The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-04-22
Her Stratagern
Aunt Jane Was Chaperoa
Without an Equal.

First let us have a look at Aunt
Jane.
Aunt Jane, then, was a spinster, not
at all like those blessed women who,
for their virtues and manifold charms,
have been crowned with the care-free
diadem of joy and independence. All,
no! Aunt Jane was a spinster, sour as
vinegar.
Euphonia was the niece of Aunt
Jane. But, o, what a difference!
Euphonia was as sweet and as pure
as the dew upon the rose.
Such were they, sitting in the par
Tor Eyes. yes; in the parlor) when the
doorbell rang.
'Ill co." said Euphonia.
NO" said Aunt Jane, III co."
And as she disappeared, Eunhonia
quickly drew letter from her bosc:,.z:
glanced it over quickly and hid Il e.
her belt as Aunt Jane reappeared,
with the majestic bearing of an exc
cutioner, while behind her followed
John. And as for John, let it simply
be said that when the girls are gifted
with noses like candy there is gen.
orally young man not far away with
most decided liking for sweets. And
as for Aunt Jane, Aunt Jane sat down
on the sofa with something of a
bounce, and as her chin curled up and
her nose curled down, she seemed to
say, Yes, here l am, and here l am
going to stay"
How do you do?" said John.
How do you do?" said Euphonia.
And How do you do?' said John.
And How do you do?" said Eu-
phonia.
And still again, How do you do?"
said John.
And yet once more, How do you
do?" said Euphonia.
And as for Aunt Jane, Aunt Jane
looked troubled between her brows
and tilted her head little more on
one side as she watched the two with
an air that said: Now, that's funny!
Now that's very funny"
Have you been well?' said John.
YES" said Euphonia, looking down
at the carpet.
You're Sure?' said John.
YES" said Euphonia, but you could
barely hear her.
and you always will?" said John
Il think So said Euphonia.
And as for Aunt Jane, Aunt Jane
began to suffer.
Have you been well?" said Eupho-
mia, looking up and looking down
again.
You bet have." cried John
You're sure?'
absolutely! Positively"
You look WE'LL
"Ah!" cried John.
"And you-you always will?'
"You know l will" he reproached
her.
And as for Aunt Jane, Aunt Jane
laid her right ear on her right Shout
der and her glance shifted backward
and forward between the confection-
cry and the hungry boy like a shut
tie in the loom.
Euphonia and John sat down, and
John, with a world of deliberation
placed his little finger between his
teeth and bit it.
Lovely weather" he said.
Euphonia arose from the sleepy hol-
low chair and Sat down in the gilt
chair.
YES" said she.
John bit his little finger again.
Did the cat come back?" he asked
Euphonia changed back to the
sleepy hollow.
Yes" said she.
1nhO hit hic Htflo fooor
They always do" said he.
Euphonia carelessly hummed a tune
and carelessly went over to the sofa
and sat down by the side of Aunt
Jane.
Yes" said she.
And as for Aunt Jane, Aunt Jane
almost screamed with the pain, but
just at that point John bit his little
iinger again, and as Euphonia arose
to go back to the sleepy hollow that
letter slipped out of her belt and
dropped on the sofa. Aunt Jane picked
it up unnoticed, glanced at the open
ing lines and set her jaw.
John tapped his foot on the carpet
Euphonia tapped her foot.
John tapped his foot
Euphonia tapped her foot.
And as for Aunt Jane. she wen
out of there. She stopped beneath the
gas jet in the hall, though, ane
opened the letter.
Dear Euphonia tread the letter.: A.
4 suppose Aunt Jane will be there a.
usual, l have made up a few signals
which we will use.
How do you do?" means: How
love YOU
Have you been well?" means do 20,
love me?'
Biting the little finger means: IT shall
love you forever
Changing from one chair to anothe,
means: II shall love you forever too
And tapping the foot on the foo
means: II wish Aunt Jane would chas
herself for a minute"
Yours desparingly, JOHN.
And as for Aunt Jane. Aunt Jan,
chased herself right back again, a.!
this was the sight that met her hor
rif1ed gaze:
Euphonia and John were sitting O,
the sofa, and John was holding Eu
phonia's hand and trying to eat tn
candy.
"Euphonia." gasped Aunt Jane
What does this MEAN?"
"John-John is measuring me TO
the ring!" murmured Euphonia.
"Ho!" shifted Aunt Jane, and ham
ing Euphonia the letter with an e:
preston that said, II have read II
you deceitful MINK" she said aloud
Il think you dropped this letter."
"Yes," murmured Euphonia, Ore