Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-01-24
CHAPTER II.-(Continued.)
XSSSOOCS Cc

CHAPTER 1I.-(Continued)
Not long after breakfast was over
Anna commenced dressing Lizzie rnt
Carrie. and as she had herself to beau
tify before the arrival of the train whicl
was to bring my uncle and aunt. II Is no
surprising that she hurried rather fastc
than was wholly agreeable to the littl'
girl, who could see no good cause for sucl
haste, even II Herbert Langlcy-m!
aunt's son. and II youth of seventeen
was to accompany her. 1. however, wh'
was older. read things differently; hnt
when Anna pulled Lizzie's curly hair ant
washed Carries nose up instead oil down
~ntil they both cried, aud when she her
self stood before the glass whole hall
hour, arranging. just In front of hel
ears. two spit curls." sometimes called
beau catchcrs." I shrugged my shout
ders, wondering IL she thought II cit!
boy would care for her.
The morning train from Boston was
due about ten o'clock. and as sum,
Bank did not then boast n daily Om.h
bus, II was necessary that some ono
should be at the depot In order to inee'
our expected guests. At nine O'Clock
father and old Sorrel started Tor I'd,
depot. which wns distant about two hnd
a half miles. Long and wearisome to III
children was that waiting for his return
for stiff and prim us starched white
aprons ind best gowns could make US
we sat In row like 30 many automa
tons, scarcely daring to move. lest We
should displnce some article Of dress. III
the best chambcr--the room which Aunt
Charlotte was to Occupy-a cheerful
wood fire was burning. and at least
dozen times did grandma go up there
to scc IL all were right---now smoothing
the clean linen pillow case, now moving
the large easy chair little more to the
center Of the room. and again wipine
from the mirror some imaginary specks
Of dust.
Ar she WINS coming down the twelfth
time. the sound Of sleigh bells took us all
to the window. where, Instead Of the
costly furs and rich velvet wrappings Of
Aunt Charlotte. we saw the coarse plaid
shawl and dark dclaine hood Of Aunt Bet.
sey. while ut her side was the shaggy
overcoat and sealskin cap Of her better
half. Uncle jason. This worthy couple,
good enough In their way, lived In Union.
about nine miles from Sunny Bank,
'e, for the lust ten years. they Ind
been In the hnbit Of spending Thanksgiv.
Ing without ever seeming to think It pos
Sible for them to return the compliment.
Although we had never seen Aunt Char
lotte, we knew full well that there was
nothing In common between her and Aunt
Betsey, and after long consultation II
had been decided not to invite the lnttcr,
who. as II proved, did not deem an invi.
tatiOn necessary.
Uncle Jason was my fathers half
brother, and the step.son Ut grandma,
who. the moment she saw them, exclnim.
ed: "What sent them hercW Before my
Of us could reply, the door burst open,
and the loud, boisterous laugh Of Uncle
Jason greeted our ears. intermingled with
the squeaky tones Of Aunt Betsey. who,
addressing my mother. said, ''How dye
dew. Fanny You pretty wellf l s'pose
you're lookin' for us. though you didn't
send ~ no invite? Jason kinder held on
about comm; but I tellcd him twas
enough sight easier to eat dinner here
than to cook It to hum"
With ~ gooid grace as she could
possibly assume. mother returned her
greeting. and then. taking her into her
own bedroom. asked her to remove her
was expecting Uncle Joseph and Aunt
Charlotte from Boston.
"Now. you don't say It," exclaimed
Aunt Betsey. Now, dew tell " that
puckerin' thing II a.comin'! How nippcd
up We shall have TO be! I'm 40 glad l
wore this gown" she continued, looking
complacently ut her blue and white plaid,
the skirt Of which was very short and
scanty, besides being trimmed at the
bottom with two narrow rufiies.
With her other peculiarities Aunt Bet.
sey united that Of Jealousy. and inter
getting herself warm, and looking round,
No was her custom. sue commenced with,
"Now, II l won't give up! A fire In the
parlor chamber! l s'pose Charlotte's too
good to pull of her things In tho bed.
room, az I do. WAL. it's the luck Of
some to be horn with silver spoon In
their mouth"
Grandma. who wins the only person
present except myself, made no answer.
and after moment Aunt Bctsey cOntin-
ued: "Now I think ont. Miss I.ec"-she
never addressed her as mother" for,
from the first. a mutual dislike had OK.
listed between th0m--"nOw ! think ont.
Miss Lee. mcbby Fanny meant to slight
me-"
Fanny never slight0d anybody" was
grandma's reply. while her polished knit.
ting needles ratified with a vengeance.
"Waal. | guess shc thought JOS wife
and ! wouldn't hitch hOsscs exactly, but
the land knows TINT don't care the
snap Of my finger for her. I'm az good
a. anybody, II ! don't keep a hired maid
and have a carpet on every fOOr."
Here she was interrupted by the sound
Of horses feet, and rising up, grandma
said, II guess they've cohic. VIII you
90 and meet themY"
mot l; I'm the last one to creep. ]
can tell YOU" was Aunt Betsey's reply,
while grandma and quilted the room,
leaving her sitting bolt upright. with
her feet on the fender and her lips purs.
ed up, as they always were when she
was indignant.
Uncle Joseph. Aunt Charlotte, Herbert
Langney, had already come; and rs the
latter ieaped upon the ground and l
caught a sight of his tall. slender figure,
] Involuntary exclaimed, "Long-legs,"
q cOgnOmen which he ever after retained
in our family. II shall like him." was
my mental comment as turned from
him toward the bundle of clothes which
Uncle Joseph lifted from the sleigh and
deposited upon the steps. and which we
supposed to be our dreaded aunt's.
'rhis Is perfectly horrible" was the
first words which issued from under the
folds of her veil; but to what she refer
red ! never knew.
We all knew and loved Uncle Joseph,
and for his sake my mother conquered