Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-02-01
A LETTER IN FRENCH.

Alicia was very unhappy. She was
paying her yearly visit to her Aunt Eliza
and her Uncle Thomas-really her great
aunt and her great-uncle-and this was
the first time that it had not been a de
light to her 1T would really be better
to go farther and say the first time that
it had been torture to her. In the
first place, it was hard to have before
her all the time face that she had left
behind. and that she had not wanted to
leave behind; Il b0yish face with eager,
dark eyes that only left her when she
slipped away into sleeps forgetfulnesS
at night to greet her at her first awak-
ening in the morning, saying silently:
Here | am, to 90 with you all through
the day-f0r this is the strength of love"
1t was hard, and it frctted her. And i'll
the second place it was hard when one
was young and filled with long. sweet
dreams of what life might be with this
same face always beside her-tO have to
witness hourly the strange twist of Prov
idcncc that let two old people live a long
and happy life together only to land them
in strife with each other at the threshold
Of the grave. For Aunt Eliza and I'M
Gle Thomas, after Il life of Utmost devo-
ton, had grown to be strangely and UNI
acc0untably at cross purposes in every
thing. And this discouraged Alicia.
Aunt Eliza and Uncle Thomas We're
very old. Aunt Eliza confided to Alicia
the first night of her arrival. sitting on
the piazza, with the moon shining down
between the branches of the blue vista
ria vine, that she was afraid that Uncle
Thomas could not last much longer. And
Uncle Thomas took occasion to tell the
girl the next morning on the same piazza
only under the influence Of the sun in
stead Of the m0on--that it made him very
s..,I Int h., At hon
aunt; he might be called upon to give her
up any moment.
Aunt Eliza came around the corner of
the house presently. She had on a white
morning gown and a shade hat with Il
wreath Of dark red roses on it tied over
her beautiful silvery hair She walked
as lightly as 4 young girl.
Il have had Il terrible quarrel with
John over the ferns" she said eff it
Were not that he is such good gardener
and we have had him so long | would
surely let him gO-he is so dctatorial.
All, well, | must remember that he is get
ting old"
Uncle Thomas carefully put his glasses
on his nose.
Eliza" he said. firmly, come in out of
the hot sun. Why don't you make up
you mind that you, too, are getting old?
Now, | began TO accept old age twenty
five years ago"
And | began to defy it." answered
Aunt Eliza, shortly.
Uncle Thomas cast plying glance at
her, which took in the red roses on the
shade hat. She saw the direction of his
eyes.
Il hate purple" She exclaimed defiant
| ~. You are thinking that | ought to
wear it. But, no, Thomas. | never will
not if | live he a hundred Purple and
old age have no place in my heart
! Il L., I,s "a, ,s,,I
| shroud." Uncle Thomas looked very
! grim.
at is not in one way that you are fool
! ish.' he said, generously, but in every
way. You sit out ON the piazza at night
in the moonlight. moonlight, until no one
| knows how late"
and You never get any farther away
from this house than this piazza. and
then only when the sun is shining and
you are wrapped up in Il dressing gown.
! Uncle Thomas rose to his feet. ~ OF
eat he said in a loud voice, you ear
everything without regard to the time oi
the place or the food. for all the world rs
If you were l6. You may keep up fol
| a while. Eliza, driving yourself this way
but | can see your real condition"
Aunt Eliza walked up to the edge of the
PIAZZA, and looked mp into his face an
| grily. II do not like hot water as g
food she said maliciouSly. "You--yor
look like Father Time, Thomas. Where
is Your scythe?'
Alicia arose and went upstairs 10 hel
room and wcpt. "Oh, dear, this is dread
full" she cried. Twill we talk that way
to each othcrE' There is Il sharp littlt
rap ut her door.
Come she answered Aunt ElizJ
walked IN
Alicia" she said in decided tones. 81
want you To promise me that you vii
never marry"
oh dear" cried Alicia, with a frcsl
Il mean it," replied her aunt firmly
"\ll that | have in the world will be
yours. 50 you will have plenty to live on
and rs for love, love is the most foolish
thing in the world. Never LET me heat
of Your being in love" Aicia'S Shout.
ders shook in her anguish. and >h,
pressed her handkerchief to her eyes.
~ CT see how it is to live with man
when lie gets Old, said Aunt Eliza
What do YOU think Of me, my childE"
II think YOU are beautiful dear Aunt
Eliza, cried Alicia, in a burst Of anger
AGAINST her uncle. You hook thirty
years younger than Uncle Thomas. Give
me your handkerchief a minutc-there
Just trItie too much pink on this check,
How sweet and sensible people were
when they powdered their hair and wore
f, patches and rouge And what beautiful
gowns You have, Aunt Eliza"
49,, les, dear answered Aunt Eliza. mol
iihed And nice waist, too. Alicia.
| mat Is because | always sit m very
| straight, / never let myself lean against
| anything, Always sit up straight and
nave good time aud never nave amy
| sorrow ut Your heart that You cannot
daurc on ut Your heels. used to hc \
great dancer. | never missed a ball. Yon
| must take all the pleasure in life Than
90.