The Opelousas courier., 1900-11-17
VOW AUNT FAITH FOUND OUT.
BY ANNIE HAMILTON DONNELL.

, wv ~ "hSA = 6St 4OhlOs
0 Il hope 1t will be good company,
she amended, out in the hall. Sh,
1 went on down the stairs, tremblin,
a little-Aunt Faith was a shy WON
an-but strong in her determination
r to find out things"
= Barry was waiting In the big, din
parlor. He came forward eagerly a
, the sound Of steps. The vision of old
fashioned Aunt Faith in the door
way occasioned a hasty retreat to his
chair again.
"I-thought 1t was Miss Faith" he
stumbled, alphabetically.
"Well it Isl" smiled Aunt Faith
I'm Miss Faith. Have I kept you
waiting long? I didn't mean to, but
1t takes old people a good while to
move, you know-or you don't know,
but you will when it's your turn"
She had followed up his retreat and
was holding out her hand to him.
There wassno possible chance for him
to ignore it.
How kind it was in you to come
for me-" she cried. eff you hadn't I
should have missed the lecture. for
my brother Richard is no good at all
as an escort. Dear me; I should say
not! When he gets buried In his three
dailies, that's the end of him! Ought
we to be starting? Then I'll have to
ask you to button my glove. Faith
IL. buttoned the other. If she wasn't
sick, ! should ask you IL you would
be willing for her to go with u.s."
Naughty Aunt Faith! If her con-
science pricked, it did not keep her
gray eyes from twinkling. She
watched the boy coyertly as he fun
bled with her glove.
Poor boy" she thought. SIM sorry
for your
barry Lincoln was sorry for him
self. Little by little, as Aunt Faiths
bright voice ran on, the puzzle OF
things had untangled itself. Now he
understood. He remembered Faiths
speaking Of her namesake aunt. There
Were two Miss Faith Margaret Pyles.
this was the wrong one, standing
mere having her black glove buttoned.
d got the letter and thought it
was for her. She expects to go to the
lecture with me-she'l be disappoint-
a." his thoughts went along swiftly.
"She's q little sort Of old-Faith said
lived In the country. There aren't
any lectures to go In the country. And
besides, 1t would embarrass her dread
fully to find out her mistake. Well.
Barry Lincoln, you're In it up to your
chin, my boy! What are you going
to do about it?"
He answered his own question
promptly. To his mind there was onlv
the n thing to do. He took out his
watch.
eyes, we ought to be starting" he
said. 'It's quite a long way to the
hail.
Ihey were going out Of the house
and through the yestibule. The stems
outside were a little slippery, and Bar
~ offered his arm, politely. That was
Aunt Faiths first entry in the book
OF her remembrances, and she entered
1t on the credit side.
Offered his arm instead of taking
mine-good!" she thought.
There's a red car coming. Shall
we take 1t, Miss Falth?"
"oh, no. Why not walk, il there's
Time! Did you think aunts were rather
decrepit? Well. that's another thing
you'll find out when
When it's my turn to be an amt"
laughed Barry, In spite Of himself:
Aunt Faith laughed, too.
Aunt Faith was little, and Barry
Lincoln wasn't. He was short-ston
on the high school nine, and measured
In his stockfngs-ive feet eleven. He
to diminish his long strides to
the measure OF Aunt Faiths steps. Int
lt was only occasionally he could bring !.
It about. Aunt Faiths black silk bon
net bobbed up and down beside him
cheerfully. Barry remembered his
own inches all the way down the
lighted street without intermission.
ITS a little up-hilly isn't it?" gasped
aunt Faith, gently. Tiny spots Of
color blossomed out in her thin brown
,heeks. Do you know-but O don't
q great treat for country
people to be going out like this. with
ne night lighted up as If it was day?
There's just one lamp-post at home. I
the last time that was lighted I
vas when Grant was elected the first
Inc. ! know. for / got up on Abner
step-ladder and lighted !
{ myself-and fell off," {
Aunt Faith smiled up into the boys
Iober face. t
I eve forgave Mr.. Grant that" G
ne said, mot until he died" 4
Inc streets were alive with people.
good many of whom seemed to be
'oing the way Of Aunt Faith and Bar !,
=. Now and then a boy among them :
fitted his cap as he nodded to Barry. =
Aunt Faith suffered from an attack :,
4 conscience. =
Faith Margaret Pyle, I guess you're )
sinnerp she communed with herself. :.
ternly. "You feel dreadfully guilty :
or q saintt, =
Here we arev!' Barry said. sudden !
=, as they rounded a corner and came :
nfo b glare Of the entrance lights. !.
pulled himself together sturdily, =
nd accosted n of the boy ushers at :
he door. q
"A good seat, Tad, well up," he !
whispered. ssThey say the lecturer :
alks low. and we want to hear :
sure. There's two seats with Judge =
'ulien's family-wait. There's room =
two in with your people, Barry. :