Middletown transcript., 1906-04-21
Mr.. PUFFER'S AUNT PIsRLLNA
BYJ L. HARBOUR
BY ]. L. HARBOUR

| hadn't the heart to tell her
that they certainly didn't dress
like that in our set, but | KEEP
my mouth shet and 'let her, enjoy
herself under the idee that she
was comm the proper caper.
Puffer amt one that gives way
to his feelin's very easy, but
when he see her he clapped his
hands over his mouth an made
for the kitchen an from there
into the pa ntry, an from The way
the tins ratified I've an idee he
was rollin' over and over on the
floor givin' expression to his feel
ings. When our bell rang Aunt
Perliny got all of a futter, and
says:
Oh, | feel sure that it's him
it's Lester /! You admit him,
Susy, while I run back to my
room an compose myself a little
before l see him !
I remarked calmly that she'd
better hist her false front up a
little to the right before she come
out, and that it would be just as
well to rub some of the powder
off the lobe of her left ear, for it
was a good deal whittier than the
other ear.
Then I let her "Lester boy"
in, for he'd come sure enough.
He was the villain in the play all
right. I made up my mind to
that the minute I laid eyes on
him. He was a fashy-dressed
chap about thirty years old, with
"a pair of shifty eyes and an ugly
mouth. My tightin' blood was
up the minute l saw him, and I
made up my mind that poor old
Aunt Perliny never should go out
of that house with him if could
stop it, and I ruther thought I
could.
Is Miss Moone here? he asked
with a smile that made him look
more than ever like the evil one.
I said that she was, and at that
minute poor, foolish Aunt Per
liny come out with a kind of a
stage run that I feel sure she had
put good deal of practice into.
She had her yallow gloved hands
clasped on level with her chin
an she says in real stacy way:
Lester, Lester Do we meet
at last?
1t was as good as a circus to
see Lester about that time.- /
reckon he was prepared for a
good deal from the letters I've
an idee Aunt Perliny had written;
but it was plain he hadn't got his
expectations up to Aunt Perliny
in the flesh, for I heard him say
"Good Lord!" under his breath,
and he stepped back a little and
looked at the door as if he had a
mind to run. 1t was downright
comical. But Aunt Perliny bore
down on him, and stood, seemin |
to wait for an embrace Lester
hadn't the nerve for, and he was
mighty nervy too. He offered |
her his hand. and said:
Why, good evenin', Miss Moone. |
II am glad to see you.
She come the silliest little pout
you ever saw and tapped him on
the cheek with her fan an said:
ONLY glad, Lester? Not even
very glad-dear?
Honest and true that was what i
she said! Well, we all set down,
and Puffer come in from the pan
Try with -four all over his back
Ind his handkerchief in his hand
ready to stuff in his mouth. Then
,he minister arrived and the play
was on. We talked commonplace
'or awhile, with Aunt Perliny sol
zittenish that it made me mad
Ind sick by turns. All of sud-
len Puffer did something that
set him up in my estimation
good many notches. He's usually
mighty michin' or mighty sullen,
out all of a sudden he stood up
ike a man, and he says:
See here, Mr.. J. Lester St.
Jlair-if that is your name-T
that you have made
ny aunt an offer of marriage. In
,act, I've seen the offer in your
etters to her, an you've even
asked her to marry you tonight,
f you We got the license, and the
Minister is right herb, and the
proper place for her to be mar
lied is in my house. seein that