Middletown transcript., 1911-03-04

feebly.
Willis Ransom, chided Della,
tell the whole truth or none u
all. Tell me what you really
think of Aunt Amaoel?
II you will have It, dearest
Miss Amabel looks and acts as il
her name ought to be Mehitable,
or something like that, admitted
Willis deprecatingly.
That is what everybody says.
If only Aunt Amabel would live
/. up to her name how pretty and
sweet she might be.
Della looked across the room
to where Miss Amabel Deane sat
stiffly before the chess BOARD on
the other side of which her
bachelor brother sat quite as
rigidly and with the some un-
compromising grimness OF ex.
preston.
They looked very much alike;
there was the same crown Of
snow white hair above their
long, strongfeatured faces with
their protuberant light blue eyes
and thin, unsmiling lips. Severity
was the keynote Of Miss Amabel's
dress as well as of her facial ex
preston and the few words that
passed her tightly compressed
lips were stern almost to harsh
ness. Her brother, Philo, was
her twin in everything save
garb.
Willis Ransom and Della,
watching them from the deep
bow window were perhaps in
dulging in the same thought but
it was the young man who first
broke the sileuce.
Do you suppose they will per.
mit it, Della? be asked in a low
tone.
I'm afraid, Willis, confded
Della; I'm dreadfully afraid they
won't listen to you. Aunt Amabel
doesn't believe that any woman
ought to marry until she's 35 and
Uncle Philo says Aunt Amabel
is perfectly right-and I'm only
%. Can you wait 13 years for
me?
Never! said Willis firmly.
Thirteen is an unlnckly number
as everybody knows, so I'm 60
ing to ask them this very moment.
Don't be afraid, darling; they
cant do more than forcibly eject
me and you must take comfort in
the recollection that | am twice
as big as Uncle Philo.
Despite her blushing remon-
strances Willis left her side and
approached the pair at the chess
table. They looked up and
frowned at him.
Must you 60 noWH asked Mi 8
Amabel politely.
Uncle Philo whipped out bis
watch and lifted his bushy eye
brows at the early hour.
No, / didn't intend 10 leave
now, said Willis coolly. merely
came over to ask you and Mr..
Dean if you would consentto my |
marriage with Della We love
each other.
Marriage! shifted Miss Amabel
raising her lorgnette. Della is
entirely TOO young to be married.
Marriage! snorted Uncle Philo
irascibly. I'm surprised at you,
Willis; | didn't. suppose you'd
take advantage Of mp-er-hcs
pitality BY making love to my
niece.
! fell in love with Della long
before I ever met you, sir, said
Willis quietly. Now, as you
know very well, I am in a posi-
ton to take care Of her and as
we love each other what obiec-
ton is there to our marryingP
Della is too young-no woman
should marry before she is 35,
said Miss Amabel airing. her
favorite maxim.
ANA Dy the Time Sne is % she
has grown too sensible to want to
marry, added Uncle Philo sagely
We have brought up Della in
the hope that she would cheer
our old age; she has had every
advantage that our money could
lRrocure and we have hoped that
would have gratitude enough
recognize that fact. Miss
mabel froWned toward the bow
ndow where Della shrank
yously among the cushions Of
o deep pichair.
Then you will not consent?
ea Willis cody.
NV until she is 81, said Uncle
lib with a nod at his sister. II
Bib disobeys-why she will
receive nothing from rs.
Very well, said Willis wheel.