The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-10
All OLD MAIDS STORQ.


fuzzy aware oil my want of beauty and
when began 10 20 out into society, This
knowledge made me awkward ana EN-
Darrasscd. 10 was all % VAIN tli1 /
cured my hair. and endeaNored 20 HdlleI
myself with the idear that IL was AUBURN
if would persist in asserting USER Ih us
original color-red. / might plhch my
checks until they were black and blue
but could never succeed in bringing to
them the bright pink which seemed To-
come without any effort TO nay compan-
ions My nose was "a decided pug ana
my eyes were small
Thus I was at the age OF twenty-five
when [ received q cordial invitation from
a widowed sister Of my father To spend
the summer with her.
Aunt Hattie resided IN a small out
of-the-way village i'm New England. 10
was a perfect little gem Of a place, hem
med I'm by mountains on every side and
The most picturesque scenery.
Ny simple preparations were soon
made. and I was ON way 90 Blue
Lake. My aunt came down TO the depot
and met me with "a bright welcome. AS
We were driving 90 her house my aunt
informed mo that her husband $ nephew
now quite an invalid, was paying her
visit and his society, she thought. would
make my stay with her less dull than IL
would otherwise be- This information
gave me no pleasure. / never received
any attention from gentlemen and now
resolved 10 have as little 20 do with TINS
invalid as pOilteness 20 my aunt would
allow with this resolution uppermcst
I'm my mind. I was led into the par.or
and Aunt Hattie remarked:
Fannie this IS my nephew, Charlie
Wallace
was about 20 bsstow upon h.m the
stIn bow which I had prepared for the
occasion: but one glance nc the sofa dis
armed me Clad in a dressing gown
ane looking the very picture OF snomis-
sion. lay Charlie Wallace. Ny pride
melted TO sympathy and / endeayored TO
return his bright smile.
"I am $50 glad to see you" said he. *
tending his hand and grasping mine
warmly; AUNT Hattie has been telling
me about her niece ever since l came
here. and I have been looking for you
every day"
This reception. from a gentleman. was
something SD novel to me that 1 scarcely
knew how to reply 10 it: nut Aunt Hat
tfe came t0 my asa and iaughingiy re-
marked that now She should eXcpct 10
throw Off the care Of her troublesome
reuhew upon me-. and that she should
have time DO attend 20 her household du-
ties.
The invalid and myself soon became
excellent friends We dropped the formal
flies OF Mr. and Miss and called each
other simply Charlie and Fannie. i read
aloud 10 him ara tried 10 amuse nm
when he was weary and when ho felt
strong and bright We would walk out TO-
gether
had almost forgotten that was
p.ain-looking. and had discovered that
there were attractions In mind and man
nors which could surpass beauty or race.
As the summer advanced his health
and strenth tn great measure return
ga 90 him aud he was able 20 drive ABOUT
the country and 10 roam with me over
the mountains. One day We had wan
dercd on 20 quite a distance from home
and were sitting on the green grass, I'M
der the shade of some large trees 10 rest
and ! was twining a wreath OF flowers
and berries, when I raised pne Of the lat
ter TO my lips
Stop" said Charlie. springing for
ward and Selling the berry. that is pois-
onous and will kin YOU
"lf II did" he repeated, taking my
hand I'm his. then I should be left alone.
oh. no" I replied. YOU would have
plenty Of friends left
"None that I should love half as well
as you, though"
The warm blood rushed 10 my face as
I listened TO his words. I had felt his
love before. but he had never told me
Of IT,
Fannie" ne continued. you would
make precious little wife. you would be
a perfect treasure for a man"
More was said but | was almost too
much confused to hear It; and then we
wendell our way homeward. As 1 saw
Aunt Hatties face in the window, and
caught the mischievous twinkle OF her
eyes. / became conscious, for the first
time that / had Charles arm. and 1
withdrew my hand abruptly and entered
the house. When We were assembled
around the tea table my aunt informed
US that she had received a letter FROM a
young friend Of hers. saying that she was
coming up 20 pay hcr visit.
she will probgbly DE with us to-mor-
row. said Aunt Hattie. You viii like
her. / know. for she is bright winning
little creature"
Just seventeen
| did not like the idea OF another one
coming in; not that | had any feeling Of
jealousy on the subject for Charlie had
said that he loved me better than any
zone else.
The next day We three went 20 the de-
pot 10 receive our visitor. As Aunt Hat
tie led her 10 the rockaway she disclosed
a face OF such perfect beauty as | had
never seen before. I glanced at Charlie.
and saw that his eyes were riyeted upon
her and | mentally contrastcd her looks
with mine. and wondered II he were
thinking OF the same thing.
was silent during our drive home;
but Carrie Houghton sustained her full
share Of the conversation. | envied her
her easy manner but. then, with that
lovely face. sufficient itself 10 win its
way anywhere. who could not be easy?