Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1918-05-30
AUNT ELMlE
BY MILDRED WHITE.
lCopyrlEht. ZEE. Western Nowspaper Union. J

Mrs. Pascal I. Perkins sat looking
from the telegram In her hand to the
two waiting faces of her daughters.
"What is 1t, mother?" Gwendoline
inquired; this hesitation upon her
parents part bored her.
IF you have anything of Importance
% tell us, mother" the second daugh-
ter suggested, why not do so?'
Thus encouraged, Mrs. Perkins let
forth her grievance. Anything to tell
you !" she burst out, 81 should think |
| have. And there is no way to fore
stall the embarrassment of the situa-
| ton. Your Aunt Elma-Elmie, they
| used to pronounce 1t in the country
wires that she is coming to visit us
| and will be here on the evening train,
/ so she Is on her way now, and no pre-
venting message could read her. Com
| Ing, too, just at the time when we are
| DESTROYS Of making a favorable I'M
! preston upon Reid Whitehall. | am
| sure his attentions to you have been
pronounced of late, Gwendoline, and
| he is so particular concerning family
| lineage. What win his elegant sister
think Of our backwoods relatlon7 For
your fathers people never could be
kept in the background as l have
heard, and this girl"
Just what do you know about her
mother" Gwendollne interrupted.
"Well, very little. There was trou-
bic between your father and me con-
| corning his sister at the start You
| know, Katharine, what a stubborn man
| your father is. He has never allowed
me to mention her name since, ooserv-
| Ing a grim silence when | seek infOr-
nation. OF course did make fun Of
| the country girl when / first married.
| We went to the little old backwoods
| house soon after, and all one seemed
| to hear was. 'Elmle Perklnses folks
meaning your father and me. Elmle'
| was an entirely new species to a Chi
cago society girl, and her pink cam
brio sunbonnet and rudy cheeks,
amused me immensely. Your father
left home early in life for the city,
so his ruSticlty had worn off In success,
but now-well, to draw the natural
| conclusion, Aunt Elmle Perkins will be
a decidedly country product of the
narrow-minded old maid"
Gwendolne frowned In annoyance
while Katharine rose to her feet. "Per-
hapS," she said, 1--WE might arrange the
rear bedroom as sort Of comfortable
sitting room, and persuade our intru-
sive aunt to remain there. AT least
that's the only solution | can think of
and l will attend to it now"
Slowly Gwendollne followed her
more pr. 'tical sister. at really is
unfortunate she said; she laughed
shortly, Mother has had such des-
perate time catering to Reid White
halls artistic nature. l suppose the
discovery of common clay among my
antecedents, would give the fastidlous
one jolt"
Katharine turned and stared at her
sister. "You can joke that way about
the man you loye?" she murmured.
Gwendolne smiled back from the
doorway. THE proper man, whom |
am trying to train myself to love-" she
corrected
'What shall I do about meeting
herr Mrs. Perkins complained. "Your
father will be out of town over night,
and I'm sure | shall not go out. We
could send the auto, but to have her
arriving with her strange boxes when
Mr.. Whitehall is here" Mr.. White
hall himself coming In, interrupted the
problem.
He was a acknowledgements
man, Of perhaps middle age, and the
success Of his unusual paintings was
making him society favorite.
Closely following the artists well
come came the telephones call.
ITS Aunt Elmn," the mother whis-
pered, "she is coming up directly. She
rang off before l could direct her to
street carr
81 will meet her In the hail." Kath-
arine said, and disappeared, closing
the portieres after her. Moving to the
piano Gwendoline played softly, while
the handsome face of the man bent
| above her.
In the shadows the gratifed mother
watched, and smiled Then at sound
of an entrance and low-yoiCed con-
yersation her smile vanished. Kath-
arine was clicking back the portieres
| and leading into the room their unin-
vlted guest. With sort Of GREATNESS
triumph she turned TO them all.
My aunt, Miss Perkins," she an-
| nounced. For a moment the visitor
waited in gracious silence. From the
dark violet Of her modish costume her
! face shone young with its fresh color.
Il am so glad to see you all" she
Satd, and her voice drew them with its
sweet quality, But it was Reid White
hall who advanced to claim her hand,
! then still holding the hand, looked to-
ward the others.
"Elma may not forgive me-" he said,
for SO soon making confession. But
II have been silent long enough.
Your sister is my promised wife, Mrs.
Perkins, and she comes here tonight
SO that the marriage ceremony may
be performed tomorrow at my sisters.