The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-10-14
Daily Short Story
AT AUNT MARIA'S.


No. s. beside IL
Instantly the platform was crowded
Win hurrying figures from both trains
and Alan Dilworth had his hands full.
would perhaps be better to say
eyes fuil. for his hands were buried
deep In his coat pockets. habit
when In perplexity.
How in the world was ne TO know
the daughter OF Aunt Msria's friend
from the west? Aunt Maria's de-
. scrpuon OF her expected guest was
necessarily vague, because she did
not know, herself what Polly Norman
looked like.
She had asked her nephew to meet
me young woman. as she bad head
acne and could not go. Let me see, e
sne had said. reminiscehgly. p think
POLLY must be the oldest You might
look Tor young woman Of 30 or sc.
ana II she looks at all like Aggie. her
mother. she will be blonde. rather
a red blonde, and / would not look
know /" ~
So Alan was looking for q blonde.
very red blonde OF 80 or 80. who
dressed indicerently. He was rs. and
PAID particular attention to his own
eiothing. Therefore he d.d not relish
MS present task. and thanked his
ceeAo Aof ClOttQ tnNlCaDa.
As the crowd rushed past Il was
alnlcult TO discriminate. but AT last
ne saw her There could be no mis-
lake, for the person who was darling
puzzled: inquiring glances into the
races OF The bystanders was not only
decidedly reddish blonde, but was
AZ least 30. and wore a suit that hsn
10 dark earthly color. She had >
basket In one hand. the cloth cover of
which, although tied down all around.
was having suspicious commissions
going up suddenly in little hills ana
then quickly subsiding. The family
cat" thought Alan. WITH horror.
He braced himself for the encounter
his bat.
Polly Norman" -..
The woman with the livestock look
ca MIN over Indignantly. mo. }
S,as; smarty. Try somebody that's
Alan replaced his hat and retreated
hastily. furious at the laughter OF tn.
crowd. He did not notice a girl VINO
happened 10 be near enough to hear
and see everything. nor the conflict
ing emotions that showed in her face,
surprise, perplexity and amusement.
Alan. feeling that he had made a
nice mess of the whole business. did
not dare to brave his aunt's righteous
wrath, ana called up by telephone TO
teii OF his failure TO find her visitor.
It's all right" came his aunt's
voice reasuringly. shes here, Found
the way herself without much
trouble" Then in reply to an anA
,ous inquiry. she responded guarded
~ No, not so bad. No. not red ex-
actly. can't tell you. You'll have to
see for yourself Not so very old.
m not quite sure"
Alan could not understand hrs
aunt's evasive answers But il was
Possible the girl was within hearing
distance. At any rate he decided TO
give his aunt's house a wide berth
during Miss Polly's visit
re had an engagement for that even
ing when he was asked 20 call. some
other time, Aunt Maria. when I'm not
so busy. thank you"
But some other time never seemed 20
tons TO meet the guest Then he was
S Ss,s. away on business which kept him
As his train pulled IN he hurried fror,
the car and passed through the very
same gate he had haunted three weeks
beiore- Just inside stood his Aunt
Maria with a girl-and such a girl!
Aian hurried to his relative anxious FOR
an Introduction TO her young companion
nor 80 eNquisitely dressed he Thought
sober Young person In black. who
Kept respectfully in the background and
was taking charge OF a bag was evi-
IDENTIFY her maid.
Somebody Pretty fine thought Alan.
~ would have surprised him exceeding
~ " anyone had associated the sobri
quet OF bounder, piker or Snob with the
very important one OF Alan Dilworth
He had always supposed himself 20 he
a gentleman
A. he approached with his very ntce.,
smile the young woman with his aunt
Come; MARY" she necsvuea 70 rno
maid. the trains ready She hastily
said oood-by" g. his aunt and was on
u all happened 50 quickly Il TOOK his
Aunt Maria laughed. 1T just serves
you right. Alan"
But = don't understand. who r. she--
ITS your own fault that you don Z
know who she o.. Polly Norman OF
course"
Polly Norman he easped WIN. I
thooggEht-but what's her hurry
she saw YOU first"
like" 'N
Yes. she does She's the sma-tes,
best prettiest. incest girl 7 ever knew
N my life. and you've certainly missed
~; She Just paid you back now for your
neglect"
But 7 didn't know" he protested
You ought 10 have known enough to
be gentleman" sharply. no matter