The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-08-26
A LITTLE
LOVE COMEDY
lOrlglnal.l

His grandmother, who had j,uurreled
with her daughter OH account of her
marrying Herman Rikard, had never
seen the child, but had paid liberally
for his support and education. She had
died when Paul was I'm college and had
left him some means. On being grad
uatrd hc was to go to an aunt, who was
TO take the place of only relative.
When Paul appeared Mt his Aunt Car
oline's house n singular looking little
old lady with pair of corkscrcw curlS
received him in room SO shaded from
the light that he did not see her till she
advanced to meet him.
You are Paul Rikard, my sisters
son. she said, land | am your Aunt
Caroline. You are to stay here till YOU
arc twenty-thrcc years old, at which
time l am to pay over to you your in
hcritancc Unfortunately l am called
away for Il few weeks and must leave
YOU under the same roof with Claudia
Chacc, Il young girl whom 1 have adopt
cd and whose home Is here. My house
keeper will he chapcron. You will meet
Claudia ut dinner. l wish to admonisll
you not on any account to fall in love
with her, since / shall not consent to
her marriage with any one. must
have her 10 myself In my old age"
After this address, which she gave III
q cracked voice, she hobblrd out of the
room and left the young man TO him
self He was bitterly disappointed
This, the only relative he had ever
seen. seemed To be not an especially
lovablc person. Well, there was the
young girl, but doubtless she was as un
attractive ns his aunt, for such old pe0,
pie are not likely to make companions
of girls that men would like.
Then came n summons to dinner.
y young girl, the very counterpart of
his aunt, advanced to meet him. cor
daily welcoming him. From the mo.
mcnt he saw her and listened to hcg
kindly words he knew he had met one
with whom he would be especially con
genial.
IL am Claudia" she said. "I have
heard a great deal about YOU from my
dear mother by adoption and | assure
YOU for years have felt an interest I'm
Onc who has had no one to take the
place OF father, mother, sister or broth
cr j hope You will now have one in
your aunt to ill something of the gap
AS for newell, we must consider our
selves Mt least cousins"
"But Aunt Caroline showed no inter
est in me whatcvcr."
''Shc will. Believe me, YOU can tell
nothing about her from what YOU have
seen. She has the kndcst heart In the
world and is very unSclsh."
Paul wondered il the girl would call
the old woman unscllish had she heard
her declare that she intended keeping
her from n husband To administer TO
her own wants. However, his aunt
and all the world were forgotten i'm the
delightful evening he spent with
Claudia Chacc. Occasionally she would
refer to the aunt, and in one instance
M very romantic person. Upon this
Paul burst into Il laugh. at which Miss
Claudia seemed triic offended, but
in another moment all was righted and
Paul saw that he must not mention his
aunt except with the greatest respect.
Paul lost his heart The return of
the old lady and declaration of love
came about near the same time. Paul
proposed one evening and his aunt was
to return the next morning.
"Arc YOU sure" asked Claudia Sc
riously, that in doing this you are act
ing honorably?'
Paul started. 81 had forgotten" he
said, chat before my aunt's departure
She gave me warming"
(Which wasf'
"Why, the fact Is" said Paul, "the
old curmudgoon told me she would
never consent to your marriage since
She intended to keep YOU single for her.
self"
"That being til" case, ] must decline
your proposal owe her too much
and love her too we'll to marry with.
out her permission"
"But'--
"But what?"
81 will beg her OH my knees to give
you to me. We will both take care of
hcr-bc her companions in her old
age
"What? Could you live with cur.
mudgconY'
"For you could live with a wolf"
The girl burst into q laugh. VERY
WELL" she said "ynu may ask her, anu
we shall see if she is us selfish as you
think"
The next morning Paul was in.
formed that the old lady had returned
and wished to see him I'm the library.
He entered the same dimly lighted
room as before.
well, young man." said the cronc,
you've been here for three weeks
with my daughter dare say you've
been trying to rob me OF her"
my dear aunt, / would not rob you
OF her for the world. But beg OF you
not to separate me from one | love.
Together we wilr-
There was rustic behind n portlere
and benevolent looking lady emerged.
At the same time sundry articles Of
attifo and "make up" fell from tho
aunt, revealing the face and figure of
Claudia.
Permit me to introduce you to your
Aunt Caroline" said the girl, with a
merry twinkle In her eye.
"Your request is granted" said the
real aunt. "My dear boy, Claudia and
have long looked forward to partially
relieving the loneliness you have en-
dured since your birth. concocted
this scheme. hoping to give you wife
10 love you, and Claudia has carried 1t
out splendidly"
"And you shall be mother to us
BOTH" replied Paul.