Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-17
THE EVENING STORY.
The Brown Road.
Copyright, 1918. by w. Werner.)

Il wish, dear, said Hugh. that you
would ask Aunt Clarissa to spend a
few days with us.
Edith looked up from her magazine.
Aunt Clarissa," she said. She knew
very well whom Hugh meant There
was only one Aunt Clarissa. God had
never made such another lean, brown
wrinkled woman, who wore such afro
cious hats. such absurd homemade gar
ments. She had been the one unpleas-
ant incident Of Edith's wedding. In all
the ten years since then they had not
seen her, but they had at Christmas time
invariably been reminded of her exist
ence by the arrival of a rug or bed quilt
or tidy so hideous In Edith's eyes that
she hid them as soon as she could. Two
or three times Hugh had suggested that
she be asked to visit them in the city.
but Edith had been able to put him
off. And now that they were right in
Aunt Clarissas native haunt. having
bought a house there and moved into it
for the summer on account of Hugh's
convalescing from a fever, he was asking
again that she come to see them
Il don't believe she knows we are
here Hugh went on, land she's only a
few miles away. I've been thinking you
Souiu InOlOT over some AFTERNOON ana
see her. But that wouldn't do me any
good. II she wants to see me immedi-
ately she must come here. I'd like to
have her stay two or three days, SO that
we could visit There's a lot of things
I'd like to talk over with her. I've told
you how good she was to me when I was
boy We were poor then-a great deal
poorer than Aunt Clarissa. who was poor
enough. Many a meal of mush and milk
I've eaten off her pantry Shelf for I
foc tod haiti
than lots of banquets I've eaten since.
Well, they're all gone now who were
my folks save Aunt Clarissa, and she's
an old woman She's right where she
place with an old horse and a cow or
two. But I've gone on. I've gathered
in some money and I've got you" He
smiled tenderly But l want Aunt Clar-
issa, too. Please, Edith
Il can't" Edith thought. Maybe" she
added, ''she won't leave her cows and
horses. And there's her son. who would
cook for him?''
Hes only her stepson. dear Oh. she'll
come il you'll ask her. Try her and see"
man went jogging up the lane he carried
a letter from Edith. to which Hugh had
appended these words: please come.
auntie. I'm just getting over sickness
and feel very babyiSh. / want you.
Come tomorrow, come any time, only
GOMEZ"
That will fetch her." he said with
smile And 1t did.
The next day Aunt Clarissa arrived.
She came in dish-wheeled buggy, drawn
by decrepit horse Her stepson brought
her. Edith glanced out of her window
just in time to see the horse fall asleep
before the porch, while Aunt Clarissa
climbed down from the buggy, laden with
small luggage. She had on a black land
white lawn dress. a cape and a hat, with
a feather that any fowl would have been
ashamed to own. In ten years she had
grown thinner and browner but not less
energetic. Her step was as light as a
girls as she mounted the steps.
Hugh met her. His boyish whoop of
joy brought Edith with a proper well
come. From the buggy Aunt Clarissa's
middle -aged stepson grinned on the group
upon the porch.
can't" said Aunt Clarissa. Hes got to
slop the calves at l o'clock. Seth. you
be sure to keep the pup tied up. We're
trying to learn him not to NEEDLE with
the young turkeys she explained.
There's a couple of chickens in that
bundle for you. Edith. And here's
box of pot cheese for Hugh. 'Twon't hurt
him to eat it. And here's little pail of
cream. I thought maybe they'd come in
handy"
well, 1 should say"" Hugh put his arm
tenderly about the narrow, dropping
shoulders
ottH WOKE up llc oi0 HoISe, WHICH
went nodding and whisking off the flies
down the lane.
You've got this place fixed up fine"
Aunt C1arissa remarked as they sat on
the porch after dinner Il never see
SO much pretty fresh paint and paper
in my life. And that windmill there
a-fying in the air! It's wonderful"
She gazed about her admiringly. Whats
that little building off there for? Do you
keep a horse?"
Edith laughed eve kaen car Aunt
Clarissa. That's a garage"
"You mean an ottermobul? I never rid
in one in my life" There was awe in the
cracking old voice "And I never got
close up to one but once. That nearly
run me down on the highway / wake
UP nights yet a-sweating and a-trembling
with dreaming about it. 1t was a red
one / hope yours amt red
Its buff and black. Aunt Clarissa.
And it's guaranteed harmless