The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-04
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AUNT THIS ROMANCE. /.
Their FRS. Parting Was For Fifty q
Years, but Happiness cemeto .
Both In Lies Twilight.

- ssssseSss~sSs
We always called her Aunt Tid," but
her real name was Araminta. II was,
perhaps, because of the unworkaday
"fneness" OF her baptismal appellation
that our dear old auntie preferred to
be known by the title, which, given her
In childhood by q baby brother, had
chung to her throughout her 20 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 numer-
Gus circles OF nephews and nieces.
Whenever sickness or bereavement
visited the household OF any of her rela-
tives, Aunt lid was usually summoned
rs promptly as the doctor or the under
taker and was never too busy or too i'll
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 mo one ever
saw Aunt lid with a missing button on
a glove or a dishevelcd hair In her gray
braids), our good old auntie was wont to
affect a very dowdy style of attire. con-
stantly 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, n pro-
cecdng which gave her all her years."
as the French say.
Years went by, and Aunt lids labors
grew less. Children grew up, family
scapegrnccs died or went abroad, dis
tant relative bequeathed to Aunt It'd q
comfortable little annuity, and, at the
time when my story commences, the
dear old lady was enjoying a kind Of In
dian summer of life, dwelling in a pleas
ant little home Of her own in the coun-
try, with only myself, q girl of 20. to be
the representative of the many youth
full relatives whom she had "mothered"
for couple Of generations.
And as l 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
Charles 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 tho house OF Char
ho ciueet pfotAEks WIZ Iesiucu uuout
ten miles from our little country town
and who had lately brought homo o
youthful bride about my own age.
My future ister-in-law and soon be-
came great friends, and fairly lost my
heart to a dear old gentleman, an uncle
of Helen, who, like myself, was a WIS.,
itor to the house.
Colonel Beville 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
mon in the present day-at least SO l Of.
ten think, but then / 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
jokingly said one day. And certainly the
old colonel showed me a great deal of
marked kindncss-a fact, perhaps, ex-
planned one day by the old gentleman
himself, who remarked:
'My dear, II is strange how much you
remind me of lady whom ! used to
know 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 of alb
ruptly, but l suspected a romance and
was not little interested. Colonel Be-
vile was a bachelor l knew. Had fidel-
ity to some early attachment kept him
sol
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 east. which
he was exhibiting one day TO his niece
and myself In his own apartments. Hell
en- was called away before the exhibition
was concluded, but l fingered. helping
the colonel to put away his treasures.
Suddenly the old man drew a minia-
ture from q drawer and held II out to
me.
THAT Is the likeness OF the lady whom
I once hoped to have married." he said
simply "and II is-yes, 1t certainly Is
very like you, my dear"
"It cannot be a 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 colonels miniature was
indeed a likeness OF my aunt was soon
proved. and the eager manner In which
the old gentleman questioned me regard
ing my relative showed that the 80 years
which had elapsed since their last meet
Ing had In nowise obliterated the remem-
brances of his early love from his heart.
And yet to connect Aunt It'd in her cap
and spectacles with a love romance!
l returned home that afternoon. but
said nothing to auntie about my strange
meeting with her old lover. thought II
better to wait awhile upon events, an
opinion justified when l received note
from Helen by next mornings post.
II forgot to give you the parcel Of gar.
den seeds which I promised" she wrote
s'but Uncle James has kindly volunteered
to ride over with them this afternoon
My dear, you have certainly made a
complete conquest Of the old gentleman.