Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-05-27
AUNT ELMIE
BY MILDRED WHITE.

inquired; THIS hesitation upon her
parents part bored her.
"If you have anything OF importance
TO tell US. mother" the second daUgA-
ter suggested, why not do so?"
Thus encouraged, Mrs. Perkins let
forth her grievance. Anything TO tell
yOu!" she burst out. Il should tlIink 1
have. And there is no way to fore
stall the embarrassment of the situa-
ton. Your Aunt Elma-Elmie, they
used TO pronounce il in the country
wires that she is coming to visit US
and viii be here OH 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 Rod Whitehall. l am
sure his attentions to you hove been
pronounced of late. Gwendoline, and
he is so particular concerning family
lineage. What win his elegant sister
think of our backwoods relation? 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" Gwendoline interrupted.
''Well, very little. There was trou-
bic between your father and me con-
corning his sister Mt the start. You
know, Katharine, what a stubborn man
your father is. He has never allowed
me to mention her-name since, observ-
ing a grim silence when / seek infor-
nation. OF course did make fun Of
the country girl when l first married.
We went to the little old backwoods
house soon after, and all one seemed
to hear was, 'Elmie Pyrkinses folks
meaning your father and me. 'Elmie'
was an entirely new species to n 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 rusticity had worn off In success,
| but nOw-well, TO draw the natural
conclusion, Aunt Elmie Perkins win be
decidedly country product of the
narrOwminded old maid"
Gwendoline frowned in annoyance
while Katharine rose to her feet. "Per-
haps," she said, ''we might arrange the
rear bedroom as q sort of comfortable
sitting room, and persuade our intru-
sive aunt TO remain there. At least,
that's the only solution l can think of
and l will attend to it now."
Slowly Gwendoline followed her
more practical sister. at really is
unfortunate" she said; she laughed
shortly, Mother has had such a des-
perate time catering to Reid White
halls artistic nature, / suppose the
discovery of common clay among my
antecedents, would give the fastidious
one jolt"
Katharine turned and stared at her
sister. You can joke that way about
the man you lOve?' she murmured.
Gwendoline smiled back from the
doorway. The proper man, whom 1
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 1 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 Observation-Disclosures
man, of perhaps middle age, and the
success of his unusual paintings was
making him a society favorite.
Closely following the artists well
come came the telephones call.
Its Aunt Elma." the mother whis-
pered, "she is coming up directly. She
rang off before l could direct her to a
street car"
81 will meet her in the hail." Kath-
airline said, and disappeared, closing
the portieres after her. Moving to the
piano, Gwendolne played softly, while
the handsome face of the man bent
above her.
In the shadows the gratified mother
watched, and smiled. Then at sound
of an entrance and low-voiced con-
versation her smile vanished. Kath-
arine was clicking back the portieres
and leading into the room their unin-
vited guest. With sort of breathless
triumph she turned 10 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
said, 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.
This is the ending of romance which
began long years ago, when 1. an art
student, sought summer board at her
home. Since then, this willful woman
has been making career for herself,
studying abroad and coming back TO
paint pictures rivaling my own. AT
last the career is surrendered. 1t was
at Elma's suggestion that l presumed
to make myself acquainted with you
all. VIII you not wish US happiness"
Then with a smile Gwendoline led
me way. 'Welcome both TO our fam