Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-06-18
Chapter x.

CHAPTER x.
At Sunny Bank VIC were one DAY
thrown into 4 state OF unusual excite
ment by the arrival Of a letter from Aunt
Charlotte, which contained an invitation
for Anna and myself to spend the re
mainder Of the autumn and the whoie Oh
the coming winter with her In the city
ROSA" she wrote, could 60 to school,
while Anna would BIO introduced into So
ciety"
OF course we were greatly surprised,
wondering what had come ever 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 1t was postscript from
Uncle Joseph, who also Joined in the re-
quest.
1t only remained for us to decide
whether we would accept or not. Anna
and myself said yes" at once, and after
q grave deliberaton in grandma's room,
the same conclusion was also reached
by my parents, who, after giving us
abundance of good advice, enjoined it
upon Anna. first, never to dance Mt the
parties which she might sometimes at
tend second, never to wear her dresses
low. as some of the city girls did; and
third, not TO firt with Herbert Langley.
For this last injunction they probably
fancied there was little need, II being
now five years since she had seen him,
and as they knew nothing Of the per
fumed, gilt-edgcd notes which lay hidden
In her work-box, they very naturally sup
posed she had forgotten him. thought
30, too, for hers was the last letter.
which had been unanswered for many
months, and Anna, know, was far toe
proud to care for one who had forgotten
her. Occasionally we heard of him
through others, and 1t was always the
same story. that he was going down to
. drunkard's grave as fast as drink could
earry him: but X these reports produced
any effect upon Anna, Il was impercep-
able. She was now twenty years Of age,
and was a fair, delicate looking girl,
whom some called proud, Others cold,
and few selfish.
1t was A lovely day late in October,
that old Sorrel stood at the door ready
10 convey us to the depot. This was
sAe 6rst tims had really left homo, and
NAsn / saw the tears In my mothers
HGes, and the trembling Of grandma's
Nhsls body; when Juliet hsld me 90 long
= her bosom; when Lisie and Carrie
stsie from ne hasty Kiss. and then ran
81 70 hide THAR Srisf: when Charlie
nAd JskA, VIE wers both clerks, came
down - the asSsl 70 W ~ b0sd-bye,
affecting 70 be vsry manly. netwithstand-
~ that tAeir eAtAs auivsred; and when,
1Ast Of Al, my fathers fsrvsnt God
Ness you. my eAlldrsa," rssoundsd in my
ears, began 10 have 4 faint Idea Of tbs
titteynsss there 10 10 parting, be it but
kr q few months. Al we expected, we
sound eur uncls's carriage at the depot
II Boston, and ere Ions we had reached
his house in Beacon street.
a remember the thrill Of delight which
experienced when nrst ! entered my
aunt Charlotts's stylish house and fell
that it was to be my home at least for 1
time. Everything was in perfect order
and for an instant looked around me II
silent wonder, almost forgetting to repl!
to the greeting Of my aunt, who, ii
heavy brocsde and long blue streamer
depending from her head, met us kindl.
and hoped We were we'll. She ha,
changed since last saw her, but it wa
more the work Of care than of time. Sh
was much thinner, and the orow-t track
around her eyes were now decided
deep-cut wrinkles, while her hair wa
here and there streaked with more tina
one silver thread.
My uncle was still the same gooC
humored, pleasant man, little afraid {
his wife, but evidently master of h
own house. | glanced around for He
bert, but he was not there, and when, {
Annals account more than my own
asked for him, was told that he WI
down street but would soon be HON
Ringing bell my aunt bid the girl wi
appeared, "show the young ladies
their rooms" which proved to be lar
airy chamber with bedroom, dressil
room and closet adjoining. After has
toilet we again returned to the parlC
where we found tall, richly dress
young man. whom l should never ha
recognized a. Herbert Langley He W
much altered from when l last saw hil
there was a deep nush on his cheel
which had reached even to his nos
while the syet / had onoe thought
handsome were watery and unsteady
their movement On the whole, no
ever. he was still what soma would c
good looking. He was sitting with
back to the apsr. but at the sound of {
footsteps he turned around, and com
toward as, welcomed US most eordia
10 Burton. calliag as cousins" {
sinininr a cousins privilege Of kiss
ps.-nle s~ce, and Anna three times,
Dot four.
She Was a little piausd al Ma nsgl