Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-01-02
AN OLD MAIDS STORY:

So ies me grace it As ghost,
Springfield Rerae.ieaa-
AN OLD MAIDS STORY.
II was one of those cold, dark Noyem-
Der afternoons when the daylight all
goes soon after 3. A chilly kind Of
white mist was hanging about. and the
trees in the square were shaking of their
few remaining leaves. rs though they
were at last convinced that the poor.
black, shriveled things were no orna-
ment, but rather . designation. Ny
knitting had dropped idly on my knee.
and was thinking. Ny 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.
| was thinking. remember perfectly.
what 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 daugh-
tiers who reverenced and loved you rs !
loved my dear mother long, long ago.
Strange thoughts for little old maid
of IS; sad thoughts too, that made the
fire become obscured and then shoot out
long needles. until recollected that my
pet was very fond of me, though there
was no relationship between us.
She was all had, for our family had
dwindled and dwindled until there Were
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 a quarter of mile;
inside, no sound but the purring of my
cat and the flutter. flutter of 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?' / wondered. Its
| not my day, so it is not likely to be n
caller. II it is, we must have the gas"
Directly after the room door was
opened and a name was announced that
| took my breath away.
Mr.. Armitage,"
Jane ushered i'll 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 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 dark eyed
Young man, not like my brother, but so
| like some one else | used to know, that |
| forgot was awithered old woman, and
| almost unconsciously breathed the word
| Lionel
Yes" he answered. taking both my
hands into his strong grasp, Lionel Ar
mitage; and this. then, is Aunt Dorothy
| What tiny little aunt it is.'
| He bent down and kissed me. II pro-
ceeding that gave the queerest sensation.
| | could not have spoken directly to save
my life.
| Il have come as Il peacemaker, aunt,
| he went on. using that title as though he
had seen me at intervals ever since he
was born, ito make up the family quar-
rel: though, upon my honor, now think
| of it, ] haven't the ghost Of an idea what
| it was all about However, my father
| begins tc feel that h. is getting old: he
| doesn't look it, though. He's us upright
| and handsome as he ever was Well he
thinks its time bygones We're bygones.
and | volunteered to come and see if von
We're of the same opinion"
Il should have been glad to be recon
| ciled any time these twenty years. my
dear" said, wIping away a few foolish
tears. But better late than never. !
am very, very glad. Sit down. Lionel,
and talk to me here, by my side. You
are not "A bit like the Armitages. Lionel. y"
mo: am generally supposed to be a
kind of reproduction of my mothers
brother, who died quite young, | was
named after him, you know"
Yes. ] know"
Twenty years. aunt; what pity 1t
seems For my part ! think family
quarrcls are an awful mistake. Do you
know seem TO have II recollection Of
you, though the last time ] saw you J
was "A little chap Of six or seven. / had
an idea YOU We're very tall, by the way"
Where is Jnlius-your father, mean:
l. he IN ,o,rrsr
No. he's down at the Old place; the
+c,,,,,, l,o,,sa l.. ,vr,nned in brown holland
"A ,,re.e,t TIN nnttino nm at Draytop's "
nv 1e.r how Won mustn't stay at the
bo,oI hav. Two or tbree snare rooms
| No mall. tI,is vour home while Won are
j., t1,,,, - coil nersuas;veIv Int was
al,nos, .,,,pr,se1 ot the alacr;,v of his
acouiegconcc.
with the greatest pleasure; nothing
| should like better, Aunt Dorothy, he
sqil.
And hos, does your mother look: |
asked next. is she as energetic as ever
He WINGED.
SHE was taken from ms two years
ago he said in a low voice.
| was too shocked to speak. j never
| looked at the papers. or this news would
have been no surprise to me. Fora little
while we were silent.
There was "a great deal TO be talked
over. however, and the hours flew by
more quickly than ever. though they