The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-10-01
THE YELLOW VASES.
What Came Of Aunt Luoy's De-
spised Bequest.

spised Bequest.
Lucilla was standing ruefully with
her head a little ON one side; she was
surveying the jam cupboard.
Lucilla's husband, Rev. Arthur Field,
was very fond of strawberry jam
there were only three pots left.
"You there, my love?" a masculine
voice called from downstairs; steps
were heard ascending quickly, and
Arthur Field stood by his wife's side.
Here is letter for you, Lucy" he
said.
Lucilla opened her letter eagerly and
began to read its contents; as she did
so her cheeks flushed, her eyes flashed
indignant fire, her whole charming
face was transformed. The anger
which filed it soon grew to utterance
in her voice.
''Oh, Arthur, to think that should
be treated SO. My great-aunt, Lucilla,
after whom was named, Is dead"
''Is she. indeed, my love? Poor soul.
! am sorry-wheu did it happen?"
II can't tell you, Arthur. Oh! let me
see; nearly a month ago. OF course
the vincents. Mary and Ellen, did not
want me to know any sooner. No won
der! Anyone could see through their
devices-they wheedled, they coaxed,
they petted, they fattered, and they
got their desires. Oh. / would not be
them-I-"
Lucy, your words quite alarm me
your words and your anger. May lsee
that letter.
Lucilla gave her husband the open
sheet of note paper which she had been
holding, deliberately shut and locked
the jam cupboard, and then walked
past him into her own room, the door
of which she closed behind her.
He gazed after her retreating form
in establishment, then bent his gaze on
the letter which had caused all this dis
quiet.
He read the following words:
RED CROSS House, May the 10th.
"MY DEAR LUCILLA-You will be surprised
md sorry to learn that poor Aunt Lucy passed
away quite suddenly on the night Of the lith OF
April She must have died In her sleep, poor
old dear, and evidently early In the night for
when her maid found her she was cold
Our rector, Mr.. Martin. preached q very
beautiful sermon about her, and we had a nice
obituary notice inserted in the Raven, our local
paper The funeral, too, was both suitable and
expensive, and Ellen and have quite the proper
mourning-we are wearing Grape mp TO our
knees
well, my dear Lucilla, the will was read, as
is customary, after we had returned from laying
poor Aunt Lucy In her grave. 1t was q pouring
wet day, and I am sorry to tell you our new
grapes, on for the first time, got a good deal
spotted and injured standing by the open grave
But to return to the will Mr. johnson
Aunt Lucy's lawyer. read the contents to US
or course. we were not the least surprised, mol
win you be when you get this letter. We were
left everything; we knew this would be the
case when you displeased all your relations by
marrying Mr. Field.
when the will was read we found she had
not remembered you at all, except-but shall
come to that presently want first Of all, tS
let you know how Ellen and are left
I'VE shall have, when everything is sold, ex
nctly $4,000 apiece-by no means fortunes IL
these expensive days, but still enough to b
comfortable on. To be frank did really thinl
that Aunt Lucy was much better on She CAV,
herself quite the airs Of wealth, which she hat
no right to do, for what is 100000;
You are not quite forgotten. Do you remem
Der those yellow jars-those frightful thing.
which always stood on shelf over the drawing
room door-the yellow dragons we used to cal
them7 Well you are now the happy possessol
of the yellow dragons / think, and so does
Ellen that this fact, more than any thing else
shows how your marriage wounded dear Aun
Lucy.
1--WE have decided to take house in London
for we feel that after the long, weary years W,
spent with Aunt Lucilla 1t is due TO us to hav,
what fun we can. will write again. or perhaps
Ellen will write next, TO tell you our new I'D
dress Believe me, my dear Lucilla. your a1ec
tionate cousin, MARY VINCENT"
Mr.. Field read this letter through
without the smallest change of coun
tenance. If he felt anger his face di,
not show it.
When he had read to the very end h,
folded the letter and returned it to it
envelope, placed it for safety in hi
pocket, and, walking across the land
ing, tapped at his wife's bedroom door
Can come in, Lucilla?" he asked
mot now. Arthur" she answere,
from the other side of the door. II an
particularly engaged. but / will b
down to give you your tea in ten min
utes."
Very WELL" he replied, in his gen
tlest voice.
When Lucilla entered the room sh,
went straight to the head of her tabl
and poured out her husbands coffee
She did not say another word about tn
obnoxious letter; her face was one
more pleasant to look at, but Their
were traces of taars about her eyes.
Tea was nearly over when there cam
q ring to the front door. The servan
Jthey only kept one .ervant; her nam
,-.- i-