New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-11
TIE TWO SALOMES.
AN AMANt FSsis.
Copyright. isss ~ Tas Tribune 4ssoe'sa,a

distuis@l
Nis. NuuallY, so whom this remark WAS adj
dressed, TUNED from Tho mirror where she was
standing TIA. size aniv turned :.~G i't'r. and
sr,ll r,hained whore snc opria ohl1r'ly see her
se'l in Tho siass
well she ssri. why don't yon get one.
,hen'"
Miss Nunally's aunt. Mrs Darrah. leaned back
with an impatient movement among the cushions
Of her divan.
"Get one 20 she repeated. Portia, you are GER
tainly q very trying person. One would think that
in your position you would offer to write at my
dictation'
The pirl faced round rather unexpectedly
"What do YOU mean by my position ?" she asked
with the utmost haughtiness
Mean why, mean that you are-why," shrink
inc little from wonnding her niece, that you are
nv guest, and that you ought"
aYou needn't 20 on, Aunt Florence" interrupted
poria still more haughtily ~ understand you
u,e,, enough You mean that am poor wretch.
and that ought to creep and crawl so that may
keen you good-natured"
Miss Nunally turned back to the mirror and
carefully selected q red rose from bowl and held
u nm 10 the side of her face. She was trying TO
demonstrate that blond women may successfully
wear red roses. Her upper lip lifted IN a slight
smile as she saw the effect, and she decldeo that
Che would wear an enormous bunch of red roses at
her belt that night at dinner Then She smiled
again and her little teeth. which were more than
half gold. seemed to have malicious gleam TO
them.
"As for my writing to your dictatlon' she wen'
an easily. "you know there isn't printer in
Ar,or;ca who could read what should write
can't read it myself. l write the English hand. :"
She laughed.
Mrs Darrah. small woman with dol-like
foca and hair brushed up in high roll from her
torebeod. somewhat nervousy arranged the shawl
about her shoulders.
ats all a notion, your writing that horriu
hand , she said You know it took you long
time 10 acquire it.
at know il did And now I hope YOU don't
think I'm going to give it up and write Tor
nrinter Besides, ] haven't any vocation toward
labor of any kind
You're an awiuly trying girl, Portia, YEARLY.
"Oh know that" from the person at the MIR
ror. But YOU knew all about me pefore you
sent for me TO come TO FLORIDA. -,
But I have forgotten that you-Portia! WIN
uncomfortable irritation, won't you stop tMiu
ding those roses and listen to me one moment?
Miss Nunally walked away from the mirror and
sat down in front OF her aunt
"you dear old authoress," she exclaimed. how
am going to help being what am? You know
YOU don't believe that people can change Don
Won rememb,r in your last novel you distinctly say
that no one ever repents that everybody remains
essentially the same all their lives?"
At mention of her last novel Mrs Darrahs lace
became more amiable. She loved her novels as
some mothers loved their children II other people
did not love Them in the secret recesses OF her
Mrs Darrah knew that ii was for the lack Oh gooo
taste; and she pitied those people,
She smiled involuntarily
ayes. l did say So But was following out
oortain theory I'm not sure think like that.
ooh but had quite made up my mind SAID
por,;a now coming over to the divan and adjust
inc one OF the cushions land / was so glad. It's
ouch a comfortable way to believe You are just
what YOU are, and you needn't take the trouble
n be ANYTHING different, and that's the end OF IT,
7 agree with your last novel, Aunt Florence.
Now. please don't 60 and upset all that. Will
you? -,
Mrs Darrah looked in pleased way at the girl
whose air was now anything but irritating
"But I'm thinking of illustrating the other
side of the question: she said. Il"
Portia made a quick movement.
pardon me, Aunt Florence. but do you really
want an amanuensis?
Certainly. j ind that my luea-
"Oh, do pardon me, but know precisely the
person.
but couldn't you, Portia? You know I'm used
to you. strange presence might interrupt the
flow Of"
But this one wouldn't not bit She's just
made TO order. and she wants to earn money, and
you know, aunt, that 1 can't be confined to any
fixed hours should be wretched and you
nOpinue1 Of flp red
roses from her corsage and smelled at it daintily-
"you expect me to be pleasing in the sight Of men
so that l may make a good marriage. l can't
work and can't beg and ! must have money
and that's why you invited me down hcres you
dear thing you so that I might have my innings,
you know
"Oh, please don't put anything so broadly as
that" demonstrated Mrs Darrah.
Broadly" repeated POrtia Indignantly. You
know never put anything broadly in my life"
I'VE won't discuss that" from the dvan.
"Your father and mother want you married.
They say they shouldn't rest in their graves if
you were not married They rever knew exactly
what you are going to do-only that il will be
something that they would wish you wouldn't
do. Certainly, Portia Nunally, you are the kind
of girl who ought TO marry. And Heaven have
mercy on your husband"
amen. For | wouldn't have any mercy If
you could not deceive men so easily should have
more respect for them. It's hardly any fun
setting traps for creatures who fall into them so
quickly"
IL won't dispute with you" responded Mrs.
Darrah. Il don't want to talk about men. /
want to talk about my amanuensis. Where is
she?"
"Out somewhere beyond the Maria Sauchey.
Somewhere where they raise truck. Somewhere
where they eat cabbage all the time. She said
the last time saw her that if she died in Florida
it would rot be phthisis which killed her. but
1t would be cabbage"
Mrs. Darrah shuddered.
But there isn't any nourishment-to speak OF