The Portland daily press., 1901-01-09

good time, my ucar, III tleTce anu YOU
win only go now and bring Min down.
She's all ready up stairs"
Aunt Min"-so Pierce Carson had
got into the way Of calling her ever
since the elder of her two little nieces
had begun to lisp her name-was wait
ing in her reclining chair in the bed
room on the second floor. She smiled
very sweetly when Carson entered,
leaned back on the pillow and said to
him: Santa Claus brought youi Wait
till you two giants have carried me
down to the library, and l may tell
you-perhaps l may let you stay and
see."
There was more color In her cheeks
than was good to see in an invalid, and
her eyes glittered. The two men easily
carried her and her chair down to the
library, which was q small room at the
foot of the stairs separated from the
drawing room by a pair of folding
doors.
"Now. you go. George" she said to
Messerole, land let me entertain Pierce
kate has something to tell you"
Then, when they were alone together,
she said to Carson: DRAW up your
chair. Do you know that Bertha Bran
don was here just now"
yes, she passed us In her cutter.
Aunt Min, II had something to teh
you-a surprise, perhaps"
She looked at him with her own smile
of gentle sympathy. Pm afraid Bertha
gave 1t all away" she said. THAT
wasn't fair. was itT'
"What did she say-anythlng about
met"
"Oh, she said nothlng-about you ex-
actly. But we talked. She came to see
Santa Claus about me. l believe. She
didn't expect TO get n Christmas pres
ent from me so SOON"
"You should have waited and let her
find 1t in the morning" said Pierce.
"rhis particular Christmas present
wouldn't wait. Besides, an invalid is
only child, you know. Tell me,
Pierce, how long have we known each
other? Ever since | came here from
from my life in the west? No, not that
long. Six years only. And you have
been like a big brother-no, little
nephew-to me all that time.'
"Wait, Min! Hear what had to tell
you"
She started, drew in her breath
sharply, lifted her head n little from
the pillow and looked hard at him. 1t
was In hardly more than a whisper
that she said: mimi Is that the way
you speak TO your Aunt MinP
'You are dreadfully pale" he said.
let me get you glass of water. MOI
oh, IL don't want you to be my Aunt
Min any morer'
"What then?" She was calm again,
smiling at him from her pillow. "Was
that what you wanted to tell me? oh,
Pierce Carson, what grand boy you
are! Now you may go and bring me
that glass Of water If you like. What
time is it,?
She sank back on her pillow with a
smile and a sigh. When he brought
the water she drank little and then
began at once: Now. don't interrupt
me- Hear me read your thoughts. Pierce
Carson. 1t isn't As hours since you as
good as told Bertha Brandon that you
loved her Don't interrupt me, l tell
you. An aunt has a right to know
these things. You may have been
thinking of what Richard Mason could
give her and how she could enjoy all
that. and then, being blind, like other
men Well, l don't know. Give me
some more water-thanks-but 1t GER
talnly was the Christmas in the air
more than anything else, wasn't it?
Oh, yes, 1t was! You wanted to make
poor me happy-to take all the care of
me-dIdn't you, PierceT
Her voice trembled a little In asking
this question.
Eyes, but you don't know women,
poor boy! But never mind that. for
give. / decline to be made happy that
way. Give me some other Christmas
present. Now, listen to me. What time
is 1t? Bertha has plan to bring him
back here-Richard Mason, mean.
You look alarmed. You dear, simple,
transparent little nepheww
81 don't understand you"
'sNo? Well, the Christmas present
had for Bertha-only found 1t this aft
ernoon-was this: You doubted wheth-
err, perhaps, she might care more for
him-Richard Mnson-than for you
Poor, blind youth Didn't you see that
1t was only an idea of duty that made
her hesitate? Don't you know about
her two young brothers out west, work
ing for the very line this man has come
TO represent herep
Min smiled quizzically at the way
| Pierce's face lighted up at this.
"And what them he asked as coolly
! MS he could.
"What then? What time is IT? She
| Is going to bring him here just to in
| troduce him TO some friends of hers
| you know-drlve him round in her cut