Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-19

Aant Hal came o0t of the wide. shady
bal VITA a. elusive swing u her drap-
cries ard seated herself n . bamboo
eaAar Gloss % the hammock
She was eoulieally like her niece-at
least a. much as a woman Of thirty
eight eoald Do Ike maid u eighteen
fhsre was the same yellow luxurianes
Of hair. c1t narsheF, drier and suggest
i've CT dye. the same piak and white
eomplexi>n. arEifciany heightened; SIM
lAs features. cruelty shar.ened by the
memorable hand Of tine. and teeth Just
one degree TOO white and regular to Dc
real
The white dress she wore was painful
ly trying. and she Was compelled 10 use
gold rimmssd eye glasses as shs held up
letter 70 the view Of her niece.
"What has happeneds drowsily de-
manded the latter. lifting a pair OF blue
eyes, friEged with dark Iashes.
The strangest thihgF'
Another offer Of marriageT hazarded
Halcyon, settling on the unlikehest
thing which could. in her opinion, hap
pen.
How did you guess with little ex-
ultanr esckie. Exactly. The dear.
foolish lad-aad no so much younger
than II Why. he couldn't have been
tventy-ons when he went 10 Bombay,
and was at least thirty then
"Thirty-ive, Aunt Hail." said Hal
cyon. the merciless.
WAS IL as much as that, Well, he
seemed desperately in love then, though
Of course ! never took any notice Of the
child But l suppose in that country Of
blackamoors one can't help thinking
about al the women one has ever known
At home. aud he has written me two or
three letters"-
Has he;"
Halcyon sat straight up in the ham
mock now. Her blue eyes glowed. The
heat had brought flush TO her cheek
which all Aunt Halls carmine saucers
could not rival
But l never told you," said the elder
beauty. because l remembered that
there was a sort Of boy and girl affair
between you and Charlie Blessen when
You were at boarding school, and ]
thought you would be nettled. And
here's the proposal at last, dear-with
his photograph inclosed
Let me see IT,"
What brave. good face IL was
slighsly older and sterner than she had
looked upon when the Avancanian sailed
away three years ago, but yet so strong
and manly!
She laughed Historically.
Shall You accept himy'
Aunt Hal nibbled coquettishly at the
edge Of the envelope; the new false teeth
cleaned in . smile.
"l-think-I-shall!"
And you fourteen years older than
be ISL
People don't think about such things
as they used to do" reasoned Miss Hart
ford. the elder. ''Eros il immortal, you
know" "a
HAlcyon sank back into the hammock
and reopencd her book.
You must do as you please, of
course" said she. after that Quota
ZION about Eros. I have not q suggestion
to offer"
Jealous. poor darling~ thought Aunt
Hal. with thrill Of pity. And she
said:
We'll. Of course one can't help those
things happening 20 one, and your time
Will come soon, dear, never fear"
'lt's good thing" she added to her
self. 'she does not know anything about
dear old Judge Flostroy. There's diff
ference in age, il you please, and the
old pet 10 so infatuated about me! An
old mans darling OK . young mans
slave-whichY
While Halcyon thought on her side:
The silly goose! He has done it now!
He has been making love to Aunt Hal,
thinking he was counting me. Oh,
thought he knew her name was the
Same as mine. Didn't she stand god
mother to me at st. Chrysoline's and
give mo coral and bells and an en-
broidered christening robe: And now
be has actually proposed to her! Well,
II ne Is the man take him TO be, he'll
stand by his colors. cost him what it may.
A man who could walk up to the can
mons mouth at Bey-Idonna surely won't
shrink. even from Aunt Hal. And I'd
rather know that he was true hero tn
than have poltroon for my husbandr'
And Hslcyon turned her face toward
the pillow and cried great sparkling
tears like dewdrops.
$50 you're back again. lieutenant?
Beg pardon: I'd orter said colonel, do
suppose" said the old cab driver at the
station. whom Charlie Blossom had re-
mernbered ever since be was q child.
well, declare shouldn't hardly have
knowed vel And come home to be mar.
RED, ehy
Blossom bit his lips, but he laughed
careiessly. Jonas Hopper was q priv |
legged individual. like tho court testers |
of old.
'How did you know, Hopper"
"Oh. dunno. Miss Hartford. ste's |
been settin ready to be married this
long time" said Jonas, hosting the
coionel's luggage on the back Of the |
wagon. "And dressmskers and mill.
ners they viii talk. you know. though
I'm told Miss Hal took great pains TO
hide it,
did shef' aside: The darlingro
and a fine woman she il. colonel
oficiously ADDED Jonas, So he pushed in
the last iron clamped trunk. "A very
fine woman. corsideriu her aga won