The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-04-30

glTNCH
hall window, and therefore supposed VIC would have
full warning OF the approach OF Mr.. Norman Nichol-
1t no wonder, therefore, that we positively
jumped two steps to the floor when thunderous
knock crashed against the front door and rcechocd
through the house. Had Mr.. Norman Nicholson
dropped from the skies?
We aftcrwlrd discovered that he had come across
lots and around the house from the back but just
then his sudden advent almost uneanny
Good afternoon" he said in resonant voice that
seemed to take possession Of the dry summer after
noon. rs Miss Olivia Sterling inf And will you
please tell her that Norman Nicholson is hereI"'
! showed HIM into the paror, Then Peggy and |
pecped through the crack Of the door Anyone would
have done it We would have scorned to excuse
ourselves And indeed what we saw would have been
worth several conscience spasms If VIC had felt any.
Aunt Olivia rose and advanced prlmly with out
stretched hand
Mr. Norman Nicholson, I am very glad to sec
its yourself, Nile" Mr.. Norman Nicholson
gave two strides. He dropped his flowers on the
floor, knocked over small table and sent an otto
man spinning up against the wall. Then he had
caught Aunt Olivia IN his arms and-smack-smack
smack! Peggy sank back upon the stair-stcp with
her handkerchief stuffed in her mouth. Aunt Olivia
Presently Mr. Norman Nicholson held her back at
arms length IN his big paws and looked her |
Aunt Oliyias eyes roam his arm to the inverted
table and tho litter of astcrs and goldcn-rod Her
sleek crmpS all touscd up and her lace hchu hall
round her neck. She looked distressed
It's not BIT changed you arc Mile said Mr. Nor
see YOU again Are you glad to see me, Mile"
oh, OF course, said Amt Olivia
She twisted herself free and went TO right the table
Then she turned 10 tho flowers, but Mr. Norman
Nicholson had already gathered them up leaving
Soodly spTinl;ns OF leaves and stalks the carpet
Il picked these for you IT the river hcld Mile lie
SAID Where Will be getting something to suck them
in2 Here, this will do
FIe graspcd fral painted vase from the mantcl,
stuffed the flowers irr II ard set ii on the table The
look Aunt Oliyas face was too much for me at last
turned caught Peggy by the houldcr and dragged hsr
out of the house
HE vyi h0r-ifU ,,orp e,,,I 90. A.. O,:.,.
body II he goes on | gaspeS H'But he's splendid
and he thinks the world of hcr-and OH Peggy did YOU
ever hear such kisses? Fancy Aunt Olivia"
1t did not take us long to gd well acquainted with
MT Norman Nicholson He almost haunted Aunt
Ovias house. and Aunt Olivia Insisted on cur staylng
with her OF the time She .cemed TO be ycrv st,,
OF finding herself alone with him He horrihcd her
dozen times III an hour; nevertheless, she was very
proud OF him and liked TO be te,scd about him. too;
she was delighted that We admired him
Though, TO be sure he very l!ercnt in his looks
from what he used to be-, she SAID Hc IS so drcadfuy
big And do not like beard but l have not the
courage TO ask him to shave il off He might be oCord-
cd. He has bought the NGlmau homestead in ToIvcr
County and wants to be married in 4 month Bot
dear me, that is too soon lit would hardly be prep
MT Norman Nicholson could never be trained 10 old
maidshncss, and Aunt Olivia seemed to realize
tins He never stopped to ckah his boots when lie
came ill., although she had osentatiousy new scraocr
put at each door for his benefit He seldom moved in
the house without knocking some OF Aunt Oliyias
treasures over He smoked cigars in her parlor ard
flowers every day and stuck them into whatever re-
ceptaele came handicSt He sat on her cushions and
rolled her antmacassars up into balls He put hs feet
on her char-rungS-and all with the most distracting
unconsciousness Of doing anything out OF tho way
Hc never noticed Aunt Oyias hu,tcring nervousness
at all Peggy and laughed more than was good for us
those days 1t was funny 10 Aunt Olivia lowering
anNiouSIy around, picking up fowor-Scms and SMOOTH
ing out tides and generally following him about to
straighten out things Once she even got a wing and
duStpan and swept up the cigar ashes under his very
eyes
Don't be worrying yourself over that, Mile" he
protested. why ! don't mind litter. bless youw
How good and Jolly he was that Mr.. Norman Nicho-
son Such songs as he sang such stories he told such
breezy unconventional atmosphere he brought into
that pTm little house where stagnant dulucss had
rcigned for years lie worshipcd Aunt Olivia and his
worship tock the concrete form OF presents galore He
brought her present every other trp-leneraly some
article OF Jcwclry. Bracelets rings chains card7ops,
lockcts bangles, showcred upon precise little
aunt she accepted them deprccatngy but never wore
them This hurt him little, but she assured him that
she would wear them all some tine
I'm not used to jewclry, Mr.. Norman Nicholson"
she would tell him.
80 Her engagement ring she did wear-it was rather
loud combination of engraved gold and turouoiscs
very troubled face
Il would be sorry for Mr. Norman Nicholson il he
were not 50 much in love with her, said Peggy But
sympathy"
Il am. sorry for Aunt Olivia" said Yes, Peggy, I
am. Mr. Nchol.on is a splendid man. but Aunt ;s
born old maid and is ouraging her very nature to be
anything else Don't you see how its hurting her?
ms bS' splendid man-ways arc narrowing her very
sour up-she can't get out of her little narrow groove
and 1t is killing her TO be pulled out"
:. Nonsense" said Peggy Then she added with
laugh Mary did You ever see anything funny as
Aunt Olivia sitting on Mr. Norman Ncholsons knee"
1t 'gds funny. Aunt Olivia thought it very unbc-
Gqng TO sit there before US, but he made her do H.
He would say with his big Jolly laugh Don't mind the
nte girls and pull her down on his knee ard hold her
therc To my dying day shall never forget the ex-
preston on the poor little wouans face.
But as the days went By, and Mr. Norman Nicholson
began to insist a date being set Tor the wedding
Arni Olivia grew to have strangely disturbed look
One morning Mr. Norman Nicholson told Us all that
ne ne was vas coming that evening 10 make Arn Olivia set
!; ,. oay Peggy and augpsy approved, saying that
of IN high good Eumor the river field ahistlinr
highland stra,hspcy. But Aunt Olivia looked a
martyr She had a fierce attack OF housccleannc that
day and PCT everything in fawless order even 10 the
corners as II there were gong TO be funeral in the
house" sniffed Pcggy
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