New-York tribune., 1901-06-09
A DEGENERATE SCION.
THE INDEPENDENT YOUNG WOMAN EN-
TERTAINs HER SOUTHERN AUNTS
IN NEW-YORK.

their Virginia home ana Detake themselves 10
the South Of France is not essential 10 this tale
To make long story short, they arrived in New
York en- route 10 Southampton and their niece
met them with the results that follow accurate-
ly recorded. The two little old ladies had lived
for fifty years in the quetest of Southern viii
lagos with just enough money to make a show
of keeping up the big old house. They had never
been lively. in their youth and as time
passed they shut themselves more and more
closely into their shady garden and rambling old
mansion. Friends of their childhood on call
ing would be received with such obvious shy
ness that they felt it kinder to stay away. and
finally they were left quite alone with a family
servant or two. Among the younger generation
there grew up a tradition that Miss Jane and
Miss Bethie Farman lived behind the big trees;
but few even of those whose parents had played
in the garden the quaint little old
ladies' With such existence behind them.
they came TO New-YOrk and saw their extremely
up 10 date niece for the first time in many years
Now the niece orphan. and the aunts
felt more or less responsible for her actions.
My dear" said Miss Jane. as they left the
station in a drizzng rain. has it become Gus
tomary for young ladies to wear skirts which
expose so rnuch-ankIe?" She shuddered little
as she said ankle, a portion of the human frame
never mentioned in good society unless it hap
pened to be spraned-
Why. yes auntie." returned the niece. You
can See that everybody does"
Miss Jane more dignified than she
observed: The Fairmans, my child have never
felt it incumbent upon them TO follow undigai-
fed fashions"
Arrived at the hotel. the niece left them for
the night to return the next morning She
found them pale. and the room in disorder My
dear" said Aunt Jane, with fine tragedy air.
I'VE hardly slept all night. When We
about 70 retire We observed that the door be-
tween this room and the had no key, Imag-
ine our feelings, 1t seemed quite possible that
the key might be the other side. thus leaving
10 the mercy Of some person who might he
not only undesirable. but (shudderinG)
criminal" CThe idea Of a criminal in the seiate
hotel which sheltered the old ladies nearly
too much FOR the lstenerD so dra eyed
everything before the door and l endeavored -
stay awake in order that your Aunt Bethie
might rest" Aunt Bethie was delicate. fraiI
and slight that IT had never occurred 10 any one
10 drop the babyish name she had received in
her childhood To have her alarmed a sufi-
clenty serious matter 10 make the niece promise
to brave the smiles OF the clerks and that
the door was fastened TO her satisfaction. Th's
duty done. she suggested breakfast. We
couldn't think Of dining in a public restaur g.:
you forget yourself. my dear" said Aunt Jane
To this suggestion. We will breakfast in
own apartment. Never mind the expense. child.
Of such Iuxuries.' you call them. \ lady
keeps herself a lady under all circumstances. al
though she starve \ Fairman ~ go without
food but she will not eat in an unbecomi1g
manner"
After breakfast drive suggested. Aunt
Jane vetoed it. but there was a gieam in little
Aunt Bethie's eyes which made the girl press
her point Finally permission secured she
dered a hanson for herself and Aunt E}ethie
The drive accomplished without incident.
except that the little lady remarked as they
drove off; My dear do you think you enter a
carriage in dignfed way? l should call it
hop which is 10 be avoided. Your Aunt IaE,
and We're taught at school how to step
fully into a carriage"
1t wouldn't be much use to me-" sur~--.-I
the niece. to study that-on SO a vcek.' and
Aunt Bethe agreed that the reduced circum-
stances of the family should be blamed rather
than any i'll breeding on the part of the un-
fortunate younger scion Of the house.
That evening when the niece prepared To go
home there was a wild tterinS Of the two
little doves because without sense of sh -.
she announced that she intended to walk tn
blocks alone. at o o'clock at night. The -
of Aunt Jane and the Of Aunt - -',
duced her walking home with bellboy-she
who gayly paraded the streets whenever she
chose and scorned the escort of man. Didn't