The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1900-12-22

90

Their Aunt ClOrinda sat in circle of
excited nicccS. They were all married
women in whose houses she had so
about from one to the other like some
aged shuttlecock.
She seemed to be dressed for travel
ing. She wore her best black gown, a
gown of considerable width, gathered
full at the waist. Over this was care
fully pinned little three corncrcd
shawl such as our grandmothcrs wore.
On her head was Il small black bonnet
in the shape of Il poke. Her wrinklcd
hands were incascd in thrcadbarc nit
tens, beneath which her fingers showed
like animated fringe.
Matilda. one of her nicccs, drew her
chair closer to her before she began to
talk, for Aunt Clorinda was Just a lit
tie deaf
"Aunt Clorinda." said she. her face
flushed to the roots of her hair. for
goodness sake don't go! Even if YOU
don't care anything for us, think Il lit
tie of the looks of the thing. The idea
of the aunt of four well to do women
going to the poorhouSc! What will pcO-
pie say"
Aunt Clorinla looked straight ahead
OF her through the window mt the dusty
road. along which she mOmCntarily eX-
pcctcd to see the wagon which was to
convey her to her destination appear
Either she was more deaf than usual
or she had long ago passed that stage
of existence in which she gricved deep
ly over what people said. Her express
sion did not change.
''That time you Staid with us" Matil-
da went ON, Il know | was Il little
cross, but didn't mean to be-"
Here she waited for remark or o
gesture Of "XpoSLulation from Aunt
Clorinda, but none came.
"And one of the children was sick.
and the cook got mad and left" she
continued, land you had to do all the
work while | waited on the sick child.
But it wasn't my fault, was it? |
couldn't help it, could /"
81 am not complaining, Matilda"
said Aunt Clorinda gently. 81 haven't
said a word about it one way or the
other"
81 know you haven't" Matilda has
tened to affirm, but | was afraid you
would think | meant to put the work
on to you. | didn't. 1t was an acct
dent If you would only stay here
now, everything would be different.
Stay! Think of what people will say
Aunt Clorinda shook her head and
the second niece, Charlotte, took her
turn at pcrSuading.
"Aunt Clorinda," said she, "do you
know what this whole town will think
when they see you driving through in
that poorhouso wagon? They will
think we wouldn't take care of you;
that your own nicces wouldn't take
care of YOU"
Aunt Clornda put up her hand and
pushed back Il stray lock of white hair
into her bonnet, but she made no reply
eff you will come with me-" contin-
ued Charlotte, Il will take good care Of
you. | won't let the children say a
word, The time you were there before
/ know little Sally said some Disagree
able things about you being dependent
on us for the bread you ate, but she is
only a child. Who pays any attention
to what children say? She won't say it
again. will slap her if she does.
am willing to do anything for you if
you won't 90 to that place. Come with
me, won't you, please? Don't you
know that the town folks will make
special trips out there of Sundays to
look at you and talk about us for let
ting you go? OF course they will.
Won't you come home with me now"
Aunt Clorinda took refuge behind
her deafness She remained silent,
looking through the window. bending
her good ear forward so as to catch the
first sound of wagon wheels.
Sarah left her chair and stood by her
aunt.
81 know you will come with me, now,
won't you?" she asked coaXiugly. Il
will be good to you. You can have the
best room IN the house. You can come
and go when you please and do what
you please. When you were there last.
the house was full That was the rca-
son we had to put you way up stairs in
that little room next to the roof. 1t
wasn't because we didn't care for you.
And with all those visitors of course
we had to ask you to help little with
the busting and sweeping in the dining
room and sometimes in the Kitchen. If
there hadn't been anybody around, we
would have had the contest kind of n
time together. There isn't anybody
around now but just James and me-
Come and stay with us. You can sit
from morning till night with your
hands folded in your lap for all care
You shan't have to darn or mend or do
anything. | never wanted to make Il
drudge of you. hope you didn't think
that did you!'
She waited in vain for an answer.
"That talk about James not wanting
his wife's poor relations to live with
him." she resumed. was just servants
talk. There wasn't any truth in it.
hope you wouldn't believe what serv-
ants say, Aunt Clorinda."
The old woman waived the question.
81 haven't complained, Sarah" she
reiterated.
She took off her glasses and wiped