The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-11-22

that our dear old auntie preferred Il
be known by the title, which, given hei
in childhood by baby brother, had
chung to her throughout her 10 years Of
life.
Aunt It'd was the eldest Of a large
motherless family and had spent her
youth In looking after her Junior broth
| ers and sisters, transferring her good
Offices in the latter years to her numcr'
GUS circles of nephews and nieces.
Whenever sickness or bereavement
visited the household Of any of her rela.
tives, Aunt It'd was usually summoned
as promptly as the doctor or the under.
taker and was never too busy or too III
herself to respond to these calls.
A life wholly given up to the service
Of others had left Aunt It'd but little
time to devote to herself. even as re.
CARDS the care Of her toilet, and, though
always scrupulously neat Ono one ever
saw Aunt It'd with q missing button on
q glove or a dishsveled hair In her gray
braids). our good old auntie was wont to
affect a very dowdy style Of attire, con-
stantiy wearing old fashioned raiment
until 1t was fairly used out and consult
ing comfort and economy rather than
style In the choice Of her apparel, a pro-
ceeding which gave her all her years."
as the French say.
Years went by, and Aunt Tid's labors
grew less. Children grew up, family
scapegraces died or went abroad, a dis
tant relative bequeathed to Aunt It'd u
comfortable little annuity, and, at the
time when my story commences, the
dear old lady was enjoying kind Of In
dian summer Of life, dwelling in a pleas
ant little home OF her own in the coun-
try, with only myself, a girl Of 20, to be
the representative Of the many youth
full relatives whom she had "mothered'
for couple of generations.
And as was going to be married In q
few months, so Aunt lids cares on my
account would shortly be over.
was paying a round Of visits among
Charities relations. We were to start
for India immediately after our mar
riage, and l was making acquaintance
with my new connections before leaving.
My last visit was at the house of Char
lies eldest brother, who resided about
ten miles from our little country town
anu WIZ udu ldlcty DlOUkHt uOulb q
youthful bride about my own age.
My future sister-in-law and soon be.
came great friends, md fairly lost my
henrt to dear old gentleman, an uncle
Of Helen, who, like myself, was a Wis.
itor to the house.
Colonel Beyille was an ideal specimen
Of the old world gentleman, tall and
erect still for all his rs years, and with
those charming and courteous manners,
especially to women, which are not COM
men In thu. present day--at least 30 I OF.
ten think, but then I am an elderly wo-
man myself now and, as such, possibly
prejudiced in favor Of the good old
times"
II think Uncle James has taken quite
a liking to you, Mary" my hostess had
jokingiy said one day. And certainly the
old colonel showed me a great deal of
planned one day by the old gentleman
himself, who remarked:
my dear, it is strange how much you
remind me of lady whom l used to
knew very well many, many years ago.
There is something in your voice and
your smile, and you have her hair and
eyes
Here the old gentleman broke off alb
ruptly, but I suspected romance and
was not little interested. Colonel Be-
vile was a bachelor knew. Had fdel-
ity to some early attachment kept him
SO?
This question was set at rest some
days later The old gentleman possessed
some valuable Indian curios (most of his
life had been passed in the cast, which
he was exhibiting one day to his niece
and myself in his own apartments. Hell
was concluded, but l fingered, helping
the colonel to put away his treasures.
Suddenly the old man drew a minia-
ture from a drawer and held it out to
Inc.
"That is the likeness Of the lady whom
I once hoped to have married." he said
simply. land it is-yes, 1t certainly Is
very like you, my dear"
at cannot be likeness Of my moth
err" said, "for she was dark, like all
the Talbots, except Aunt It'd and my
self. We were the only fair haired MEM
bers of the family in each generation, I
believe"
talbot - was that your mothers
name" asked the old colonel quickly.
why, that miniature is the portrait Of q
Miss Talbot-a Miss Araminta Talbot
whom ! knew.
That the old colonel's miniature was
indeed . likeness Of my aunt was soon
proved. and the eager manner in which
the old gentleman questioned me regard
s,<v pnl {i1,a Ola tI,at tho
which had elapsed since their last meet
ing had in nowise oblterated the remem-
brances Of his early love from his heart.
And vet to connect Aunt lid in her cap
and spectacles with a love romance!
returned home that afternoon. but
said nothing to auntie about my strange
meeting with her old lover. thought It
better to wait awhile upon events, an
opinion justified when l received a note
from Helen by next mornings post.
81 forgot to give you the parcel of gar.
den seeds which ! promised" she wrote,
shut Uncle James has kindly volunteered
to ride over with them this afternoon.
My dear, you have certainly made
complete conquest Of the old gentleman
/ assure you lie seemed absolutely de-
you"
I smiled little. Was 1t whom Colo.
mel Beville was so anxious to see again?
Then another idea occurred to me.
Would 1t not be terrible disenchant.
ment when the former lovers metz A
greater, perhaps, to the colonel than to
Aunt It'd, for the passing years often
deal more mercifully with men than with
women.
Yet since my aunt had come into casn.
parative ease and affluence she had con-
sderably modified her former bizarre
style Of dress and, as is often the case,
was far comelier at 10 than she had been
at 80 or 60. 1t was a very sweet faced
though white haired old lady who was
now seated opposite to me in her black
silk dress and scarlet Indian shawl, a
treasure which Ind lately unearthed
from Aunt lids stores and had insisted |
On substituting this afternoon for the
'habbier wrap which she was wont to
wear.
"Helen's uncle Is coming to call with
ny parcel" l remarked, land you would
not like a stranger to see you look III
dressed" But do what would | could