Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-05-03


Rosy, painting, cold, and beaming
was Tom as he came 10, kissed his
wife, chuCked the baby under the
chin and skinned of lis oveTcoat
before he saw the old lady,
She thought she was altered by
trouble and age, by her poor dress
and deep bonnet, but Tom gave one
stride to her and caught her In his
strong arms.
"Aunt JaLe. Aunt Jane" he
fairly shouted. "Mary, this is Aunt
Jane"
They had her homeland shaw! Off;
they had her in an easy chair by tho
fire, and had sent for supper, before
she could gasp out:
"Tom, pye lost all my money"
"You don't say so"
every cent VIII you turn me
out as l turned you out two years
ago."
"Muchly" was Toms mysterious
reply MARY is there a fire in the
spare IUOlu'
II think the back attic is good
enough for penniless old maid"
said Aunt jane.
"Dld you put me in the back attic
when my parents left me alone in
the world?"
"Humph,"
III you will light the gas Tom,'
said Mrs. Montgomery II will put
fresh sheets and towels in the spare
room"
Tom rushed upstairs, and Mary,
with an apology, went after him.
Then Aunt Jane did the meanest
OF all mean things-she crept softly
after them, and, finding they were
in the back second-story room with
the door open, she crouched down on
the stairs and listened, Tom was
making the fire and Mary, moving in
her quiet, swift way was putting
clean linen on the bed.
"Ain't it jolly" Tom said, en-
Enthusiastically.
making a hre?" Mary asked,
sauclly
no. l say, darling" sitting down
on the floor as the idea struck him,
~ never asked you if you would like
to have Aunt Jane here"
Don't be goose, Tom"
"But, seriously, now, will it bother
you? l suppose l could got her a
room in some stunning, tip-top board
ing house, more like her own home
tlan our b I'd cage, but"
"Well?" Mary sad, intensely grave.
at would be so lonesome. She
has a quick temper, l know, but she
is so kind and she does love me-"
"Poor thingw said Mary. II wonder
if she is very poor"
"Sne won't know 1t while we have
a home or cent, will she, Mollie?"
"Of course not, Tom. And itHyou
dare to talk about a clearinghouse
again I'll stop your allowance Of
mince pies"
'MarE you're an angelo cried
Tom, sprinElng up. 'MY fire is out
again, I'm awfully glad we called
the baby Jane, Mollie."
tom, make that fire." said Mary,
severely "Or your aunt won't get to
bed tonight. am sorry it is not
finer, for l know her own rooms must
have been very handsome. I'll get
my own rocking chair; it is the east
est one in the house; and I'll hang
the photograph Of the baby over the
mantelpiece, 1t will make it look
home-like."
That's dear girl. Make her feel
at home, Mollie. She won't care so
much about her fine house If we make
her feel at home here. If you could
let her puttsr round the house little
and feel herself Of Importance, Mollie,
it would delight her."
"She can boss the whole machin-
ery But, Tom, l had no idea she
was so old"
Nor L." said Tom ruefully. II
wonder if frettng turned her hair so
white"
FTom! Tom"
This voice was at the door, and
Aunt Jane stood there, with tears
running down her cheeks.
IL am u miserable old woman,
Toni
"Why, auntie," said Tom cheerily,
don't cry. Come in and see how
coy MoIlIe has made your room. d"
II know it, Tom. I've been sorry
a Thousand times would not see her.
But you should have come back to
me, she said reproaChfully.
"But wrote and wrote, and you
never answered"
Wrote to me?"
"Of course"
II never saw the letters. That
virer Julia must have destroyed
them"
Where is .Tulia?',
''Gone home. The day that l told
her I had lost my money she packed
up and left me. Tom, l don't de.
ser it after doubling you but will
you forgive me for testing your love?"
"Testing my loye?"
"Yes, my dear hoy. l meant to
talk to your wife and you as some
body else but you knew me too soon.
But, Tom, that was all fudge"
What was all fudge?"
"AbOut the money"
"Oh," said Tom dryly. "YOu
haven't lost any?"
Not a cent Now, Tom, don't
set your face that way Come back