The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-09-27

library.
when did you lose anythingr'
Edith demanded. "Do you mean to
say. Jack Knox. that you brought us
here to help you find suit Of gaudy
pajamas and pair Of military
brushes?'
II brought you here to find Aunt
Jane" l said soberly, taking a letter
and the fat package out of my pocket
you see. my theory worked out. Here
Is Aunt Jane. end there is the money
from the Russia leather bag"
laid the packet in Margery's lap
and without ceremony opened the let
ter. 1t began:
My Dearest Niece-I am writing to YOU
because l canuot think what to say to Sis
ter Letitia. l am running away! lam
running-away! My dear. 1t scares me
even to write it all alone in this empty
house. have had a cup of tea out of one
OF your lovely cups and a nap on your
pretty couch. and Just as soon as it is
dark l am going to take the train for
Boston. When you get this l will be on
the ocean-the ocean. my dear, that l
have read about and dreamed about and
never seen!
I am going to realize q dream Of forty
years-more than twice as long as you
have lived. Your dear mother saw the
continent before she died, but the things
! have wanted have always been denied
me. have been of those that have eyes
to see and see not. Sol have run away
am going to London and Paris and even
to Italy II the money your father gave
me for the pearls will hold out. For
year now l have been getting steamship
circulars, and have taken a little French
through correspondence school That
was why I always made you sing French
songs. dearie. 1 wanted to learn the ac-
cent I think I should do very well II |
could only sing my French instead of
speaking 1t.
I am afraid that Sister Letitia discov-
cred that had taken some Of the pearls.
but half of them were mine, from our
mother, and, although / had wanted a
pearl ring all my life, I have never had
one. ! am going to buy me a hat instead
Of a bonnet and clothes and pretty things
underneath and a switch. Margery. l
have wanted a switch for thirty years.
suppose Letitia will never want me
back. Perhaps l shall not want to come.
I tried to write to her when I was leaving.
but had cut my hand in the attic, where
I had hidden away my clothes, and 1t
bled on the paper. / have been worried
since for fear your Aunt Letitia would
find the paper in the basket and be alarm
ed at the stains. l wanted to leave things
in order-please tell Letitia-but was so
nervous and in such hurry! I walked
three miles to Wynton and took a street
car. just made up my mind was 60
ing to do it. l am sixty-f1ve, and 1t is
time have q chance to do the things I
like.
came in on the car and came directly
T.
your key ring. Did you miss It? And l
did the strangest thing at Bellwood.
got down the stairs very quietly and out
on to the porch. l set down my empty
travelling bag-1 was going to buy every
thing new In the city-to close the door
behind me. Then ! was sure I heard some
one at the side of the house. and picked
it up and ran down the path in the dark.
You can imagine my surprise when l
opened the bag this morning to find had
picked up Harry's! l am emptying 1t and
taking 1t with me. for he has mine.
If you find this right away. please don't
tell Sister Letitia for a day or two. You
know how firm your Aunt Letitia IL. !
shall send her q present from Boston to
pacify her. and perhaps when l come
back in three or four months she will be
over the worst
am not quite comfortable about your
AdluCIs 0udI6 G1y- LAG - uOS IAhC AAASSAA~
The last time l saw dim he gave me .
little piece Of paper with number on It.
and he said they followed him everywhere
and were driving him crazy. Try to have
him see doctor. And l left q bottle Of
complexion cream in the little closet over
my mantel. where had hidden my hat
and shoes that l wore Please destroy 1t
before your Aunt Letitia sees 1t.
Goodby. my dear niece! I suppose am
growing frivolous in my old age. but
am going to have silk Innings In my
clothes before die
YOUR LOVING AUNT JANE.
When Margery stopped reading there
was an amazed silence. Then we all
three burst into relieved. uncontrolled
mirth. The dear. little old lady. with
her new independence and her sixty
fve-year-old. romaptic. starved heart!
Then we opened the packet. which
was sadder business, for it had rep
resented Allan Flenling's last clutch at
his waning public credit.
Edith ran to the telephone with the
news for Fred. and for the first time
that day Margery and l were alone.
She was standing with one hand on
the library table. In the other she held