was
beating rather fast now.
~ don't know what kind of a person
your Aunt Callsta is" he said, shortly.
''She is very good," said Kitty
"charitable and good, but she is very
particular, and Pm good deal afraid of
her. If I didn't know she doesn't ap-
prove of me, and would certainly have
asked Mary or Celia again instead-if
they hadn't got married--but do know
it,"
He longed to express his utter con-
tempt for Aunt Calista and all her tastes
and preferences-his unqualified horror
of her.
81 trust she won't make your life
burden to you while you are with her,"
he said, Indignantly.
81 shall try to be pleasant surprise
to her," Kitty answered, with simple
earnestness. 81 told father I should,
and I shall. I think can behave we'll
as Aunt Calista likes to see girl be-
have, I mean-and I'll try to. I can't
be a 'romp' in Wyndham; that's what
Aunt Calista says I am. The boys won't
be there, you see; and perhaps, by keep
ing IL On my mind and trying hard"
Her gravity gave way at last to mis-
chievous little smile
"And it was that" said George Floyd,
"which made you afraid to thank me for
opening the window, and scared at the
notion of speaking to me afterward-it
was your having your Aunt Calista on
your minda Bryerdon!" he muttered,
inaudibly; "and Wyndham only two
minutes off. Confound it,"
EYES," Kitty owned. "Aunt Calista
would think it dreadful, my speaking to
anybody hadn't been introduced to-I
know she would. Yes, I'm certain of it,
even when-if-"
"Even If it was perfectly apparent
that tanvhndv' vas an entire1v safe and