Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-09-30

auded Win depreciation. 'Sh
would nave most excellen
stepmOther.
yes, | see You have been think
ing Of her, returned Aunt Mona
rising from her chair in a fever 0
hysterical anger.
Then my uncle went out ant
ljoined Mrs. Borrow, and we coulC
hear distinctly what they wer,
talking about.
:'Mona only told me yesterday
that she could not live week
quOlh she.
'She kissed me last Sunday wher
| was going to church, and SAID
she should not live to see another,
spake uncle.
And now she is gong to live Z
hundred years. sighed Nrs. Ber
row, IN anything but pleasurablt
tone. But 1 must wish you al
good morning!
Uncle Butterffeld,' ! said, feel
ing indignant, us the echo of hel
light footsteps sounded on the
path aud the two girls ran after
her, IL bave no right, | know,
to speak so, but do you not think
you are heartless to Aunt Mona
upteelingN
Il am sorry for it, If l am re-
Piled my uncle; 'but Pm only TAX
ing your aunt at her word. For
years she has been telling me she
was going to die, aud that | had
better be looking for second
wife. don't see that | could choose
nicer one than Mrs. Borrow.
He set Of down the garden with
his long strides TO oyeItake Mis-.
BrrrOw.
UJ >turs ran to Aunt MDna'S
room, expecting to find her drown
Ell in hysterical tears, and sore!y
in need of consolation. Mt bit f
it, She sat before a mirror arrang
ing her still abundant and beautl
ful hair, which during these yearS
Of illness. real or imaginary, she
had worn plainly tucked under a
cap. TheI e was a fire III her eye. a
flush upon her che, k, aud a look #
determination IN her face which
argued any thug bat well for the
prospects of the Widow Beirow.
'Pye heard every worG yOu have
been saying below she exclaimed,
angrlly. glancing at the open win
low. Il thank yOn for taking my
part, Mara. You seem to he the
only friend | have. The idea OF
that mean, low lived. cOutemplible
Widow B4rrOw beng here in my
place and the mother Of my chl-
dreul II were dead and buried
ana she came as Thumas's Wifi, I'd
rise from my grave and haunt her.
But I'm not dead ye'; no, and l
don't intend 10 be while that mis-
cradle lad walks The earth. sup
pose she paints and powders to
make herself look Young and fair,
for sle's every day as old as | am,
and when Ue we're girls tOgeth'r
she was not hale as handsome as !
was Mark you that, Maria
'She does not paiutor use pow
der, aunt; | am sure of that,
though she does look 80 fresh and
young
'She is eight-and.thirty this sEm-
mer, and she does not look eight
and twenty snapped Aunt Mona.
And ], with my years Of suffer
ing, look eight-and-ioriy.'
'Aunt-Aunt Mona, | cried, i
want to ask you not to he offended
at some plain truths | am going to
tell YOU. Your illness during all
these years has been more imag-
nary than real; your natural ner-
vonsness has rendered you an easy
prey to quack doctors and patent
medicine vendors, who have bad
no regard to Your health, but only
to your husbands money. Aud
now | want you to promise me
never to take another drop OF med
icine unless prescribed by him.
Il never will,
= nd OH. Aunt Mona, try to be
cheerful aud to make home happy
place tor your husband and children
Think how terrible 1t woIld be to
lose their love-
'AlI The same, Maria, you cannot
deny that Caroline i}errO Y mas turf 1.
ed out ,d,;eitf,il ctD5Ilds. FINK
of her display of friendship for me
up to this very morninsl Think OF
her setting her ugly widows cap at
YOUR uncle before l am deady
Bat you know, aunt, you have
been as good as de adm speech
,., .vonIr ont