The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-05-06

black silk. ''I couldn't believe my own
eyes at first. II don't seem no longer
than yesterday that Jimmy was run
min round here in pinafores; and to
think of him bein' married. declare
can't git over it
''But I'll give him a s'prise, too. l
don't intend to give him a hint that
I'm comm to his weddin', and If he
won't be took back when he sees me
marchin' in on him, my name amt
Susan Elizabeth Dakel Don't you
reckon his wife'll be tickled with that
quilt, Elviry?"
"They'd ought to be, that's sure"
said Elvira.
81 think it's kind af special Provi-
dence that put in the frames when I
did. / didn't callate on quiltin' il
until next winter, but / had kind of
feelin' that I'd better do it when
did, and now it's turned out that there
was good reason why l should quilt
them"
There was quite company Of Aunt
Susan's friends at the little station to
see her off on the emorning she started.
There was unusual color in her cheeks
and unwonted sparkle in her eyes.
She bade each OF her friends good
bye two or three times, and promised
to take good care of herself. Some of
them she promised q crumb Of Jimmy's
wedding cake, and O full account of
the wedding festivities.
can if you could git me scrap of
1.1, 1fr,t ~ 81
of her other dresses for my silk quilt,
Susan, I'd be so pleased with 'em |"
said old Mrs. Gray.
81 will if can, Nancy" said Aunt
Susan. "There's the train comm
I'm so glad could get my trunk
checked clean through I'd be in q
nice fix If that trunk should get lost
witch Jimmy's quilt and my black silk
in it, Where's my lunch basketP Oh,
you're goin' to carry it away on the
train for me, are you, Hiram DrewP
Pm 'bleeged to you, but mind you git
off the train fore it starts. Goodbye,
Nancy; goodbye ALI"
In a moment the train was on its
way, Aunt Susan's handkerchief fut-
tered from one of the car windows as
long as the train was within sight of
the little station.
All the people in the car noticed the
happy old lady in her queer, old
fashioned garb. Some had not seen
for many years shawl like the one
she wore, with its fringe a foot long
and silk embroidery in the corners
but nothing was coarse or amiss in her
dress, and there was quaintness and
charm about her that attracted the
sympathy of all the passengers.
She had not gone twenty-five miles
before she was telling some of them
nearest her all about Jimmy and jim
my's quilt, and the wedding to take
place on the coming Wednesday.
She was delighted TO find that 0
middle.aged, kindly-looking woman
who was one of the passengers lived
in the city in which young Mr.. Lark.
in lived, and could easily show her his
boarding house.
'T'm so much obleeged to you T.
said Aunt Susan. 'I've been so dread
full nervous bout trying to find the
house myself, hated to write to him
to meet me cause it'd take off the
best part of the s'prise. l jest want
to walk right in on him."
That was just what she had the
pleasure of doing the next after.
noon.
James Larkin was just taking his
wedding suit from the box in which il
had been sent home, when there came
knock at the door of his room.
Aunt Susan was trembling with ex-
citement when her nephew opened the
door.
"Why, Aunt Susan - he cried; and
then he took her in his arms and
kissed on both cheeks.
There was no lack of tenderness in
her nephew's greeting, yet the changes
in him were painful TO her. He was
beardless, boyish-looking young man
when she had seen him last. Now ht
was a tall, broad-shouldered, full
bearded man with a way that made il
hard for her to call him Jimmy" BE
did not say SO, but she felt that h,
would rather have her call hin
"James," and that sounded so colo
and formal to her.
He now had the graees of a city,
bred young man. She found it hare
to accommodate herself to them, anG
to the usages of the fashionable board
house in which her prosperous young
} nephew lived.
He might, perhaps, have wished tina
{ Elvira Hodge had made his aunt's gar
ments more stylish, when he took hel
down TO dinner, but he was in no sens
/ ashamed of her. When they wer,
going downstairs with her hand timidl,
resting on his arm, he made her very
' happy by looking down into her facl
? and saying tenderly and heartily, +"
! am so glad you came, Aunt Susan"
a 81 thought you would be, !" she said
patting his arm affectionately. "Yol
0 know you're the only boy ever had.
Sand you were always the best o
s mothers to me-"
I But when she was alone in her room
q she wondered if it had been wise TO
' her to come after all. She did no
) doubt now that James was genuinel,
. happy to see her, bnt she had discov
D cred that his betrothed was the daugh
ter of a rich man, and that the wed
I ding was to be an elegant affair. Aun
Q Susan learned she would be out O
place that she might in her innocenc
4 do or say something to give Jane