The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25

never hurried woman.
 I'm going to visit dear Amy-you remember she was married two years ago and lives in Pasadena; she has a dear little baby and the loveliest home! It's charming. And she was so delighted with your wedding gift, it was so original Amy never did care for costly things; these simple, unique gifts always pleased her. Of course. my main object is to see the dear child, but l shall not go tonight unless Aunt Rebecca Winter is on the train. If for any reason she waits over until tomorrow I shall walt also"
 "Ah," sighed the colonel very softly, not stirring a muscle of his politely attentive face; land does Aunt Re becca expect to go on the train?"
 They told me at the Pullman office that she had the drawing-room, the stateroom and two sections. Of course she has her maid with her and | Archi-"
 Does he go, too?' the colone' asked, his eyes narrowing little.
 Yes, she's taking him to Call | fornia: he doesn't seem well enougA she thinks. to go to school, SO he is to have a tutor out there. I'm a lit tie afraid Aunt Rebecca mollycoddles the boy"
 Aunt Rebecca never struck me as a mollycoddler. I always considered her a tolerably cynical old Spartan. But do you mean there is any doubt | of their going? Awfully good of you to walt to see if they don't go, but I'm sure Aunt Rebecca wouldn't want you to sacrifice your section"
 Mrs. Melville lifted shapely hard l in Delsartian gesture of arre7t; her smiling words were the last the col onel had expected, Hush, dear Der tie: Aunt Rebecca doesn't know l am going. I don't want her to know un- til we are on the train
 "Oh, see. a surprise?" But he did not see: and. with a quiet intentnass he watched the color raddle Mrs. Mel ville's smooth cheeks.
 Hardly" returned the lady. The truth is, Bertie Melville and I are
 worried about Aunt Rebecca. She, we
 fear, has fallen under the influence of a most plausible adventuress: sup
 pose you have heard of her com
 panion, Miss Smith?"
 Can't say I have exactly" said the
 colonel placidly. but his eyes mar
 rowed again. Who is the lady?"
 q thought am sure Melville must
 have written you. But Oh, yes, he
 wrote yesterday to Boston. We'll Der
 tie, Miss Smith is a southerner; she
 says she Is South Carolinian, but
 Aunt Rebecca picked her up In Wash
 ington, where she was with kink of
 cousin of ours who was half crazy
 Miss Smith took care of her and she
 died"-she fixed a darkling eye on
 the soldier-"she died and she left
 Miss Smith money"
 "Much?'
 "A few thousands. That Is how
 Aunt Rebecca met her, and she pulled the wool over auntie's eyes, and they , came back together. She's awfully clever"
 , Young? Pretty"
 r "Oh. dear, no. And she's nearer 4 I than 30. Just the designing age for { n woman when she's still wanting tC f marry some one but beginning to bt , afraid that she can't. Then sucl |. creatures always try to get money.
 they can't marry 1t, and there's nc J, man to set their caps for, they try tt , wheedle it out of some poor foo |. womani" Millicent was in earnest there was no doubt of that; the sure [. sign was her unconscious return 70 S the direct expressions of her early s life in the middle west. r. And you think Miss Smith Is try S ing to influence Aunt Rebecca?"
 "Of course she is; and Aunt Re 0 becca is so. Rupert. And often while e people of her age show no other sign ,- of weakening intellect. they are mol !, we'll regulated in their affections; |. they take fancies to people and gel r doting and clinging She Is getting tc e depend on Miss Smith. Really, tha e woman has more influence with hei
 llldn all iut lfSl Ol NcbNNiiNAf oh' I won't hear 9 word against her Why I when tried to suggest how little VI | knew about Miss Smith and that i | would be better not to trust her tot I entirely, she positively resented 1t, O | course used tact, too. was so hurt l SO surprised!" Mrs. Millicent wa \ plainly aggrieved.
 The colonel, who had his owl J opinion of the tact of his brother
 wife, was not so surprised; but h l made an inarticulate sound whiel | might pass for sympathy. | We've been worried a good deal,
 pursued Mrs. Melville, about the wa | Aunt Rebecca has acted. She wouldn' | stay in Fairport, where we could hay l some influence over her. She was a i ways going south or going to the SC;
 shore or going somewhere. Sometime l suspect Miss Smith made her, { I keep her away from us, you know. | Well, as long as I have know | Aunt Rebecca-anyhow, ever sine | Uncle Archibald dled--she has bee
 restless and flying about" | Not as she is now. And then sh
 only had her maid"
 "Oh, yes, Randall; she's faithful 6
 they make 'em. What does she sa y about Miss Smith?"
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