Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-08-20
AUNT ELMIE
BY MILDRED WHITE.
JCopyright. 1918. western Newspaper union

Mrs. Pascal T. 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
to 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, II 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 Inn
preston upon Reid Whitehall. / am
sure his attentions to you have been
pronounced of late, Gwendoline, and
ne is so particular concerning family
lineage. What will his elegant sister
think OF our backwoods relationf For
your fathers people never could be
kept in the background as I have
heard. and this girl"
"Just what do you know about her
mother" Gwendoline interrupted.
well, very Httle. 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 I 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, 'Elmie Perkinses folks
meaning your father and me. 'Elmie'
was an entirely new species to a Chi
cago society girl, and her pink cam
brio sunbonnet and ruddy cheeks,
amused me immensely. Your father
left home early in life for the city,
so his rusticity had worn off Ia success,
but now-well, to draw the natural
conclusion, Aunt Elmie Perkins will be
a decidedly country product of the
narrow-minded old maid"
Gwendoline frowned in ANNOYANCE
while Katharine rose to her feet. "Per-
haps," she said, 1--WE might arrange the
rear bedroom as a sort of comfortable
sitting room, and persuade our intru-
siYe aunt to remain there. At least,
that's the only solution can think of
and will attend to 1t now"
Slowly Gwendoline followed her
more practical sister. ut really is
unfortunate" she said; she laughed
shortly, Mother has had such q DIES.
perate time catering to Reid White
halPs artistic nature. l 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 lover she murmured.
GwendOline smiled back from the
doorway. "The proper man, whom
am trying to train myself to love-" she
corrected.
what shall do about meeting
herr? Mrs. Perkins complained. "Your
father will be out of town over night,
and Pm 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.
"It'S Aunt Elma," the mother whis-
pered- coming. nHsasi raotlu--S la4A