The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-04

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smiled little. Was Il whom Colo
mel Beville was so anxious to see again7
Then another idea occurred TO me.
Would II not be a terrible disenchant.
ment when the former lovers metz A
greater, perhaps, to the colonel than TO
Aunt lid, for the passing years often
dead more mcrcifully with men than with
women.
Yet since my aunt had come into COM
parative ease and aiiluencc she had con-
siderably modified her former bizarre
ttyle of dress and. as Is often the case,
was far comelier ut 20 than she had been
ht 80 or 60. II was a very sweet faced
though white hatred old lady who was
now seated opposite to me in her black
silk dress and scarlet Indian shawl,
treasure which l had lately unearthed
from Aunt lids stores and had insisted
on substituting this afternoon for the
shabbier wrap which she was wont TO
wear.
"Helen's uncle Is coming TO call with
my parcel" l remarked. "and you would
not like stranger TO see you look III
dressed" But do what would could
only make Aunt It'd look very charm
ing picture of an old lady. and sighed
little 20 myself as l thought Of that
dainty miniature.
The expected ring came at the hall
door, and my heart beat rapidly, while
unsuspecting Aunt lid looked up placid
ly over her spectacles to greet the stran.
ger.
Molly, our little maid. mumbled the Wis
itor's name inaudibly, and the colonel
had entered the room before Aunt lid
had realized her guests identity. Then
the spectacles fell on the floor and a
blush like girls overspread the old In.
dy's cheeks. while the colonel (he was the
calmer OF the two, for he had come pre-.
pared for the meeting) took my aunt by
both her hands and said quietly:
'It Is a long time since we met. Ara.
minta, but when l heard OF you from
your niece | resolved to come and see
you again"
The two old folks stood silent for few
seconds. looking at each other with an
expression on their countenances which
l knew well, for had seen it before
upon my own Charles face when he
looked at me. And l slipped quietly
away, though think they had both en-.
tirely forgotten my presence.
lie went away at last, and when l re.
turned from letting out our guest l
found my aunt seated by the fire, with
her hands clasped. her lips moving and
the tears shining In her eyes.
my last wish has been granted me-"
she said half TO herself. u have often,
oh, SO often, wished to see James once
again and explain everything"
"And now you will be married." re-
marked foolishly.
Aunt It'd laid one delicate, wrinkled
hand upon mine.
my dear" she said. with gentle disni-
ty, "you forget. We nre dear friends
once again, but both Of us are-must be-
standing upon the threshold of that world
where IS neither marrying nor giving In
marriage"
And perhaps they were right. A bride
of 10 and bridegroom Of 10 would be
apt to provoke more i'll natured ridicule
than sympathy.
But the colonel. who now rented q
small furnished house in the village,
spent most of his time in Aunt lids
pretty little drawing room, dropping in
regularly twice or thrice day, chatting
or reading aloud to Aunt It'd while she
knitted and consulting her regarding all
his domestic affairs.
Aunt It'd engaged the coloners serv-
ants for him and generally supervised
his household. The colonel was, in turn,
my aunt's referee in all her small BUSH
ness affairs. Amy one coming in sudden
~ upon the pair seated on either side OF
Aunt lids hearth would have taken
them, as they were in truth, FOR model
old Darby and Joan.
And what. the reader will ask, was
the cause which had kept these lovers
asunder for half a century, l cannot
answer that question, for | myself never
knew a reply to 1t.
Aunt It'd never explained, and there
are subjects which are sacred from ques-
tions.
only know that the pair, affianced
In their youth, but separated during the
best years of their life, had both re-
manned up to their old age faithful to
this early attachment and that several
peaceful years of happy intercourse were
granted to them before, as Aunt lid
said, they passed to where sis neither
marrying nor giving in marriage"
The colonel was the first to go. He
took chill one winters day, and chills
are not to be braved by an oetogenarian.
Aunt It'd was too feeble TO attend the
funeral. but she watched it as 1t passed
her window amid the fast falling snow.
Fifty years was the length Of our last
parting" | heard her whisper to herself.
"Oh, James, we shall not be separated
so long this time"
And they were not. 1t was but few
months later when gentle Aunt It'd. In
turn, passed over to the majority" -
Madame.
.uA EtAdIera