Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1892-03-25

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, dear! And l told
him"
Cora paused in her reflections and
turned to face, with courageous smile,
the stout and dignifed lady who had
entered.
"There's a picnic at the Lodge this
afternoon, Aunt Cecilia" she began
''iust little impromptu affair. They
talked it up the other night at Bess Lang S
party, and promised to go. OF course
l meant to speak to you first
"Certainlyl" said Aunt Cecilia. The
blue silk handkerchief was folded around
her plump neck in a par ticularly un-
becoming way. "You should have
spoken to me Immediately. Who has in
vited you"
"Mr. PIERCE Cora raised her soft
eyes anxiously-"the 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 we'll 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"
"Pierce3" said Aunt Cecilia. "One
of the West Gainesbro' Pierces?'
81 don't know; presume not. No,
think he's from"
81 know the West Gainesbro' Pierces
root and branch, said Aunt Cecilia, de-
liberately - 'root and branch-and
would no more allow niece of mine to
associate with one of them than l would
allow her to associate Whichever mind
/ will not argue it, Cora. [ know the
Pierces. am greved and l am dis
pleased that you have formed an ac-
quaintance so unpleasant to me, whom
you should have considered. II hope moi
to hear of another"
'But he isn't one of the West Gaines
bro Pierces," Cora cried-"Fm sure h,
isn't, Aunt Cecilia l can't think of thu
place he does come from. He told me
too. But oh, Aunt Cecilia, he's so gen
tlemanly and-nice!"
Helpless tears stood in her eyes. Sht
had not quite realized before how mucl
he had come to be to her-handsome
bright Albert Pierce.
~ desire you to have no more to dt
with him, J" said Aunt Cecilia, shown.
her niece severe, straight profile. Aun
Cecilia was certainly good looking; he
niece resembled her. ga claudestin,
acquaintance of that sort, Cora! an
astonishedl Even were his famil,
worthy"
at isl know it is. And 'clandes
tine, Aunt Cecilia? How can you say
sog And what shall l do9 He's coming
this morning to see about it, and-dea
Aunt Cecilia"
~ should prefer not to have hin
come," said Aunt Cecilia. "We will en-,
this undesirable acquaintance here anC
now, Cora. He is at the Lane House,
presumed I will send Matthew there
with note, if you will write it. M,
niece cannot attend picnics with stran
ger, and Gainesbro' Pierce"
Aunt Cecilia moved away. If sh'
heard presently, from her seat by tn
sitting-room window, something like
faint sob, she persuaded herself that sh
| had not heard it.
For Aunt Cecilia had heart and
warm one. Her niece knew that. Stand
ing with her eyes hidden, childlike, Oh
the back of her hand, which was we
with her tears-standing with indigna
ton and real misery in her desparint
heart-Cora murmured, dismally:
| 'sShe never would have done it
Don't know itf 1t isn't like her; sh
couldn't havei It's that blue silk hand
kerchief."
! Aunt Cecilia had the phaeton brough