The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-07-11
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
AUNT JUDY.
By, PhiIiD Kean


longings of man to whom money is
no object. There were motor ears. rid
ing horses and dogs, golf sticks, a half
dozen trunks, a man and two maids
and housekeeper. His coming revo-
lutionized the dull little place.
He says he likes the Oaks so well
that he's going to buy t. He enjoys
a quiet life, and he hates the city,"
Natalie said to Aunt Judy as the older
woman fitted a sheer pink lawn on the
girlish figure.
Hes sensible" said Aunt Judy.
There isn't a prettier place in the
world than the Oaks"
Natalie turned to get a better view
OF herself in the mirror. Don't you
think you'd better make the skirt a
little shorter 70 the back?' she asked.
Aunt Judy pinned it up obediently
"I like pink" she said, sitting back
on her heels to view the result. 81
used to wear it lot when l was a
girl
Did your" said Natalie, vaguely.
DO you think you can get my dress
done by tuesday,"
''I'll try"
''NLr. Hale is going to give a moon
light garden party. l ,yuesS yoHll
hdfN " NhcPSAOA w. <AQll July. Il6
said we'd better ask some older per-
son."
81 don't know whaS I'll wear"
go, anything-nobody1 notice."
said Natalie.
Aunt Judy had a mOmentary sense
of resentment. Nobody took any in
terest in her.
An old white dimfty, scant of skirt
and with an embroidered collar,
proved rather becoming, and Aunt
Judy decided to wear it. Some impulse
guided her to pile her wavy hair on
top of her head in a style which &C
corded with the quaintness of the
gown.
At the gate she stopped and picked
two sprigs of white lilac and tucked
the min her bel1. Then she wander
ed across the road and up a long lane
and entered Newton Hale's garden.
There was an old sun dial in the
garden, and Aunt Judy loved the mot
to carved on It: Grow old along with
me-She best is yet to be-
AS she came out from a long lane
of blossOming almond bushes she saw
the master of the house standing AT
the top Of the terrace. He came down
quickly.
Which of the Morgans is ie?" he
asked, smiling. 81 always know them
by the color of their hair-it's like old
copper with a freight on it,"
81 am Aunt judy" said the little
lady. 81 fancy I'm early-but l like
it here in the garden"
Il like it, too" he said.
Then the young folks came, and Nat
allie took possession of their host.
ttNEOtr coiI CHI a. II Il
motor boat"
Surely" he responded.
There was room for all but one.
Aunt Judy won't mind" said Nat
allie, carelessly, will you, Aunt
Judy?"
When they came back they trooped
to the dining room. Newton Hale gave
Aunt Judy the place of honor After
dinner she went out on the porch, and
Newton Hale followed her.
Natalie, coming out later, looked in
vain for Mr.. Hale. She did not think
Of Aunt Judy. She was probably curl
ed up in the library over a book, or
was amusing herself in some quiet
corner. Aunt Judy was never lonely.
AS a mater of face, Aunt Judy at
that moment was Swimming over the
waters Of the bay in a powerboat, and
the owner of the boat was saying,
Nobody will miss us, and I'm COINS
20 make up to you for the ride you
didn't have to-day"
The next day the big touring car
came around to the door, and Natalie
came presently to her aunt. He wants
you to come" she said, with a shadow
on her face. Some Of the boys will
have to stay at home. But as he ask
ed for you especially, 1 suppose he
thinks chaperon is necessary. Some
city people do, you know"
Yes, they do" said Aunt Judy.
Mr.. Hale helped her into the seat
beside him, somewhat to Natalie's
discontinue. Il don't see why he
should carry the chaperon idea quite
SO far" she murmured to her sisters.
But Aunt Judy had a lovely time
Newton Hale and she belonged to the
same generation.
1.-The young women and girls OF to-
day are a biz too strenuous for me-"
said Mr.. Hale, that's why Il left town.
l wanted to get out of the whirl."
They stopped at a roadside inn for
lunch. There was an Armenian wom-
an selling lace az the doorstep. Mr.
Hale made her display her wares.
There were some collars and the girls
exclaimed dehghtedly when he pre-
sented one to each of them.
But you have chosen nothing" he
said to unit Judy, and Natalie said
quickly: There's a lovely table
square. We could use i5 when we have
card parties in the evening, Aunt
Judy"
Mr. Hale shook his head. "She must
choose something for herself" and
when Aunt Judy protested that the
table square would be very nice, he
said to the woman, Haven't you some
thing?" and with a quick glance at
his interested face, she opened
sandalwood box and showed scarf Of
exquisite fineness.
That's just the thing" said Newton
Hale, but Aunt Judy protested.
"The poor woman needs the money
he said, half humorously, as he hand
ed the scarf to Aunt Judy. "Lok upon
it as a charity to her"