The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-19

romance for my own life has been, sc
far, a great romance
Perhaps, looking at me. no one would
think it, am an ordinary looking NOR
tai enough. to all appearance. 7 am
short and rather fat; have blue eyes,
and fair hair, a good temper, good COM
plexion, and I know how to carry my
head"
am only just twenty-three, but in the
last six years I have lived through
enough to make me feel like a hundred
but I don't.
Wen. TO begin my story must go back
TO when I was just IL No one imagines
that girls of II ever think of falling in
love perhaps. but can ten you that they
do, And 1 can tell you that they draw
very hard and fast lines as to what the
iooked-for lover must do and be-
have five sisters, three older and two
younger than myself. We were not rich,
but We're by no means poor, and I had
drawn some vivid pictures of what my
life would be like when the time came for
me to leave school and join my elder sis
tiers in their rounds of gaiety.
Fancy then what a blow TO my feelings
and my expectations when l went home,
TO find that it had been arranged that I
was to be sent to live with maiden aunt
in the country!
Horror of horrors 81 thought Lion
don born and bred-"to be sent to be tied
down to the everyday rules and regula-
tions of a country old maid How
should l bear it?'
But as my common sense soon showed
me, / should have to bear 1t, so l might
as well so about it with as good grace as
I could.
My mother tolerated no discussion of
the subject, merely telling me that I was
too young to come OUT (my sisters
were not too young at the same aged,
] should find my time heavy on my hands
at home and she murmured something
about "such a heap of big girls in the
house" So it was all settled very quiet
ly, and I went.
Now isn't ii curious that so many girls
look upon their mothers as quite young,
and feel very near them in their interests.
but expect TO find something rather old
and dried-up in a maiden aunt At any
rate, such was my idea, and 1 was des-
tined to be most agreeably disappointed.
Aunt Nellie was tan and slight; very
thick brown hair. piled high on her head,
and a pair of deep lovely grey eyes were
the most striking things about her. 1t
had not occurred to me, till I saw her,
that she was nearly fifteen years younger
than my mother and herself barely 80.
Where were all the "old maidish" ways?
Where were the high backed chair. the
knitting, and the numberless cats, had
expected?
As she came down the garden path to
meet me. with fat little pug dancing
and barking in front of her. and two mis-
chievous-lool1ing silky Skye terriers
bringing up the rear, my notions of ''prim-
q IN he vvin
And when she put her arm round my
waist and kissed me, 1 fell in love with
her without more adol
Well, the time passed on. My aunt
was a cultivated woman: good must
clan, lover of painting, and an indefati-
gable reader. We went a great deal into
society Though of course it would hardly
have come under such a heading in my
mothers vocabulary, and altogether 1
found life charming.
Amongst the people I met was one girl
about my own age, who soon became my
''chum," she was alone in the world, ex-
cepting for one brother with whom she
made her home. About three months
after / made her acquaintance, Hilda was
taken Ill; violent cold which settled on
her lungs and for some time her life was
in jeopardy; but soon the worst was over
though the doctors decided she must go
abroad for some months before she could
really recover.
OF course Osmond would not hear. of her
going without him to take care of her, so
II was all arranged, and their pretty old
house was to be shut up for the winter.
l shall never forget the evening Osmond
came TO tell us their plans; it was late in
the autumn, but one of those rare mild
days which are so delicious at the end of
summer, when the fragrance of the flow
ers seems at its sweetest, for just the tiny
suspicion of frost that has touched them
Aunt Helen and 1 were strolling in the
garden at twilight, when we heard the
gate bang, and the next minute he stood
in front of US There was something IN
his face, could not tell what it was. but
1t made me feel inclined to run away; but
instead Of doing SO, L only stood and
stared stupidity up at him.
1t did not take very long for him to tell
us what they had decided to do. and then
Aunt Helen exclaimed, "And so you've
Iedily come TO bid US 'Good-byeY My
dear boy, L m very sorry"
Then she begged him to come indoors
Tor awhile; but this he would not do. and
together we moved slowly down towards
the gate, then we paused, and silence
1el upon us all, which auntie broke in
her genial way, saying;
Wen II you won't come in and rest.
at least you must have a glass of wine be-
fore your walk home" and she hurried
away.
osmond opened the gate. and stood for
one moment irresolute. My tongue seem
ed tied. / tried in vain to speak.
The minute he had bent over me ct
must say it, Gwen, don't forget me he
fore l come back'-a hasty kiss on nv
forehead, a great humping a my heart
ana / was alone.
How loudly the birds were singing. and
the grasshoppers near me seemed irving
10 vie with them; while my own heart was
beating madly, and a sort of wild chorus
was surging through my brain.
When Aunt HELEN came back. I don't
know what she saw, or thought; | only
""w she took my hand fondly in her
>, and led me up to the garden seat.
ana 1t was long time before either Of
US spoke
When we did, it was not of him and
the chance never came to me again TO
teu her how miserable / felt at the mo-
ment' and yet how wildly happy!
The next morning a letter came from
my mother saying that my eldest sister
was going to be married. and / must 90
I4Ii LOI 'ne happy event Aunt
Helen was also invited; my mother did
not mention the name of the bridegroom
elect only said that she and my father