Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-03-07
CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER X.
At Sunny Bank we were one day
thrown into a state Of unusual excite
ment by the arrival Of letter from Aunt
Charlotte, which contained an invitation
for Anna and myself to spend the re.
mainder Of the autumn and the whole OF
che coming winter with her In the city.
"Rosa," she wrote, "could 60 to school,
|Uhile Anna would be introduced into ~.
eiety."
Of course we were greatly surprised.
wondering what had come over our
naughty aunt. She must have changed,
We thought, or else there was some mis-
take about the invitation. But this could
not be, for there 1t was In black and
white, written evidently In all sincerity,
while added to It was a postscript from
Uncle Joseph, who also Joined In the te-
quest.
1t only remained for us to decide
whether we would accept or not. Anna
and myself said "Yes" ut once. and after
Q grave elaboration In grandnia's room,
the same conclusion was also reached
by my parents, who. after giving us
abundance Of good advice, enjoined 1t
upon Anna, first, never to dance at the
parties which she might sometimes at.
tend; second, never to wear her dresses
low, rs some Of the city girls did; and
ehird, not to hirt with Herbert Langley.
For this last injunction they probably
fancied there was little need, It being
now five years since she had seen him,
and rs they knew nothing Of the per-
fumed, gilt.edged notes which lay hidden
In her work.box, they very naturally sup.
posed she had forgotten him. I thought
90, too, for hers was the last letter.
which had been unanswered for many
months. and Anna. knew. was far toe
proud to care for one who had forgotten
her. Occasionally we heard Of him
through others, aud II was always the
came story, that he was going down to
. drunkard's grave az fast ms drink could
carry him; but II these reports produced
any effect upon Anna, II was impercep-
dhle. She was now twenty years Of nge,
and was fair. delicate looking girl,
whom some called proud. others cold.
and few selfish.
It was a lovely dry late In October.
u convey Us to the depot. This was
the first time had really left home. and
when I saw tho tears In my mothers
eyes, and the trembling Of grandma's
whole body; when Juliet held me 50. long
70 her bosom: when Lizzie and Carrie
stole from me hasty kiss, and then ran
Oh to hide their grief; when Charlie
and John, who were both clerks, came
down to the depot to bid us bood-bye.
affecting to be very manly. n0twithstand-
Ing that their chins Quiyered; and when,
last Of ALL. my fathers feryent "God
bless you, my children" resounded In my
ears, I began to have q faint idea Of the
bitterness there 10 In parting. he It but
for few months. A We expected, we
found our uncle's carriage at tho depot
In Boston. and ere long we had reached
bic house In Beacon street.
I remember the thrill Of delight which
I experienced when first ! entered my
aunt Charlotte's stylish house and felt
that II was to be my home at least for q
time. Everything was In perfect order.
and for IN instant looked around me In
silent wonder. almost forgetting to reply
to the greeting Of my aunt. who, In
heavy brOcade aud long blue streamers
depending from her head. met us kindly
and hoped we were well. She had
changed since last I saw her. hut It was
more the work of care than Of time. Sho
was much thinner, and the crOw-tracks
around her eyes were now decidedly
deep.cut wrinkles, while her hair was
here and there streaked with more than
one silver thread.
My uncle was still the same good.
humOred, pleasant man, little afraid Of
bis wife, but evidently master Of his
own house. l glanced around for Her.
bert, but he was not there, and when, on
thos, z
asked for him, I was told that no was
down street, but would soon be home.
Ringing bell, my aunt bid the girl who
appeared, 'show the young ladies' to
their rooms" which proved to be large
room and closet adjoining. After q hasty
toilet We again returned to the parlor.
where We found tall. richly dressed
young man, whom l should never have
recognized as Herbert Langley. He was
much altered from when last saw him;
there was deep flush on his cheeks,
which had reached even to his nose
while the eyes l had once thought 20
handsome were watery and unsteady In
their movement. On the whole, how.
ever. he was still what some would call
good looking. He was sitting with his
oeS~ w t"V uooss put ~ TIC VI Vut
footsteps he turned around, and coming
toward Us, welcomed US most cordially
to BOstOn, calling us cousins" and
claiming cousins privilege of kissing
us--me once, and Anna three times, II
not four.
She was little plqued at his neglect
In answering her last letter, and wishing
to show proper resentment, she drew
back rather haughtily as II wondering
how he dare stake such liberties" This
readily perceived, and instantly as.
bIuming an air quite as indifferent AZ her
own. hs turned toward me, hardly MOTTO
3ng her again, though 1t was easy to see
chat the reserve Of both was merely af-
3cctation. That evening he was gone
until nine o'clock. and when no entered
the parlOr, ! noticed on the face Of my
aunt the same anxious expression which
4 remembered having seen there when,
from our sitting room window. she watch.
cd - ssturn. But he was perfectly
sober. and with sigh Of relief she 70.
pumsd her work; while he. coming round