St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-03
HER HOODOO SNIFFLER.

Waverly Magazine.
There was to be picnic at the lodge
that afternoon and Cora had promised
to 90.
"She'll never let me-" Cora thought,
welding the parlor buster with nervous
handS-''never! She's got on her blue
silk handkerchief, and don't l know
by experience that she wears it only
when she's feeling dismal and thinking
over all the troubles she ever had or
ever will have, and that she never wants
me to do anything when she's that
way?"
"rhere's a picnic at the lodge this
afternoon, Aunt Cecilia" she began,
''just little impromptu affair. They
talked it up the other night at Bess
Lang's party, and [ promised to go. Of
course | meant to speak toyou first"
"Certainly" said Aunt Cecilia. The
blue silk handkerchief was folded
around her plump neck in peculiar
way. You should have spoken to me
Immediately. Who has invited you?"
'Mr. Pierce"-Cora raised her soft
eyes anXiously-"the young man who Is
here prospecting Tor the Bryan Valley
railroad, you know. They are thinking
of putting branch through here, and
Mr.. Pierce has been here several times
this summer. He wants to call, and he's
coming this morning to see if it is all
right about my going this afternoon. l
told him of course it would be. We
want to start about one -"
"Pierce?" said Aunt Cecilia. Zone of
the West GalneSbrO' PiercesW
81 don't know; presume not. No, l
think he's from"
IL 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 them-never mind, will
not argue it. Cora; l know the Pierces.
| am grieved and displeased that you
have formed an acquaintance so I'M
pleasant to me, whom you should have
considered. l hope not to hear OF an
other"
But he isn't one of the Gainsbro'
Pierces"' Cora cried -"Pm sure he
isn't, Aunt Cecilia! | can't think of
me, too. But, oh, Aunt Cecilia, he's so
gentlemanly and-niceW
Helpless tears stood in her eyes. She
had not quite realized before how much
he had come to be to her-handsome,
bright-mannered Albert Pierce.
81 desire you to have nothing more to
do with him." said Aunt Cecilia. "a
clandeStine acquaintance of that kind,
Cora! | am aStouished! We will end
this undesirable acquaintance here and
now. Cora. He is at the Lane house,
presume. l will send Matthew there
with note, if you will write 1t. My
niece cannot attend picnies with a
stranger, and GaineSbrO' Pierce"
Aunt Cecilia had the phaeton brought
around early that afternoon and called
to Cora.
Aunt Cecilia wore her blue silk hand
kerchlef-that was enough. Perhaps,
yes surely, all things would come out
right somehow.
eff Tll go back and get you a lace
fichu. Aunt Cecilia" she ventured,
won't you put it on instead-instead
Of"
"This handkerchief does very WE'LL"
Aunt Cecilia responded. l have had it
twenty-five years, and | wear it now
and then for old times sake, Cora"
"Um, yes" said Cora, patiently.
''What are you going to do with these
jugs, auntY'
81 am going to have them filled with
boiled cider at Bently's cider MILL"
Aunt Cecilia rejoined.
Never. never would Aunt Cecilia have
driven to Bently's mill for two jugs of
boiled cider if she had not been wear
ing her blue silk handkerchief for old
times sake.
"Yes, Cora" said Aunt Cecilia, gloom
lily. 81 have had this handkerchief
twenty-five years this fall. | remember
perfectly how l came by it. Your Great
Uncle Godfrey had store in West
Gainesbro' and lived there-that is how
l came to know the Pierces. Cora-and
he gave me this handkerchief. His store
burned that same winter, and the Door
man lost his sight only the next year.
Was it that year your Aunt Sarah died?
No, that was late the next spring. An
She caught terrible cold and it settled
on her lungs, and her death was painful
and lingering. The next year,
Aunt Cecilia paused in her cheerful
"reminiscences.
81 wonder if Dan viii be fidgety about
that machine up the road? think not.
Can you make out what it is?'
"a steam thresher," said Cora. Dan
would not mind it if it wasn't in the
middle OF the road"
I'VE can manage him." said Aunt Ce-
ella, who was always plucky. There
are some men there to hold him if he is
nervous"
"Nervous?" said Cora. anxiously.
ppm afraid he's more than nervous. If
we could only turn back"
But Dan was prancing raniAlv n" To-