Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-09-22

ideas away when ones wife is in your
state of health, he added with depre-
cation. "She would make most ex-
cellent stepmother.'
eyes, I see you have been thinking
of her." returned Aunt Mona, rising
from her chair in fever of hyterical
anger.
Then my uncle went out and joined
Mrs. Borrow, and we could hear dis
tinctiy what they were talking about.
Mona only told me yesterday that
she could not live week, quoth she.
"She kissed me last Sunday when l
was going to church, and said she
should not live to see another" spake
uncle.
"And now she is going to live a
hundred years, sighed Mrs. Borrow,
in anything but a pleasurable tone.
"But I must wish you all good-morn-
ing"
Uncle Butterfeld," said, feeling
indignant, as the echo of her light
footsteps sounded on the path and the
two girls ran after her, IL have no
right, I know, to speak so, but do you
not think you are heartless to Aunt
Mona-unfeeling
81 am sorry for it, if l am, replied
my uncle "but I'm only taking your
aunt at her word. For years she has
been telling me she was going to die,
and that l had better be looking for
second wife. l don't see that l could
choose a nicer one than Mrs. Borrow.
He set off down the garden with his
long strides to overtake Mrs. Borrow.
Up stairs ran l to Aunt Mona S
room, expecting to find her drowned
in hysterical tears, and sorely in need
of consolation. Not bit of 1t. She
sat before mirror arranging her still
abundant and beautiful hair, which
during these years Of illness, real or
imaginary, she had worn plainly
tucked undera cap. There was fire
in her eye, flush upon her cheek,
and a look Of determination in her face
which argued anything but well for
the prospects of the Widow Borrow.
T've heard every word you have
been saying below" she exclaimed,
angrily, glancing at the open window.
81 thank you for taking my part,
Maria. You seem to be the only
friend have. The idea Of that mean,
low-lived, contemplate Widow Ber-
row being here in my place and the
mother of my children If were
dead and buried and she came as
Thomas's wife, I'd rise from my grave
and haunt her. But I'm not dead
vet no, and | don't intend to be
while that miserable jade walks the
earth. suppose she paints and pow
ders to make herself look young and
fair, for she's every day as old as |
am, and when we were girls together
she was not half as handsome as | was.
Mark you that, Maria. "
"She does not paint or use powder,
aunt; am sure of that, though she
does look SO fresh and young"
"Sho is eight-and-thirty this sum-
mer, and she does not look eight-and-
twenty" snapped Aunt Mona. "And
l, with my years OF suffering look
eight-and-forty."
"Aunt-Aunt Mona" | cried, 81
want to ask you not to be offended at
some plain truths l am going to tell
you. Your illness during all these
years has been more imaginary than
real; your natural nervousness has
rendered you an easy prey to quack
doctors and patent medicine vendors,
who have had no regard to your
health, but only to your husband S
money. And now want you to prom
ise me never to take another drop Of
medicine unless prescribed by him."
81 never will.
"And oh, Aunt Mona, try to be
cheerful and to make home a happy
place for your husband and children.
Think how terrible it would be to
lose their love"
"All the same, Maria, you cannot
deny that Caroline Borrow has turned
cut a deceitful crocodile. Think Of
her display of friendship for me up to
this very morning Think of her set
ting her ugly widows cap at your un-
Gle before l am dead y
But you know, aunt, you have
been as good as dead-in. speech
telling them, week in, week out, that
you shall be in your coffin the next
Put your suferings off, aunt, you can,
I say, if you like; and circumvent-