The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-04-16
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BETWEEN TWO MAPS.

|
Aunt Julie slept.
While Aunt Julie thus slumbered In
her chair the door was partly opened
without Il sound A curly blond head eau
tiously appeared in the opening. But
laughter trilled behind the door. The
curly head turned quickly.
"Hush, hush! Aunt jules asleep"
There were mnrmurs and half sup
pressed laughter. Then through the door
way, in line, arranged according TO size,
the tallest first, went five curly headed
blond girls. They entered on their toes,
walking stiff legged, with their arms ex-
tended. Their eyes were wide open, star
ing under their curls, and their five
mouths made the reciprocal cautions:
Hush. hush! Aunt jules asleep" The
last, Il todiiing babe, rolled Il comic men
| ace in her big round eyes, and there was
u grimacc on her little mouth, while her
cheeks were pulled as though she were
about to blow out candle. In the midst
Of this performance the largest OF the
girls paused. Her escort did the same,
listening anxiously to the rhythmical
breathing OF Aunt Julie, who began to
| more.
| Having surveyed the sleeper, the five
| iris looked at one another, and then all
| toscthcr, their hands on their mouths,
| obey began to laugh, thrown into merit
| ncnt by their bizarre adventure.
| Each of the two eldest had on a skirt
| # white muslin encirclad with flouuces
rom top to bottom. In order that the
Hirts might not drag they had attached
hem at the armpits. and their heads
merged grotesqucIy from the mass Of
white stuff. Two others were drapcd in
antique fashion, with red cashmere
shawls. The last, the babe. almost suf-
located with heat, traled after her, like
royal robe, n rose colored opera cloak bor-
hered with swansdnwn.
The laughter continued, reddening their
faces. The youngest seemed to be chok'
ing and was seized with violent fit Of
coughing. Aunt Julie lifted her head.
Then the laughter burst forth from all in
hearty peaIs.
Aunt Julie was scandalized and lifted
her hands.
"Ah. the rogues." she exclaimed. "Thcy
don't know what else to do, SO they have
rummaged my chests. You little tcrrors,
who gave you permission to take those
| things!
There was chorus Of entreaties,
"Aunt Julie, Aunt Julie"
| The eldest explained, sit is for the cha
rad""
what charadef" asked Aunt Julie,
.,,t. L. ,I.l A 4,
yes, Of course. had forgotten" And, at
once Modified, she smiled at the juvenile
masquerade.
"IIave you found what you wanted"
quericd Aunt Julie, amiably.
Reassurcd, the young girls, with bur
lesQue grace. affected polite airs. Yield
ing to the desire to initiate, the babe
made n courtesy. Her feet became entau-
gled in her train, and she fell heavily.
She was lifted up. Then. when firm on
her feet. her face glowing with satisfac-
ton, she declared, And l, too, have
pockets"
Wishing TO prove this, she searched for
Il pocket. which she found near her feet,
and felt in it with care. Suddenly she ex-
claimed, "Scc, piece Of paper.'
She brought forth an envelope, worn
and yellow.
Aunt Julie, greatly aytonishei. cxclaim.
ed: "A letter! Give it to mo, Lulu"
She looked at the supcrseription,
"MadcmoisclIe Julie"
II was for her. A letter! How long had
it lain there, in one OF those garments Of
other days, which Aunt Julie had pre-
served jealousy as relcsf How long
had it been forgotten, unknown. in fact,
since the envelope had not been broken!
PerplcXed, she turned the letter in her
trembling fingers. She perceived II seal
of wax ON the back. This awakened in
her mind train of thought. Quickly she
broke the seal and opened the letter. She
/ began to read:
Dear Mile. Julic-Permit my love for
your tender and true
But blond curl brushed the cheek OF
Aunt Julie. The little girls, full Of curl.
osity, leaned their heads toward her. She
pushed them back.
"For shame! You i'll hammered chill,
drcnw
"But what IL that, Aunt Julie? Tell
usY
"Nothinc that you could understand.
w piSpulC Lpl s'uA NbHi"hN' wv
my darlinss."
The little girls departed, and Aunt Ju.
lie again began to read the letter:
"Dear Mile. Jule-Permit my love for
you. tender aud true, to address you
with this term Of affection. Doubt
less my temerity will appear excessive.
But do not be angry with me. pray you,
and conjure you to summon all your pa
tience, generosity and pity in order that
you may pardon my audacity. love
you, dear Mile. Julie
Aune Julie interrupted her reading In
order to look at the signature There
WAS none. Disappointed, she continued
her perusal Of the letter:
II love you with all nv heart, with all
my soul, and l am NJ or able to keep
the sweet secret. 1t Is long time since
began to love you. and my eyes follow