Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-06

"a w
"Miss smith"-Her Voice Sank Por-
tentousiy-"Was q Trained Nurse"
so delighted with your wedding gift,
1t was 50 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 I shall not go tonight
unless Aunt Rebecca Winter is on the
train. II for any reason she waits
over until tomorrow I shall wait
Also"
"Ah," sighed the colonel very softly,
not stirring a muscle Of his politely
attentive face; "and 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, toor the colonel
asked. his eyes narrowing little.
Eyes, she's taking hip to Cali
fornia: he doesn't seem tell enough,
she thinks, to go to school, so he Is
to have tutor out there. I'm lit
tie afraid Aunt Rebecca mollycoddles
the boy"
Aunt Rebecca never struck ME as
mollycoddler. always considered
her tolerably cynical old Spartan.
But do you mean there Is any doubt
Of their going? Awfully good Of You
to wait to see II they don't go, but I'm
sure Aunt Rebecca wouldn't want you
to sacrifice your section"
Mrs. Melville lifted shapely hand
in Delsartian gesture Of arrest; her
smiling words were the last the col
onel had expected. Hush, dear Ber-
tie: Aunt Rebecca doesn't know am
going. l don't want her to know ,ln-
til we are on the train"
"Oh, I see, surprise?" But he did
not see; and, with quiet intentness,
he watched the color raddle Mrs. Mel
ville's smooth cheeks.
Hardly returned the lady. "1he
truth is, BERTHE Melville and l are
worried about Aunt Rebecca. She, we
fear, has fallen under the influence Of
a most plausible adventures; sup
pose yon have heard OF her COM
panion, Miss Smith,"
Cant say have exactly" said the
colonel placidly, but his eyes mar
rowed again. 'Who is tfA LADY,"
IT thought am sure Melville must
have written you. But oh. yes, he
wrote yesterday to Boston. Well, Fer
tie, Miss Smith Is a southerner; she
says she is a South Carolinian, but
Aunt Rebecca picked her up In Wash
ington, where she was with kinl Of
cousin of ours who was half crazy.
Miss Smith took care OF her and she
died"-she fixed 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 awfllly
clever"
young? Pretty"
ooh, dear, no. And she's nearer 40
than 80. Just the desi1ning age fer a
woman when she's still wanting to
marry some one but beginning to be
afraid that she can't. Then such
creatures always try to get money. Il
! they can't marry it, and there's no
man to set their caps for, they try to
wheedle 1t out Of some poor fool
woman!' Millicent was in earnest
there was no Ho,,h+ re -. - 80
sign was her unconscious return 70
the direct expressions Of her early
| life in the middle west.
And you think Miss Smith is try
ing to influence Aunt Rebecca?"
"Of course she is; and Aunt Rs
| becca is 80, Rupert. And often while
/ people of her age show no other sign
Of weakening intellect, they are not
we'll regulated in their affections;
they take fancies to people and get
doting and clingins. She is getting to
depend on Miss Smith. Really, that
woman has more influence with her
than all the rest Of us together. She
won't hear word against her. Why!
when tried to suggest how little we
knew about Miss Smith and that 1t
would be better not to trust he. too
entirely, she positively resented it. OF
course I used tact. too. was so hurt,
so surprised" Mrs. Millicent was
plainly aggrieved.
The colonel, who had his own
opinion Of the tact Of his brothers
wife, was not so surprised; but he
made an inarticulate sound which
might pass for sympathy.
We've been worried a good deal"
pursued Mrs. Melville, about the way
Aunt Rebecca has acted. She wouldn't
stay In Fairport, where we could have
some influence over her She was al.
ways going south or going to the sea.
shore or going somewhere. Sometimes
suspect Miss Smith made her. u