Passaic City record., 1892-02-27

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wears it only when she's feeling dismal
and thinking over all the troubles she
ever had or will have, and that she never
wants me to do anything when she's
that way. Oh, dearl And I told
him"
Cora paused in her reflections and
turned to face, with courageous smile,
the stout and dignifed lady who had
entered.
ssThere's a picnic at the Lodge this
afternoon, Aunt. Cecilia" she began
''just little impromptu affair. They
talked it up the other night at Bess Lang s
party, and promised to go. OF course
I meant to speak to you first.
''Certainly!" said Aunt Cecilia. The
blue silk handkerchief was folded around
her plump neck in particularly un-
becoming way. "You should have
spoken to me Immediately. Who has in
vited you2"
ssMr. PIERCE Cora raised her soft
eyes anxiously-ssthe young man who is
here prospecting for the Bryan Valley
Railroad, you know. They are think
ing of putting branch through here,
and Mr.. Pierce has been here several
times this summer. He's very nice and
he's invited everywhere; and-and we
seem to know each other very well now.
for he always talks to me, you know. +"
Cora spoke with pretty, eager rapidity,
her cheeks flushing. '.He wants to call,
and he's coming this morning to see if it
is all right about my going this after
noon. l told him of course it would be.
We want to start about one"
"Pierce?" said Aunt Cecilia. sOne
of the West Gainesbro' Pierces?'
81 don't know; presume not. No, l
think he's from"
81 know the West Gainesbro' Pierces
root and branch, said Aunt Cecilia, de-
liberately - ssroot and branch-and I
would no more allow niece of mine to
associate with one of them than would
allow her to associate with-Never mind !;
I will not argue it, Cora. I know the
Pierces. / am grieved and / am dis
pleased that you have formed an ac-
quaintance SO unpleasant to me, whom
you should have considered. Ihope not
to hear of another"
"But he isn't one of the West Gaines
bro Pierces," Cora cried-'I'm sure he
isn't, Aunt Cecilia / can't think of the
place he does come from. He told me,
too. But ch, Aunt Cecilia, he's so gen.
tlemanly and-nice!!"
Helpless tears stood in her eyes. She
had not quite realized before how much
he had come to be to handsome,
bright-mannered Albert Pierce.
~ desire you to have no more to do
with him., said Aunt Cecilia, showing
her niece severe, straight profile. Aunt
Cecilia was certainly good-looking; her
niece resembied her. "a clandestine
acquaintance of that sort, Cora! / am
astonished! Even were his family
worthy"
ssIt isl know it is. And sclandes-
tine,' Auat Cecilia2 Flow can you say
so2 And what shall do? He's coming
this morning to see about it, and-dear
Aunt Cecilia
81 should prefer not to have him
come" said Aunt Cecilia. "We will end
this undesirable acquaintance here and
now, Cora. He is at the Lane House, /
presume? / will send Matthew there
with note, if you will write it. My
niece cannot attend picnics with stran-
ger, and Gainesbro' Pierce"
Aunt Cecilia moved away. If she
heard presently, from her seat by the
sitting room window, something like a
faint sob. she persuaded herself that she
had not heard it.
For Aunt Cecilia had heart and a
warm one. Her niece knew that. Stand
ing with her eyes hidden, childlike, on
the back Of her hand, which was wet
with her standing with indigna.
ton and real misery in her desparing
heart-Cora murmnred, dismally:
.She never would have done it!
Don't / know it2 1t isn't like her; she
couldn't have! It's that blue silk hand
kerchief."
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