The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-11-20
CONTINUED from last sunday)
CHAPTER XIV.
AUNT MARY's RETURN

Joshua was at the station to meet
his mistress. and Lucinda, full to the
brim with curiosity, sat on the PACK
seat of the carryall.
Aunt Mary quilted the train with
dignity which was sufficiently over
towering to counterfeit the effect OF
her bonnet's being somewhat awry.
She greeted Lucinda with chill per-
functoriness that was indescr1paple'
and her glance glided completely over
Joshua and ran down the reins winch
he held.
.Im glad to see you looking so well,
Lucinda screamed, when all were IN
and they were off.
Aunt Mary looked trifie indignant
but did not avert her gaze from the
headquarters of the horse.
81 thought it was more like heaven
myself she said. coldly. Not that
your opinion matters any to me, Luz
cinda.''
Then she leaned forward and poked
the driver.
joshua she said
Joshua jumped in his seat at the
asperity of her tone.
What is il?
s.Jus' 8 soon as we get home I want
you to take the saw-that little sharp
one. you know-and dock Billys tail.
Cut it off as close as you can; do you
hear?"
81 hear" said Joshua, much startled
Did you have a good timer Luz
cinda had the temerity to ask, after a
minute
II guess I could if I tried?'' the old
lady replied: but I'm too tired to try
now"
How did you leave Mr.. Jack?"
"I couldn't stay forever, could I2''
asked the traveller, impatiently. Il
thought that week was long enough
for the first time, anyhow"
Lucinda subsidized. and the rest of the
drive wa; taken in silence. Aunt Mary
made short work of getting to bed, and
she slept the luxurious and dreamless
sleep of the unjust until late that after
noon. Then she awoke. and awoke to a
most vigorous attitude toward life in
general and toward Lucinda in particu-
lar. The attitude was not in any de-
gree altered by the unexpected arrival
of Arethusa that evening. Strange tales
had reached Arethusa's ears, and
she had flown on the wings of steam
sun it all meant. Her aunt appeared
in no wise rejoiced to see her, and the
glare which she directed over the edge
Of the Counterpart bore testimony to
the truth of my statement.
Whatever did you come for?' she
demanded, inhospitably. Lucinda
didn't send for you, did she?''
Arethusa screamed the best face that
she could onto her visit. Aunt Mary
listened with an inattention that was
anything but f1attering.
We'll, g long as you're here you
may as well make yourself useful
she said, when she saw that her niece's
lips had ceased to move. st want you
to go TO Boston the very first thing to-
morrow morning an buy me some cot
ton"
Arethusa stared blankly
Well" said her aunt, IF you can't
hear, take my trumpet an I'll say it
over again.
What kind of cotton?' Arethusa
yelled.
Not stockings" said Aunt Mary:
"Cottoni Cotton! COTTON! 1t
beats the Dutch how deaf everyone is
gettin', an if 1 had your ears in par
ticular, Arethusa, I'd certainly get
stalk. JUS s if you didn't know as
well as I do how many stockings I've
got already! 1 should think you'd quit
bein' so needless, an use your common
sense, anyhow. I've found common
sense a very handy thing in talkin'
always. Always.
Arethusa launched herself full tilt into
the ear trumpet.
What = kind of = cotton?" she
asked, in that key of voice which makes
the crowd pause in a panic.
Aunt Mary looked Disguised.
THE Boston kind" she said, nipping
her lips.
Arethusa took double hitch on her
1arynx, and tried again.
do you mean thread?"
Aunt Mary's disgust deepened WISH
bly,.
If I meant silk, I guess 1 wouldn't
say cotton. 1 might just happen to say
silk. I've been in the habit of sayin
silk when 1 meant silk. and cotton when
meant cotton, for quite a number of
years, and 1 might not have changed
to-day-I might just happen to not Of
/ might not of-maybe.''
Arethusa withered under this bitter
irony.
How many spools do you want -"
she asked in a meek but piercing howl
Il don't care said Aunt Mary
Ioftily. Il don't care how many-or
what coior-or what number. 1 just
want some Boston cotton, and I want
to see you settin' out to get it pretty
promptly tomorrow morning"
But if you only want some cotton 1"
Arethusa yelled, with a force which
sent crimson waves all over her, why
can't I get it in the village?"
Aunt Mary shot one look at her niece,
and the latter felt the conclusion.
Because I want you to get il in
Boston," said she, with acerbity I'M
equaled. When / say a thing, 1 mean
it pretty generally. Quite often-most
always I want that cotton, and it's to
be bought in Boston. There's a train