Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1914-07-02
The Paragon Aunt

What do you mean?" asked her
bosom friend.
Well" hesitated Nannette, "of
course she's as neat as can be, but
her clothes look as if they were made
for Mrs. Methuselah."
IF it's only her clothes you needn't
worry" remarked the bosom friend.
You don't have to wear EN-"
Its not only her clothes!" shrieked
Nannette. Its her notions! They
are simply appalling!"
For instance?" suggested the
bosom friend, taking a 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
through her spectacles-s rim
med ones at that-and ask: Is
this one Nancy, my Godchild?'
Dad, who is as proud as he can
be of his enormous family, looked a
little sheepish at that.
"'Y-y-yes, he suffered. We had
her christened Nancy, of course, but
she has taken fancy to be called
er-Nc nette.
'Humph!' said Aunt Nancy"
Haven't | always heard you speak
Of your Aunt Nancy as paragon
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?"
He does" acknowledged Nannette.
And so do | at distance. But be-
cause she is dads favorite sister why
must | follow her old fogy notions? p
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 idea!
"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-empted for the evening
You should have seen her stare.
lam | 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 barred?'
Times have changed, Nancy,
said dad, looking silly
And Aunt Nancy" prompted the
bosom friend.
I'm my time said Aunt Nancy, it
was 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
ity meant something then, and | be-
lieye our guests enjoyed themselves.
1t seems to me anything but dignihed
for parents to be excluded or for any
room in their house to be shut away
from them
"Well, / declared" said the bosom
friend.
Nov do you wonder that | was
frightened at the idea of Charles
meeting herr" asked Nannctte. But
| haven't told you the worst" with
gloomy emphasis. Il slipped away
while she was holding forth, hoping
that she would forget all about it.
But / couldn't shake off my forebod-
ings and the conversation tagged"
Nothing unusual in that, is there:"
wickedly interposed the bosom friend
Charles actually began to look
bored" continued Nannette, and then
we both had such a shock! II you
will believe me, who should come
marching into the room but"
Aunt Nancy?" Dreathlessly inter
rupted the bosom friend.
Aunt Nancy" repeated Nannette
Wasn't it awful? | 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:
il" Now, Nancy, introduce to me
your friend
Charles had been lounging in his
chair, and | assure you. Isabel, that
the way she looked him over through
her spectacles made him straighten
up in short order.
II felt as if should sink through
the floor when she came in wearing
her plain BLACK dress and white col
lar and cuffs, her hair parted IN the
middle and plastered down on each
side, looking for all the world as II
it had cen vanished, she had brush
ed it so smooth. You know how
stylish and exclusive Charles's people
are?
well, before knew it, they were
talking together in the most animal
ed manner. | don't know when have
seen Charles so interested. 1t was
strange talk to me, too, for, as dad
says, have neglected to cultivate my
mind.
"They talked about literature, art,
politics and even science, and had
to sit there like dummy and listen
to them. Even while he was holding
nv hand to say good night he was