Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-01-13


that si1e had the drawing-room, The
stateroom and two sections, OF course,
she has her maid with her and
Archi-"
Does he go, too?" the colonel
asked, his eyes narrowing little.
"Yes, she's taking him to Cali
fornia: he doesn't seem well enough,
she thinks. to go to school, so he is
TO have a tutor out there. I'm 1T
tie afraid Aunt Rebecca mollycoddIes
the boy"
"Aunt Rebecca never struck me as
a mollyccddler l always considered
her a tolerably cynical old Spartan
But do you mean there is any douhE
of their gcing? Awfully good Of you
to wait to see If they don't go, but I'm
sure Aunt Rebecca wouldn't want you
to sacrifice your section"
Mrs. Melville lifted sbapely hand
in Delsartian gesture Of arrest; her
smiling words were the last the cok-
onel had expected. Hush. dear Ber-
tie; Aunt Ilebecca doesn't know ann
going. don't want her to know un-
I'll we arc on the train"
"Oh, 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. THE
truth is, BERTHE Melville and are
worried about Aunt Rebecca. She, we
fear, has fallen under the influence ok
most plausible adventures; suV-
pose you have heard of her COM
panion, Miss Smith,"
Cant say have exactly" said the
colonel placidly, but his eyes mar
rowed again. who is the ladyg'
Il thought am sure Melville must
nave written you. But Oh, yes, he
wrote Yesterday to Boston. Well, Ber-
tie, Miss Smith is a southerner; she
says she is a South Carolinian, but
Aunt Rebecca picked her up in Wash
irgton, where she was with kink OF
cousin of or-s who was half crazy
Miss Smith '~ok care of her and she
died"-she e'-Ad a darkling eye ON
the soldier-"she died and she left
Miss Smith cney."
'Much?'
"a few Z lands. That is how
Aunt Rebecc IT her, and she pulled
the wool ovc mites eyes, and they
came back ether She's awfully
clever"
Young? P~ctty%
"Oh, dear, &c And she's nearer 40
than 30. Just the designing age for a
woman when she's still wanting to
marry some cue but beginning to be-
afraid that she can't Then such
creatures alwsrs try to get money. II
they can't marrysft. and there's no
man to set their caps for, they try to
wheedle Il out of some poor fool
woman!" MilIicent was in earnest
there was no doubt of that; the sure
sign was her unconscious return %.
the direct expressions OF her ea1ly
life in the middle west
And you think Miss Smith Is try
ing to influence Aunt Rebecca?v
vi COuISc size lss anu AUNT fto~
becca is so, Rupert. And often while
people of her age show no other sign.
of weakening intellect, they are not
well regulated in their aafectionsp
they take sancies to people and gee
doting and clingiEg. She is getting to-
defend on Miss Smith. Really, that
woman has more influence with her
than all the rest of US together. Sha
won't hear a word against her, Why
when | tried to suggest how little w
knew about Miss Smith and THAI r.
would be better not to trust her too
entirely, she positively resented It. or
course used tact. too. was so hurt.
so surpriseds" 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
mi1ss.nsss for sympathy.