The Pulaskian. (Pulaski Heights [Little Rock], Ark.) 1915-1929, 1919-09-05
UNWELCOME GUEST.

by JACK LAYTON.

Billy had been ideally happy. Bst
when he entered the little fiat one any
and gave to Beatrice a letter. Bi1ie'a
manner was constrained.
Its from aunt" he explained tsuse-
", wants to come and visit US"
Not" Beatrice said, your Aunt
Drusilla. Billy?"
Being that Aunt Drusilla ls the
only aunt | possess. 1t is naturally
herself" His tone was pettish.
Beatrlce's soft eyes filed with tears.
but Billy" she protested I'VE just
can't have her We've been so bliss
full alone. Yosr father has always
held up this sister of his as para
gon housekeeper. You know how very
particular your mother says she was
housekeeping She's unmarried,
of course. and will criticize me, and
my lack of system, and oh you
needn't tell me" as Billy ventured
remonstranee-"I know that exem
plary kind OF woman. She will be the
snake in our Eden"
Beatrice caught herself up. Flew
long is she going to stay. Billyfs
The young husband avoided his
wifes aggrieved eyes.
About a month, she says" No re-
piled.
Beatrice stiffened defantly.
We'll, she won't stay msnth
here" she said.
Aunt Drusilla writes" Billy sag
gested. that she is longing TO meet
her new niece. She hasn't seen we
since l was almost kid. She was
going TO be married then, | remember.
but something broke IT off,"
"Her own exacting disposition prob
ably" Beatrice spitefully remarked.
"That's not quite fair of YOU" Billy
defended His wife smiled.
"You see." she said she's begin
ming to make trouble between ~ al
ready"
Trouble indeed seemed to fail to
Billy's lot. Mentally he blamed the
aunt who insisted upon thrusting her
presence where the presence Of tive,
was all sufficient. And upon the day
of Aunt Drusilla's arrival Beatxice
fell III.
In vain Billy telephoned various
women helpers. The helpers were
busy AS last resort. and though
his poeketbook could III afford 1t, Billy
sought nurses agency. No nurse
could be promised within three days
Mt least And though the malady from
which Beatrice suffered was not
necessarily serious, the doctor assured
him that she must have immediate
care.
Billy himself prepared his wife's
breakfast coffee before he went to
meet the inevitable Aunt Drusilla. and
Beatrice made a face over the coffee.
Its horrid," she said, ungracious-
ly, land you must insist upon taking
your aunt to a hotel. She can't stay
here now. You see that" The
voice ended in an invalid's wall.
Billy hurriedIy beat a retreat.
Billy considered his problems as he
hurried his little car toward the sta
ton, and when he saw his waiting and
half-forgotten aunt, his perplexity
grew.
Here was not quiet old body to be
lightly disposed of, bur a smiling and
assured person In pleasing attire, her
shrewd eyes twinkling at his from be
meath waving hair.
MY dear boyl' she cried, putting
forth her gloved hand In greeting.
Then, after his very brief response,
an awful thing happened TO Billy.
| STOPPING in hurried embarrassment TO
start the cars engine, the handle
wrenched itself suddenly free from
his grasp to deal him terrible biloxi.
Billy, white with pain. knew what
afterward proved to be true-that his
arm was broken.
1t was Aunt Drusllla who gently
| forced him into the car. and her COM
petent self at the wheel. took hfna
where prompt aid could be found.
When the doctor had bandaged Billy
into relief, Aunt Drusilla continued to
drive the car home.
White Tipped and weak, Billy man
aged to tell his aunt OF his young
wifes Illness and Of their now help
less plight. Alphabetically he sug-
gested a hotel as her own temporary
refuge.
Aunt Drusilla good humoredly waved
his suggestion aside.
II wondered" she said laughingiy,
"why it was borne forcibly upon me
that / must spend month with you,
now knowi"
Beatrice's first intimation of her IN
welcome guest was when sweet
faced woman bent sympathetically
over her bed. proffering, as she intTo-
duced herself an invitingly arranged
luncheon tray.
BILLY has had an injury to his arm,
| the new aunt informed her, and
have made him comfortable upon tho