Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-07-31
PRINTERS c. o. HERvEY & co.
POOR AUNT MATILDA.
She Made a Grieyous Mistake and Lost an
Opportunity of n Lifetime.

She Made a GrIcvous Mistake and Lost an
Opportunity of n Lifetime.
AT last am quits with old Aunt-in-law
Matilda, who. as | told you, has never jet
forgiven Harry for marrying Yankee
girl, writes a transplanted compatriot,
who remains a stanch American despite
her English surroundings. 1T happened
in this wise; Harry, who is always SO good
natured and rs adored by his sisters and his
cousins and his aunts, asked the old wom-
an 10 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 little package whenever
she goes out. / hate being bothered when
! am dressing. but Of course assumed a
friendly air. and we entered into converse
tion as II 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, am sure said
earelessly in reply. but we are not quite
alone after all cousin Of mine, who ar
rived in London today, is coming. and Lord
A. proposed himself this afternoon.
"'Oh. reall7r exclaimed Aunt Matilda,
who like most English women of the up
per middle class, is a yeritable tuft hunter.
The young Earl OF -. shall be delighted
to meet his lordship. know his mother,
the countess, quite we'll and she arranged
herself before the glass in quite 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
aperfect dear, 80 blond and 30 irreproaoh-
able altogether from the top OF his well
groomed, shining head to the tips OF his
patent leather shoes, and 1 could have
Rugged him for being such 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 hnndshRke to Jack and
such n snubby little nod to Lord A. Oh, II
was too deliciousl AT dinner the converse
tion wes 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 fnttered 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 took me TO task
for not having gone in TO dinner with the
earl. Such breach OF etiquette, dear
Rittyp 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 u
great deal OF that sort OF thing
Then came my revenge, and oh, how
delighted wasl | smiled my sweetest aud
said languidly; Il fSncied you had mistaken
my cousin Jack for Lord a. What pityl
You would have liked asking about his
mother, should you notp Oh, IL you could
have seen her facet And the cup OF her au-
guish quite overlooked when Harry came
into the drawing room with Jack, saying.
"A. had to 40 to fetch his sister from din
ner party. He did not know how late II
was, so he asked me to make his apologies
and to sag good night.
VI anu sure Aunt NJ, will count that even
ing among the lost opportunities Of her
ie-'-New York 1rDune