The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-11-06

making pot. .ourri for the drawing
room bowls.
Through the drawn blinds little
streams Of sunshine played on her deli
cate, withered hands, as they moved
quickly among the fragrant pink and
yellow and crcamy-tinted leaves.
lay back quietly On my lavender
scented pillow, and watched her with
| halfclosed eyes.
She was :, pretty old lady, one of
those old ladies
| Whose fair Old faces grow more fair,
| As Fot and Flanders yellow.
| Her dove-gray gown, with its trilled
finchu of soft muslin, was distinctly be-
coming; SO WAS the tilmy lace head
dress, with its long lappets. which made
her white, hossy hair appear fossier
than ever Her eyes We're still beanti-
fnl; they were like violets in color
Their expression | guessed to he more
charming now than in her youth; they
were shrewd, kind eyes, and gently Oh
servant ones. too.
There was pretty pink color on
her wrinkled cheeks. and her mouth
was very sweet, though there was a
patient droop about it which often puz-
zled me, for my aunt was a bright,
amusing old lady.
She could hardly have been more at
tractive as a girl, in all the freshness
of her Young beauty, than she was as
an old lady, with the subtl" charm that
age, experience, and a sort of dainty,
| old-world air had lent her
1t was strange that my aunt Priscil-
Ia had lived unmarried. had thought
so many times before, and the idea oc-
Cured to me again as | lay and watch
ed her. She must have been beauty
in her youth.
1t seemed as though she, too, like
the piles of snowy house-linen in her
cupboards, had been kept in lavender.
from which she had emerged Il little
| faded, but so sweet-scented and fra
grant that one could not regret the
change.
| had been lying still for long time,
my eyes wandering from Aunt Priscil-
la and her rose petals to the delicate
dancing shadows on the ceiling of the
vine leaves round the easements.
Everything around me was gracious
and pleasant to look upon, but my
heart was heavy. My life lay stretch
ed out before me like Il bare Hat plain,
that reached far into the gray distance
Or | was Young then. How awful
it is to be young-to have so much OF
ones life before one-to be living with
ont Dick.
/ raised myself hastily. | must do
something to keep myself from think
ing.
I'm going to get up, Aunt Priscil-
Ia | said; my heads better, and |
want to turn over all tie tt Igs in
your bureau-may l.? | have Mt seen
them since | was little girl.
''Do so. my love, if it diverts you,' y
said my aunt, looking up with smile.
| drew low chair up to the old
fashioned bureau, and opened the first
drawer. \ faint, subtle perfume, as
o. 10y gone roses, lingering about its
contents. How well remembered
that scent! 1t had been the great
charm of this particular bureau for me
when | was child, and something OF
the old feeling Of delightful mystery
came back as bent over the treasures.
Nov you must explain all the
things Just as YOU used to when | was
little. Aunt PRISCILLA" | cried. This
fan, now.'
1t was dainty thing; its fragile
lace-work of ivory, slightly yellowed
by age; some narrow ribbons of faded
blue hung from the ring. twisted round
the stalks of dry brown ,hings that
were once flowers.
"Ah! | carried that to my first ball,
my dear" said Aunt Priscilla, scatter
ing shower Of pink rose leaves into
the bowl; land the flowers were pre-
nted to me on that occasion. | recol-
lect, by Il very personable young gen
tleman: or thought him 50, at any
rate | remember he told me | was
adorable, and turned some very pretty
phrases about my ringIcts.' Aunt
Priscilla laughed.
You will accuse me OF vanity now.
my love; but | recollect those old times
more and more distinctly. They seem
more real than the present to us old
ladies, very often
Her smile faded She dropped the
rose leaves slowly, one by one-and
sighed a little.
I'm sure YOU We're adorable, Aunt
Priscilla" | declared. Il can picture
Won in Your ringlcts and white frock.
Was this it," lifted soft white lit
tie heap of muslin from the drawer and
shook out Its folds.
1t was short -waistrd. Of course, with
short. putfrd sic, YES, and little frills
round the bottom of the narrow skirt.
\ broad sash Of faded blue fluttered to
the ground, as smothed out the quaint
little gown. Yes; and here are the
sandals.' They were very dainty and