Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1901-04-04

folk, one would not mind
20 much; but she makes herself such
fright one feels quite ashamed to
own her as relation" said my sister
Maud, with an ugly frown on her pret-
ty face.
For shame, Maudr 1 answered
sharply. "r am sure you have no rea-
son to complain; Aunt Anne is good
ness itself to You. If she has odd ideas
about dress. what does it matter? She
has perfect right to indulge in them, if
it gives her pleasure
We'll. it is to be hoped she will
keep in the background and not show
herself whe Colonel Hargrieve calls. 1
have half mind to invent some tale
about old MOllie Sanders being worse;
she would be sure to be off there to-
morrow afternoon"
IF you do. Maud, I shall certainly
Illustrate your plans by telling her the
truth / answered severely. IF
Colonel Hargrieves is as keen-sighted
man as he looks, he will be able
to penetrate beyond Aunt Anne's old
Within
Maud stood up and yawned. "Well.
If your devotion is so great to Aunt
Anne" she said sarcastically, ''per-
maps 1t will go to the length of taking
her for a stroll tomorrow afternoon,
while | entertain the Colonel" With
ahls parting shaft she left the room.
l hlushed guiltily. How long was it,
wondered, since l had asked Aunt
anne to accompany me in my walks!
P0or Aunt Anne! Hers was a busy
life, yet lonely. she kept in the back
ground, watching her machine that
Kept our household arrangements in
perfect order, oiling wheels carefully
out always silently. We were tiny
mites when our mother died, and Aunt
anne had taken her place at once,
nursing us through our childish all
ments with devoted care, attending to
our wants and ministering to our
pleasures with the same patient unset
nshness all through the long years
Her voice was gentle, her face pale
out sweet, and the only odd thing
about her was her dress; she always
dressed in the style of her girlhood;
fashions came and went. but Aunt
anne needed them not.
1t was this fad that annoyed Maud
80 much. "She might alter, If only for
our sakes," she would say impatiently
but in this respect Aunt Anne was
strangely firm.
MY father gave us generous allow.
ance; we both dressed we'll and styl
1shly, our elegant costumes accentuat
ing the contrast between Aunt Anne
and ourselves.
few evenings ago we had@met al
dance singularly handsome strang
er. Tall, finely proportioned. with
erect carriage and fine gray eyes
Colonel Hargrieves took our youthful
hearts BY storm.
is he not splendid, Alice?'' Maui
whispered to me: che has charming
manners, too"
be careful. Maud: do not wear youl
heart on your sleeve l answered
Colonel Hargricves will read you
like book
An angry flush crimsoned Maud
pretty face. How disagreeable yo,
are' Alice" she said. Il suppose yo1
are jealous. Never mind" triumph
antly, "he has promised to call an,
see father and nodding saucily sh
turned away with her new partner.
The following afternoon Mau'
oonned her prettiest white gown on
sat in a graceful attitude in the draw
lng-room waiting.
smiled in my most aggravatin
manner, but she treatc1 me with silen
contempt
True to his word. however. Colone
Hargrieves called Maud received hir
with her sweetest smile.
Before long, however. / noticed de
Goed restlessness about Maud; sh