Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-06-04
THE HOPE CHEST
1910, ny Ine McCIl
per Syndicate.)
BY VINCENT G. PERRY.

(CopSrlght, 1915 by the Mcclure NeWspa-
per Syndcate.)
There never was chaperone like
Aunt Flo; both Leslie and Nora agreed
on that. Leslie and Nora had been
engaged for over year. He had fine
position and an income capable of TAX
ing care of wife, so he thought ii
time they were married.
why, Leslie" she said one day near
the end of the season, you talk as if
/ was on the verge of being an old
maid like auntie. I'm just in my early
twenties-the age when girl gets the
very best out of life. My good times
have just begun"
THAT doesn't say that they will
cease when you become my wife," he
argued. "YOu know that l love you
and that your happiness is my first
consideration"
But arguing only made each more
stubbornly sure of his own opinion, and
finally Leslie left Nora in tears.
Aunt Flo was waiting for them on
the veranda of the hotel. The minute
she saw Leslie appear alone she knew
something had happened and was
ready with her sympathy when he
poured out his troubles.
81 agree with you; Nora Is foolish
to wait" she said after he had fin
ished. "Have patience, though, for !
have PLAN"
Near the end of the week, q trunk
arrived for Aunt Flo. She had not said
anything about its being expected and
Nora was rather curious to know why
1t had been sent. Surely her aunt had
not bought new clothes. She had more
than she would be able to wear there,
as it was.
SIT contains some things have had
sent here for you, DEAR" Aunt Flo ex-
planned when Nora questioned her
about it. "They are some things of
mine that have intended giving you
and they can 60 home with your lug.
gage"
You're a dear! What are theyT
Nora asked eagerly.
"Some things that I started collect
ing when 1 was younger than you.
prize them and would not let anyone
have them but my favorite niece"
Nora found the trunk in her aunt's
room and the key was in the lock. 1t
was an old-fashioned trunk but 1t look
ed as If it had done very little travel
ing. She looked 1t over reverently be-
fore she opened it. Somehow there
seemed to be something sacred about
it. Carefully, she lifted the lid and
the odor of fresh cedar filled the room.
The trunk was lined with green silk.
On top was picture of very beam
stiful girl. She picked 1t up and looked
at it wonderingly. Why it was Aunt
Flo when she was a girl.
The picture, however, was forgot
ten In the wonders found In the trunk
Linens of all kinds In sheets, pillow
cases, towels and many other things.
Before she reached the bottom she
knew what the trunk had been. Il was
Aunt Flo's Hope Chest" Now she
knew why it had seemed so sacred to
her. Poor Aunt Flo, she had never
been married! AS she leaned over the
trunk something caught her glance.
4 neat pile of letters tied with pale
ribbon rested Gt the bottom. They |
were her aunt's love letters, she knew |
without looking inside.
Letter after letter she read. They
read like Leslie's letters. only more re-
served and old-fashioned What a |
wonderful lover it was that Aunt Flo
had had, and how anxious he had been
that they get married. Why haln't |
they? Some of his arguments we're
just the same as Leslie's. How foolish
Aunt Flo had been TO let his rles iings