The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-08-04

much importance to the woman who
turned it round and round, and read the
directions curiously. They were very
simple" Apply evenly with a soft
CLOTH"
"I'm glad it amt hard to fx-any
one could do that. Guess l can see
well enough without opening the blinds
and lettin' the flies in" And soon she
was absorbed in her work OF covering
the Objectionable skin with the prepar-
alton which, as it dried, formed coat
ing of white on the dark features
"What difference it does make, to
be surel" thought Aunt Sheba, con-
templating the unfamiliar face. 81
wish it didn't look 30 strikin', though
makes me appear sorter CHASTITY, but 1
guess / amt used to it, that's all-my
skin is 30 dreadful dark. Patty's used
to fair-complected people; it won't look
that way to her."
With hands that trembled like ex-
element, she changed the dusty dress
for fresh one, fastened her lace collar
and stepped back to look at herself.
In the semi.darkness of the room she
saw little woman in black, with softly
waving gray hair, and pair of dark,
bright eyes in strange contrast to the
white face. She hoped the change in
her appearance would not be go notice
able to the others as it was to herself,
but she frightened as she thought the
change was certainly in her favor, and,
with this comforting thought in mind,
she went boldly out to find her niece.
"Why, Auntie, when did you get
back7 l didn't hear you come in. I
must have been out at the well. But
how pale you arel" exclaimed the girl,
looking at her aunt through veil Of
steam rising from the dish of potatoes
in her hand. "Don't you feel well?
That long walk must have been too
much for you. Uncle Eph says it is
such hot dayl" and Patty put down
the potatoes and anxiously approached
her aunt.
Aunt Sheba's faint protest that she
was well, was lost in Uncle Eph's
hearty voice exclaiming:
"What have yon been DOM to your
self, Sheba? You're the color of the
fence Jobs been whitewashin', and l
declare, 1 believe that's just what
you've been a-doin' - whitewashin',"
for his keen eyes had caught sight of
the dividing line between the face and
the neck still brown, which Aunt She
ba, in her ignorance of cosmetics, had
not thought to cover.
Well, well, Patty, we are gettin'
gay since you've been mere. 1 thought
was fxin' up considerable, putin on
necktie every day, but your aunt
beats me-" and Uncle Eph went off
into peal after peal of laughter in which
the girl could not but join, until a
sound from Amt Sheba checked them
both-a sob which she vainly tried to
repress. Her husbands fun, though
well meant, was too much for the over
wrought nerves of the poor woman.
All the love and longing, hope and fear
of the past few months found vent in
tears, while sobs shook her from head
to foot.
Uncle Eph was not little surprised
and alarmed at this display of emotion.
"What is the matter, mother?
didn't mean to hurt your feelin's;
twas only my jokin'; you never mind
ed it before"
Aunt Sheba struggled to speak, but
her words came brokenly. Ono daugh-
ter-wanted Patty to care for me-so
ugly,"-
Uncle Eph comprehended in min
ute. "Poor little motherI" he thought.
"And me standin' here maxim fun OF
her. l feel as mean as can be. !
guess won't say anything more now,
but wait spell till things clears up a
little" "There, don't take on 30,
Sheba," he said aloud, I'm goin' out
to the barn Bit" and he added face
tiously, "There's one good thing about
that there powder, you only have to
use it once in a lifetime" but the
words were accompanied by a gentle
pat on the shoulder, which went farther
to comfort his wife than anything he
could have said.
"What do you mean, Aunt Sheba?'
exclaimed Patty anxiously as soon al
Uncle Eph's stout figure had disap.
peared. "I'm sure 1 never thought
you were 'ugly,' but the dearest ant
best auntie in the world"
Aunt Sheba tried to explain, and in 1
moment Patty's arms were round he
neck and Patty's voice, full of remorse
was exclaiming: "To think that
ouOuiu hoNO SANoh yOu cO H1uSh eAOAbA'
by my foolish talkr and the girls tear
mingled with those of tho woman, a
thought Of the pain she had 30 uncon
sciously given.
There is no telling how long the,
would have sat thus, had not Aun
Sheba, just at this touching moment
suddenly raised to view face that wa
too much for Patty even in her contrit,
mood. Tears had washed away tn
powder in little streaks from the cheeks
Patty's kisses had taken off anothe
another spot from the forehead, ant
poor Aunt Sheba's face presented
mottled and spotted appearance tina
was very comical.
"Oh, Aunt Sheba, do come and wasl
that stuff off; it makes you look 30 fun
n.y." said Patty, laughing in spite o
herself.
"Well, child, 1 mays well, and
don't know but what it's done its wor
we'll after all, since it helped me to fin
out what wanted to know all the time
that your old aunt wasn't 80 ugly, bu
what you could learn to like her."
Patty's answer must have please
her aunt wonderfully, for she brighten
ed up at once, and was soon at wor