The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-01-29
AN OLD MAIDS STORY.

Vember afternoons when the daylight
all goes soon afteE3. A chilly kind of
white mist was hanging about, and
the trees in the square were shaking
OFT their few remaining leaves, as
though they were convinced that the
poor, black, shriveled things wereno
ornament, but rather a designation.
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.
Twas thinking, I remember perfect
ly, 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 rever-
enced and loved you as I loved my
dear mother long, long ago.
Strange thoughts for little old
maid of SO; sad thoughts too, that
made the fire become obscured and
then shoot out long needles, until I re-
collected that my pet was very fond
OF me, though there was no relation
ship between US.
She was all I 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 quar-
ter of q mile: inside, no sound but the
purrlng of my cat and the futter,
t1utter OF flame in the fire.
A loud, energetic ring at the bell
startled us both.
asleep"
"Who can it be-" wondered. otis
not my day, SO it is not likely to be a
caller. If tits, we must have the gas.''
Directly after the room door was
opened and a name was announced
that took my breath away.
'Ar. 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 thought it was my
brother himself, as rose to my feet,
all trembling, but Mabel stirred the
fire into bright blaze, and 1 saw a
dark eyed young man, not like my
brother, but so like some one else
used to know, that forgot I was a
Withered old woman, and almost un-
consciously breathed theword:
EYES," he answered, taking both nv
hands into his strong grasp, "Lionel
Arn1itage; and this, then, is Aunt Dor
othy. What O. tiny little aunt it is!'
He bent down and kissed me, pro-
ceeding that gave the queerest sensa.
ton. I could not have spoken direct.
~ to save my life.
II have come as a peacemaker,
aunt" he went on, using that title as
though he had seen me at intervals
ever since he was born, ITO make up a
family quarrel; though, upon my hon
Or, now think of it, I haven't the
ghost of an idea what it was all about.
/ However, my father begins to feel that
he is getting old; he doesn't look it,
though. He's an upright and hand
some as he ever was. Well, he thinks
it's time bygones were bygones, and !
volunteered to come and see if YOU
were of the same opinion"
II should have been glad to be rec
onclled any time the twenty years, my
dear" I said, wiping away a few fool
ish tears, "But betterlate 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
"No; I am generally supposed to be
q kind of reproduction of my mothers
brother, who died quite young. Twas
named after him, you know"
eyes, I know"
"TWenty years, aunt; what pity it
seems! For my part I think family
quarrels are an awful mistake. Do
know seem to have q recollection of
you, though the last time I saw you
was little chap of six or seven.
had an idea you were very tall, by the
way"
"Where is Julius-your father, l
mean? Is he in town."
"No, he's down at the old place; the
town house is wrapped in brown hol-
land at present. am putting up at
Drayton's'
'My dear boy, you mustn't stay at
the hotel. have two or three spare
rooms. Do make this yonr home While
you are in town." I said persuasively,
but was almost surprised at the alac-
rity of his acquiescence. ...
with the greatest pleasure; moth
ing | should like better, Aunt Doro-
thy" he said. &
"And how does your mother look?"
asked next. els she as energetic as
ever?'' .a, s@.# T~
He WINGED.
She was taken from us two years
ago." he said in low voice.