The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-30
The Gh0Stly ManifcS-
tati0nS OF Aunt
DrQSillal.
BY ELISABETH PULLEN,
Author of "The Man from Aldone."
Copyright. lseS by Bacheler, johnson and Bachelor

that she possessed no beauties, but this
likeness softly persuaded her that she
was not so bad looking, after all. She
came to take its testimony rather than
that of the ancient mirror in its tar
nished gilt frame--which. indeed, gave
u greenish hue to her countenance. and
perhaps elongated 1t IA trifie. 1t may
be that the photograph was SO dear To
her BECAUSE. like true friend. it took
her at her best possibilities instead OF
her unlovely actuality. She was apt
tn frown at the mirror and came as
near as she ever did To smile in look
ing at the photograph. The portrait.
unframed, always stood in the same
place. near to the corner of the mantel-
piece. next to the side window of Miss
Drusila's chamber The wan birch
tree. looking in. must have witnessed
some oddly kind glances pass from her
face to its likeness. The bit of paste
board was the sole object of the ten
derness of the old woman. We're this
from egotism or from dim recognition
of her better self. Miss Drusilly's
turrible proud of her picter. 1t don't
handsome much. fur's l can see; but
I'm glad il she takes comfort in any
Corinna and Herbert did their best
not To offend the old woman again by
sight or hearing of them. The girl had
noticed that evening when. after the
crisis of nerves. she carried out the
aunts small teapot. that the decoction
had been of extra strength: and she
took heed that in future it should be Of
u inilder brew. But Aunt DruSilla was
uninitisable: she would hear nothing
in favor of young Jennison: his grand
father had eaten of the sour grapes of
litigation. and she would set the grand
sons teeth on edge with all sorts of
hideuus oddities. She would summon
the family in haste, pounding with her
stick: ~ soon as the door was opened
she would screen disagreeable remarks
at the lovers. order .Iennisun out of the
house, call them i'll names. and always
contrive to make some dark allusion to
her threat that she, after death. would
haunt them. 1t was unbearabe. but
what could be done? There was no dis
ciplining moor. half-craZed. helpless
creature like that. They came to take
her chidings like the buster and shrek
Of the wind around the house.
She grew gradually weaker. and as
her forces lessened. her temper ap-
peared somewhat milder. She some-
times thanked Holman Brockway when
he lifted her. you've been real good
to me, for one that amt u blood rela-
tion," she said to Sarah one day. But
although she seldom rallied at the lovers
AS indeed she rarely had the oppor-
tunity-she never spoke a kind word to
Corinna. For all that the girl in her
timid way tried to please the aunt. An
hour before the old woman died. she
spoke again of the marriage with Her.
bert Jennison, but only to repeat her
uncanny threat: I'm going to die. and
I'll haunt you
1t could only be felt as a relief when
at last Aunt Drusilla was laid away i'm
the village burying ground. under the
fir trees. Now she can rest-and give
other folks a rest too commented Mr..
Dunn. returning from the grave.
The strain had been long upon
Sarah and Corinna; they felt depressed
and nervous. after the fashion of weary
women. 1t Was time to plant early
peas; SO that for Holman Brockway
there was work in the open air. which
Is the universal solvent for all imag-
mary and some real troubles. The
young people Were to marry the next
October: they would live with the
parents of COrinna, and had decided to
use Aunt Drusillas room as their own
parlor. Herbert thought that the fur
nishing of it would be a wholesome and
cheerful occupation for Corinna:
First. it can he well scrubbed and
aired to drive out the blue devils" said