The daily morning Alaskan., 1901-01-16
HER RICH AUNT.

utl DtSl lO HI llt NuA Uul LlOlutI pldC6 to her drifted into the grave and there was no sheltering home left her foot steps naturally turned to Granbury Place
 i've always heard that Aunt Jaycox was very eccentric" thought Freddie, land perhaps that is the reason she has never answered any of my letters or taken the slightest notice of me-"
 As she walked along, looking wistfully h this direction and that, a second young girl, coming from the opposite point of the compass, also with a travelling bag and shawl over her arm, accosted her | timidly:
 Gan you tell me where Granbury Place g" she asked. Freddie stood still in amazement. "The very question 1 was about to ask you" said she.
 ''I am a stranger in the city," said the first young girl, coloring painfully. And so am l."
 And l was looking for an old lady called Jaycox."
 'So was l." said Freddie. "I am her niece" "Well, this grows stranger and stran- ger!" cried Freddie. "So am I, but didn't know l had any cousins. Come let us go together and look for the place. It cant be far off"
 Neither was 1t, a dreary looking house of red brick, and a sour looking old wo- man who hobbled unwillingly to answer the jangling summons of the bell admit ted, not without hesitation, that Mrs. Jaycox lived there.
 My mistress don't see much company these days" she said acidly.
 But we are her relations" pleaded Clara. "We have come a long way to see her."
 The old woman showed them into a musty smelling room, where gray par rot clawed its way slowly up and down the tin sides of its cage, watching the unwonted visitors with blinking yellow eyes. A minute afterward the opposite door opened, and a crooked, elflike old woman stood before them. dressed in faded black silk, with string of gold beads around her neck and her gray hair dressed in antique fashion-on cushion on the top of her head.
 Both girls arose at once. The old lady eyed them keenly.
 "Oh," said she, "you are my nieces. This with a motion of her gold headed cane in the direction of the little country girl, 'is Frederick, and that is Clara. You have come fortune hunting"
 Aunt" hotly interrupted Clara, "you are mistaken. l want to earn my own living and thought you could help us to some way of being independent"
 "Oh!" said the old lady. with a sinister grin. That's it, eh? And youY turn ing to Freddie.
 "I have no home left. aunt" said Fred die simply. 'I came to you because you are my fathers sister,"
 And you thought kept free orphan asylum, ehY' sneered Mrs. Jaycox. Well you're here. and cant very well send you away. You can stay all night and I'll turn your cases over in my mind Lois.'
 The sour looking servant appeared.
 Show these young ladies to a room Give 'em water and towels to remove the dust of travel"
 And this was all the welcome that the two young orphans received.
 sl'issii z; fiffe Cfa1a- 5ifd Freddit were yet wrapt in dreams, old Lois made her appearance.
 Ut is not o'clock yetw cried Clara sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
 "lt isn't time to get up yet surely pleaded Freddie, who had all a young girls inclination to sleep.
 No" said Lois; but it is my mistress She's taken i'll sudden. and she wants tc know which one of the young misses will come and nurse her."
 "What's the matter?" said Clara, still rubbing her eyelds
 "We doesn't know exact" said Lois mysteriously. "I hope to goodness il ain't smallpox, but I'm dreadful afeared it is"
 "Smallpox" Clara gave one quick look into the glass at her dimpled cheeks and satin smooth skin. "Oh, my gra cious. Freddie, just hand me my travel ing bag. We must get out of this house as soon as possible"
 Freddie stood silent, the color coming and going in her fresh face.
 Clara" said she pleadingly, fought we to go?"
 fought we? should say there was nc question on the subject" said Clara, hur riedly fastening the buttons of her boots. Freddie turned 10 the servant.
 "Lois," said she take me to my aunt'' room. I will be her nurse"
 "You are a fool"' cried Clara, tying or her hat.
 "I'm not so sure of that" uttered { shrill voice. and Mrs. Jaycox herself ap peared in the doorway, faded black sill dress, gold headed cane, glittering beads and all. "There's q fool somewhere il this present company. but it isn't my niece Frederick. Go your way, Clara, fol heartless. time serving minx, and neve expect aught from me! Lois and l have contrived this business as test of m. nieces' humanity and hearts, And we'r' satisfied, aren't we, Lois?" And old Lois grinned back her acqui | essence.
 Clara returned home that morning. he aunt insisting that she should not ever | remain to breakfast. and Frederick stait as Mrs. Jaycox's adopted daughter anC | darling.
 Nor did she ever repent it. Mrs. Jay COX was like a winter apple-hard ant rigid to outward appearance. but swee at the core. And when. five years sub sequently. she died au left all her for tune to Freddie Carstone the girl fel that she had lost a real friend.-Ex change