Passaic City record., 1892-12-10

I
cap and the old gold beads for wed
ding present." she added, satirically.
"Well, Polly, give it up. Since you
have systematically determined to ignore
all the nice people you know and invite
the rag, tag and bobtail of creation"
She stopped suddenly.
/ There was faint scent of dried law
ender leaves in the room--a mouselike
football on the carpet.
s.Is my new niece, Paulina, here2
said soft voice. ssOhl and this is one
of her bridesmaids Happy to meet
you, my dear, l am sure. It's very kind
OF Richards engaged wife to invite me
here, isn't it2--an old woman like me,
that has almost forgotten how to behave
in company. For Pm eighty years old,
aud though you'd hardly believe it. |
was young aud CAV once. I've scld the
manor house, subject only to my life
lease, and my husband lost all his
Southern slaves when President Lincol2
sent out the emancipation proclamation; !;
but I've my string of gold beads left
yet, and Paulina shall have that to wear
at her wedding-Aunt Eunice's pres
ent."
There was seconds silence.
Mary flashed mischievous glance over
Aunt Eunice's head at her friend, ere
Paulina answered:
s.Dear Aunt Eunice, it is very kind OF
you, but couldn't think of taking them
from YOU"
ssBut you must, my DEAR" insisted
the old lady with gentle chuckle.
ssIt's bad luck to come to wedding
and bring no present. And those gold
| beads will be the very thing for your
white neck. / shan't grudge them to
you, dear. Nothing is too good for
Richards bride, the sweet-natured girl
who has asked her old aunt all the way
from Hackensack to her bridal. I'll
clasp them around your neck myself
when you have your wedding dress on"
ssThank you, Aunt Eunice," said
Paulina, smiling, while Mary signaled to
her slyly, behind the old lady's back.
ssThere! Didn't / tell you so2 Cousin
Higgins and the old aunt Rag-tag Hall!
What wedding you'll have! Oh,
there's no use hoping for a floral bell
now. That sort of thing would be quite
out of place. as plainly see."
"Did she give you the old gold beadsa"
said Richard Graham, when he came
that evening. ''Bless the dear aunty! it
was all she had. But she's right. She
and Uucle Harwood were rich once,
though you'd never think it. And I've
always heard what beauty she was
when the century was youngl You didn't
refuse them, Polly, I hopea"
"Refuse them ~ echoed Paulina. ssNo,
certainly not"
ssThat's my own darling," said Rich
ard. 81 know they're oId-fashioned
things, but wouldn't have Aunt Eunice's
feeling hurt for the world"
ssOh," cried Mary Nellis, lmpatiently,
swhat geese you and Polly are! I'd
risk her feelings! Only to think that
I've been looking forward all these years
to Pclly's wedding, and it's going to be
such two-pence half-pennY affair, after
ALL"
Richard laughed.
"Well," said he, ssif we're suited,
who else has any right to find fault2
And when we have our silver wedding,
Polly and I, I'll show you floral bell
and a set of diamonds and all the pretty
things that my little girl deserves. Only
watt"
"Humph!' said the sconful Mary. 81
may wait forever for that"
The day of the wedding came. Cou-
sin Higgins brushed up lis well-worn
suit to nicely, tied his exuberant lawn
cravat in Beau Brummel knot, and put
on the tarnished pearl stud that had
had been his fathers before him.
81 couldn't do much for the young
people," said he, shut they'll find that
barrel o. Pound Sweets that came by
express this mornln' as good an article
to pass round at dinner time-or break
fast, the fashionable folks call it, don't
they?-as they make nowadays"
And old Mrs. Graham exchanged the
black lace cap with the three poppies
for white lace barbe of priceless old
Point de Venise, fastened by pins which
Mary Nellis said s'looked like real pearl
DtduS, UuI WAlShs " SSuASSt SSuAeAlA y
be.n
sT don't attend e wedding every day,
said Aunt Eunice Graham, cnmplacently.
The Ortohs had sent an etching OF
s'The Angelus." !" The Ellingtons gave
nothing at all. The Falklands, of Phil
sdelphia, dispatched five dollar pocket
handkerchief by mail. The Luceys sent
plush photograph album. Mary Mel
lis's gift was pretty lunch set of double
damask linen.
''Since you like useful things so well, "
said she, mal:ciously.
And Paulina was innocentIy pleased
with all the offerings.
ssEvery one is so kind" said she.
Sab, but think what you might have
had," sighed Mary, elf only you had
stood under Horal bell and asked the
right sort of peoplei"
At the last moment there was delay.
"Don't let Polly get married till l