The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-05-06
AUNT ELMIE
BY MILDRED WHITE.


from the telegram In her hand sto tn
two waiting faces OF her daughters.
"What is II, mother?" Gwendolln,
inquired; this hesitation upon heI
parents part bored her.
III you have anything of Importance
TO tell US, mother" the second daugh
ter suggested, "why not do soi"
Thus encouraged, Mrs. Perkins LEI
forth her grievance. Anything to tell
you'll" she burst out, Il should think ]
have. And there is no way to fore
stall the embarrassment of the stua-
tion. Your Aunt Elma-Elme. they
used TO pronounce II 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 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
'i"NuSNs VIII titEuHl SlSttT
think of our backwoods relation? For
your fathers people never could be
kept in the background as / have
heard, and this girl"
"Just what do you know about her
mother" Gwendolne interrupted.
"Well, very little. There was trou-
BILE between your father and me con-
corning his sister at the start. You
know, Katharine, what stubborn man
your father is. He has never allowed
me TO mention her name since, observ-
ing grim silence when | seek infor-
nation. OF course i 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, Elmie Perkinses folks
meaning your father and me. Elmie'
was an entirely new species to Chi
cngo 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
pds INV NNifs W tiic
conclusion, Aunt Elmie Perkins will be
a decidedly country product of the
narrow-mindsd old maid"
Gwendoline 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 I can think of |
and | will attend TO 1t now"
Slowly Gwendollne followed her
more practical sister. at really is
she said; she laughed
shortly, Mother has had such des-
oerate time catering to Reid White
nails artistic nature. / suppose the
discovery of common clay among my
would give the fastidious
me JOLT"
Katharine turned and stared at her
lister. You can joke that way about
he man you love" she murmured.
Gwendolne smiled back from the
Doorway. 1.-THE proper man, whom /
m trying to train myself TO love-" she
DIRECTED.
what shall I do about meeting
err Mrs. Perkins complained. "Your
ather will be out OF town over night,
nd I'm sure l shall not go out. We
ould send the auto, but to have her
IRVING with her strange boxes when
ir. Whitehall Is here" Mr.. White |
all himself coming In, interrupted the
roblem.
He was acknowledgements
AN, of perhaps middle age, and the
lccess of his unusual paintings was
aking him society favorite.
Closely following the artists well
,me came the telephones call.
TITS Aunt Elma," the mother whis-
cred, "she Is coming up directly. she
ng OFF before could direct her to
rect car"
II will meet her In the hail." Kath-
inc said, and disappeared, closing
e portieres after her. Moving to the
ano, Gwendoline played softly, while
e handsome face of the man bent
'ove her.
In the shadows the gratified mother
itched, and smiled. Then at sound
an entrance and low-voiced con-
rsation her smile vanished. kath-
Inc was clicking back the porueres s