The Iola register., 1891-10-09
AFAMILY QUARREL.

all goes soon after 8. A chilly kind oil
white mist was hanging about, and the
trees in the square were shaking on
their few remaining leaves, as though
they were at last convinced that the,
poor, black, shriyeled things were no
ornament, but rather disfiguration.
My knitting had dropped idly on my
knee, and was thinking. My 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 perfect
fy, 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 daughters who reverenced and
loved you as loved my dear mother
long, long ago.
Strange thoughts for little old maid
of 63; sad thoughts too, that made the
fire become obscured and then shoot
out long needles, until 1 recollected
that my pet was very fond of, me though
there was no relationship between us
She was all 1 had, for our family had
dwindled and dwindled until there
were only three representatives, and be-
tween me and those others there was a
long standing estrangement.
The old house was wonderfully quiet.
Outside was the usual hum of the city
traffic, distant nearly quarter of a
mile; inside, no sound but the purring
of nv cat and the fiutter, flutter Of a
fame in the fire.
A loud energetic ring at the bell
startled us both.
"why, auntie," said Mabel, 'you are
asleep"
"Who can it be?" / wonder. TITS
not my day, so it is not likely to be a
caller. If il 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 in 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 a moment l thought it was my
brother himself, as l rose to my feet,
all trembling, but Mabel stirred the fire
into blaze, and l saw a dark eyed
y0hng man, not like my brother, but
so like some one else 1 used to know,
that forgot 1 was a withered old
woman, and almost unconsciously
breathed the word:
Lionel"
"Yes," he answered, taking both my
hands into his strong grasp. Lionel
Armitage; and this, then, is Aunt Dor
othy. What tiny little aunt it ISL
He bent dow and kissed me, a pro-
ceeding that gave the queerest sensa-
ton. l could not have spoken directly
to save my life.
81 have come as pescemaker, 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
quarrel; though, upon my honor, now
l think of it, haven't the ghost of an
idea what it was all about. However,
my father begins to feel that he is get,
ting old; he doesn't look it, though
He's as upright and handsome as he
ever was. Well, he thinks it's time by
cones were bygones, and l volunteered
to come and see if you were OF the
same opiuion.
81 should have been glad to be recon
ciled any time these twenty years, my
DEAR" said, wiping away few fool
ish tears. "But better late than never
1 am very, very glad. Sit down
Lionel, and talk to me here, by my side
You are not a bit like the Armitages
Lionel" -
aNo; am generally supposed to be
kind of reproduction of my mother
brother, who died quite young. wa
named after him, you know"
"Yes I know"
"Twenty years aunt; what a pity
seems! For my part l think famil
ouarrels are an awful mistake. Do yo
know l seem to have a recollection o
you, though the last time l saw you
was little chap of six or seven. ha
an idea you were very tall, by the way.
where is Julius-your father,
mean? Is he in town.
aNo, he's down at the old place; tn
town house is wrapped in brown no
land at present. I'm putting up
Drsyton's."
"My dear boy, you mustn't stay at tt
hotel. 1 have two or three spare room
DO make this your home while you al
in town." said, persuasively, but W;
almost surprised at the alacrity Of h
acquiescence.
! "With the greatest pleasure; nothin
/ should like better, Aunt Dorothy" /
said.
And how does your mother look
: I asked next. "Is she as energetic ;
J everT
, He WINGED.
"She was taken from US two yea
oro bo cold in a low voice.