The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-08-02
POOR AUNT MATILDA.
V Made n Gricvous Mistake and Lost An
Opportunity of u Lifetime,

Opportunity of u Lifetime,
cat last l am quits with old Aunt-in-law
Matilda, who. as / told you. has never yet
forgiven Harry for marrying a Yankee
girl" writes u transplanted compatriot.
who remains a stanch American despite
her English surroundings. 1T happened
in this wise; Harry. who is always so good
natured and is adored by his sisters and his
cousins and his aunts, asked the old wom-
an to dinner one night last week. She ar
rived early. as usual, and presented herself
at my bedroom door, asking permission to
come in and put on her cap, which she al
ways carries in a little package whenever
she goes out. / hate being bothered when
am dressing, but Of course l assumed u
friendly air, and we entered into conversa-
tion as if we were really good friends, in
stead of cordially detesting each other.
"'Harry said we should be quite alone
tonight remarked my relative, so / wore
my second best lappets.'
"'They are very nice, I am sure l said
carelessly In reply. but we are not quite
alone after all. A cousin of mine, who ar
rived in London today, is coming, and Lord
A. proposed himself this afternoon
"'Oh, reallyi' exclaimed Aunt Matilda,
who like most English women of the up
per middle class, is a veritable tuft hunter.
The young Earl o f.. shall be delighted
to meet his lordship. know his mother,
the countess, quite WE'LL and she arranged
herself before the glass in quite n twitter Of
anticipation. When she was ready, we went
down and found Harry and our two guests
in the drawing room. Cousin Jack did look
a perfect dear, so blond and SO irreproach-
able altogether from the top of his well
groomed, shining head to the tips of his
patent leather shoes, INT l could have
Rugged him for being such a creditable
specimen of a well bred American. Lord
A. beside him looked very small, very sal
low and altogether insignificant.
Aunt Matilda did not hesitate an in
slant as to which was the lordling as they
both made their bows simultaneously on
being presented to her. She gave the most
gracious smile and handshake to Jack IL
such a snubby little o to Lord A. Oh, it
was too delicious! At dinner the CONVERSE
ton was very general, about the last new
play, the Royal academy, the weather, etc.
So poor, deluded Aunt Matilda did not find
out her mistake and flattered Jack until
he did not know which way to look, while
she ignored and snubbed poor Lord A. at
every turn.
after dinner the old cat tool me to task
for not having gone in to dinner with the
earl. Such q breach of etiquette, dear
Kitty she said. You really should be
more CAREFUL And then she added, jaunt-
lily, You know at Rome you should do as
the Romans do, and over here we think a
great deal Of that sort of thing
Then came my revenge, and, oh, how
delighted l was! l smiled my sweetest and
said languidly: 'Ifancied you had mistaken
my cousin Jack for Lord A. What a pity!
You would nave liked asking about his
mother, should you not?' Oh, if you could
have seen her face! And the cup Of her an
guish quite overiiowed when Harry came
into the drawing room with Jack, saying:
"A. had to go to fetch his sister from a din
ner party. He did not know how late it
was, so he asked me to make his apologies
and to say good night
II am sure Aunt Nj. will count that even
ing among the lost opportunities Of her
ife."-New York Tribune.