Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-01-14
The Paragon Aunt

Aunt Nancy's come" Nannette an.
nnrr 81 80 lor hT-o0 friend in a
lAo4-. e .l--t. ...-.a.ai III the frights!"
what do you meant" asked her
bosom friend.
Well hesits ted Nannette. "of
course she's as neat as can be. but
her clothes look as il they we're made
Tor Mrs. Methuselah."
IF it's only her clothes you needn't
worry" remarked the bosom friend.
you don't have tr wear EN-"
Its not only her clothesi" shrieked
Nsnnette It's her notionsi They
are simply appallingl"
For 81 stance?" suggested the
bosom frie. 4. taking look at her
back hair IN The mirror with the help
OF hand glass.
For one thing. she objects TO my
name" explained Nannette indignant
ly. The very first thing she did
after taking a comprehensive view Of
the falnlly-was to stare at me
through her spectacles-steel rim
med ones at that-and ask: Is
this one Nancy. my Godchild7'
Dad. who is as proud as he can
be of bis enormous family, looked a
little sheepish at that
"'Y-y-yes.' he suffered. We had
her christened Nancy, of course, but
she has taken a fancy to be called
er-Nennette.'
fIumph.' said Aunt Nancy"
Haven't l always heard you speak
of your Aunt Nancy as a paragonf"
demanded the bosom friend. Haven't
you told me time and time again that
your father looks upon her as the
salt OF the earth?s
"He does. acknowledged Nannette.
And so do / at a distance. But be-
cause sic Is dads favorite sister why
must follow her old fogy notions7"
why. she was perfectly scandal
lied at the idea OF my entertaining
Charles all the evening without the
assistance OF the other members OF
the family The ideal
"Of course when the bell rang at
the accustomed hour that horrid Tom
had to below out. It's Mans Tues
day night beau, Aunt Nancy. Parlor's
| pre-emptcd for the evening.
you should have seen her stare.
"'Am 1 to understand, Maria she
asked, fixing poor mother with her
eye, that this child has visitors from
whose company her parents and her
brothers and sisters are barredr
Times have changed, Nancy
said dad. looking silly"
And Aunt Nancy" prompted the
bosom friend.
In nay time said Aunt Nancy, IT
vas our greatest pleasure TO have our
parents and all the family enter into
the enoyjments and help in the en-
tertainment of our friends. Hospital
lty meant something then. and l be-
lieve our guests enjoyed themselves.
It seems to me anything but dignifed
for parents to be excluded or for any
room in their house to be shut away
from them"
"wen. l declared" said the bosom
friend.
Now do you wonder that | was
frightened at the idea of Charles
meeting herr" asked Nannette. But
! haven't told you the worst" with
gloomy emphasis. Il slipped away
while she was holding forth, hoping
thatSshe would forget all about 1t.
But I couldn't shake of my forebod-
ings and the conversation fiagged."
Nothing unusual in that. is there?"
I the hOcnra fr1nnd
Charles actually began to look
bored" continued Nannette. "and then
we both had such a shockl If you
will believe me. who should come
marching into the room but"
Aunt Nancy?" breathlessly inter
rupted the bosom friend.
Aunt Nancy" repeated Nannetts.
Wasn't it awful? l had been SO
AFRAID OF something Of the kind. She
planted herself in the only straight
backed chair in the room and sitting
bolt upright gave me my orders:
"'Now. Nancy, introduce To me
your friend
Charles had been lounging in his
chair, and l assure you, Isabel. that
the way she looked him over through
her spectaeles made him straighten
up in short order.
Il felt as IL l should sink through
the floor when she came in wearing
her plain black dress and white col
.ar and cuffs, her hair parted in the
middle and plastered down on each
side. looking for all the world as II
It had Jeen vanished, she had brush
cd it so smooth. You know how
stylish and exclusive Charles's people
are?
well, before / knew it, they were
talking together in the most Rnimat-
ed manner. don't know when have
seen Charles SO interested. Il was
strange talk to me. too. for. as dad
says, have neglected 70 cultivate my
mind
They talked about literature. art,
politics and even science, and had
to sit there like a dummy and listen
to them. Even while he was holding
my hand to say good night he was
looking at and talking 10 Aunt Nancy,
Now. what do you think Of that p
4 think you're lucky that your
Aunt Nancy is too old for Charles "a
marry" said the bosom friend.
Addition for a Lady.
She entered upon her stage life at
the age Of 10, had attained phenomsn-
al success at 20. Ten years later she