Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-08-04
AUNT PIPER
BY MILDRED WHITE.

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Copy right. 1920. Western Newspaper union)
81 shall send Rosa-Marie to her Aunt
Pipers." Mrs. Wilm0t said. 1.-The dis
cipline will be good for her"
The man who stood looking across
the lawn came to take chair at Mrs.
Wilmots side. .,..
Remember. Clara" he whimsically
replied, that am no Blue Beard ex-
acting obedience, neither do | wish to
influence in the slightest degree Rose
Marie's decision. If the child can see
a possibility of comfort on pleasure In
a union with myself, then only, shall
be happy in offering her my protec-
ton. 1t would be folly to expect love
from Rose-Marie. Always she has re-
garded me merely as her parents
friend; good mediator to be cajoied
into gaining her own ends doub,
IL should have presumed to think OF
marrying ROse-Marie, had il not been
for a remark Of yours dropped when
Fred and | were discussing the grow
ing charm Of your daughter and your
own inability to give 10 her the accom-
plishments and luxuries her beauty
eXacts as its due. 1t occurred to me
that ! might provide for her these de-
sirable thingS-aId revel in her en-.
joyment of them, if it were but pos
sible TO make the gift. Marriage
seemed my only solution. Younger
women have married older men, Clara
and I would protect ROseMarie ten
Derby. You see women have been a
lost part Of my eXistence-no mother
from infancy, no sisters, just one up
hill struggle to the profession.
"Who is this Aunt Piper? And
why, exactly, is our little Rose to be
sent to herr" .......
''She is a sister Of NINE" Mrs. VIII
mot replied, ''fOr whom the rest Of us
had ever an awed respect. Mary could
reason US out of or make us give up
our most recklessly planned pleasures
where parental force failed. She was
one of us, and yet not one Of US. upon
her own assured pedestal. Fred also
has sister Mary, 50 for Rose-Marie's
distinction We call my sister Aunt
Piper. Piper was my maiden name.
Don't take 10 yourself the blame Of
our girls Punishment, Paul. The real
motive for sending her to her aunt's Is
to break off growing attachment
with Bobby Atwood. Marriage with
Bobby ut present would mean for
Rose-Marie the same sacrifices, the
same struggle that Fred and ] remem-
Der well. My daughter must have some
thing better. Bobby is but passing
fancy which absence will obliterate."
Paul Hills arose. His fine face was
serious, his usual pleasing tone de-
cided.
Remember Clara" he admonished,
mo coercion where l an concerned
with little Rose-Marie."
The telephone called and the voice
of his absent young friend dolefully
greeted him over the wire.
paul" said Rose Marie, won't you
come and break the routine of disci-
pine? Aunt Piper just won't let Bobby
come and-I need YOU"
Am asked Pauf severely, ito be
again used as buffer between you and
your parents"
"You are" Rose-Marie laughingly
replied, and hung up the receiver. 1t
was charming village home that Paul
Hills found, and tie honeysuckles
about the old porch seemed fragrant
of some sweet past boyish memory.
Rose-Marie was sweet, too, in her
rufiled pink frock and the twinkle Of
her eyes contradicted in way Paul
well knew, the occurrences of the girls
face
"Aunt Piper's discipline has not at
least crushed you" he remarked.
Rose-Marie leaned eagerly forward "a
paul" she said, 1--WE sent, for you
so that Aunt Piper can hook you oyer,
And who do you think suggested! the
idea?- Bobby Atwood, himself5 Paul
laughed quietly. iT'oq o. Tcer efnod
'Bobby must be pretty; sure Of his
comparison, he said i2"Or does II
,mean,, Rose-Marie, that, am supposed
to intercede this time, for you and
Bobby Rose aries blnshed. Her
fingers touched caressingly the mans
thick. CRAVING hair-Icq y1r9dWaTt2 ri !
isT ut wasapartty for that. that Itsent
fol. YOU. Paul dear" she said.s "and
partly-for yourself G"s.is 4 ~ !
.sSShe slipped away Paul thought as
she left him that the scent Of the hon
eysuckles, was unbearably sweet, Then,
a woman stood before shin! "A small
woman this, with Rose-Nfarie's own
dainty air. the waving hair of Rose
Marie too, silvered' Id curling strands,
as the girls might be a little, later
But the eyes that looked upon Paul,
measuring him, and waiting expect
antly, We're deep with beauty that
Rose Marie's eyes had not yet learned.
beauty of understanding, perhaps,
or sympathy. The twinkle Paul knew
so we'll flashed in this woman's dark
eyes, as she, too, spoke demurely.
IT am Aunt Piper she said. "You
wished to see me about Rose-Marie."
81 think" Paul answered slowly,
"that 1t was suggested merely that
present myself for your approval"
"You have it," Aunt Piper responded
in Rose-Marie's own prompt laughing
way. And when TWO young people