The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-10-04
Aunt Julie slept.

ner enalr the door was partly opened
without 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 murmurs 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 caution:
Hush, hush! Aunt jules asleep" The
last, a toddling babe, rolled comic men
ace in her big round eyes, and there was
a grimace on her little mouth, while her
cheeks We're pulled as though she were
about to blow out a 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
snOre.
Having surveyed the sleeper, the five
girls looked at one another, ana then all
together, their hands on their mouths,
they began to laugh, thrown into merri-
ment by their bizarre adventure.
Each of the two eldest had on a skirt
of white muslin encircled with flounces
from top to bottom. In order that the
skirts might not drag they had attached
them at the armpits and their heads
emerged grotcsquely from the mass of
white stuff. Two others were draped il
antique fashion, with red cashmere
shawls. The last, the babe, almost suf-
focated with heat, trailed after her, like a
royal robe, rose colored opera cloak bor-
dered with swansdown.
The laughter continued reddening their
faces The youngest seemed to be chok-
ing and was seized with a violent fit of
coughing. Aunt Julie lifted her head.
Then the laughter burst forth from all in
hearty peals
Aunt Julie was scandalized and lifted
her hands.
All, the request" she exclaimed. "Phey
don't know what else to do, so they have
rummaged my chests. You little terrors,
who gave you permission to take those
things?'
There was a chorus of entreaties,
"Aunt Julie, Aunt Juie!"
The eldest explained, 1T is for the cha
rade."
what charade?" asked Aunt Julie,
with interest, and then she added, "Ah.
yes, of course! had forgotten" And, at
once Modified, she smiled at the juvenile
masquerade.
Have You found what you wanted?"
Queried Aunt Julie, amiably.
treasured, the young girls, with bur-
lesque grace, affected polite airs. Yield
ing to the desire to initiate, the babe
made Il courtesy. Her feet became entan-
glcd i'll 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 |, too, have
pockets"
Wishing to prove this, she searched for
a pocket, which she found near her feet,
and felt in it with care Suddenly she ex-
claimed, See, piece of paper!'
She brought forth an envelope, worn
and yellow.
Aunt Julie, greatly astonished, exclaim-
ed: "A letter. Give it to me, Lulu
She looked at the superscription,
"Madcmoiselle Julie"
1t was for her. 4 letter! How long had
it lain there, in one of those garments of
other days, which Aunt Julie had pre-
served jealousy as relics? 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 a 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. Julie-Permt my love for
your tender and true
But a 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
drenw
but what is that, Aunt Julie? Tell
us?'
"Nothing that you could understand.
Go and prepare for your charade. Go,
my darlings."
The little girls departed, and Aunt Jul
lie again began to read the letter:
"Dear Mile. Juie-Permit my love for
you, tender and true, to address you
WIFI lulS TERM Ol dHecllOu. bouDl-
less my temerity will appear excessive.
But do not be angry with me, pray you,
and eonjure you to summon all your pa
thence, generosity and pity in order that
you may pardon my audacity. l 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:
81 love you with all my heart, with all
my soul, and | am no longer able to keep
the sweet secret. 1t is long time since
/ began to love you, and my eyes follow
ed you in your walks on Sunday. when
with your mother you promenaded on the
ramparts"-
1.-THE rampartsv' said Aunt Jalie to
herself. what ramparts? oh, yes! 1t
was when we were living at Oman. Mon
Dieul That was nearly 80 years agow
She returned to the letter:
ION the ramparts. Up to that time |
was master'of my soul and of my heart.
But since the ball at the subprefecture,
when you twice accorded me the divine
favor of clasping your slender waist,
have lost my reason, and Ilhave no peace
either day or night"
Aunt Julie turned the page.
The writing, up to this point correct
and regular, now became confusing, rum
ming in ascending lines and capriciously
showing that the writer of this anony-