Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-11
TWO KINDRED SOULS.
Clubwoman laundering for Smoke Paired
With "Fam'Iy skeleton"

WIN ram ~ FHFtsftHs
After her husband had cleaned up a
small fortune in the wool market, a New
| England woman began 20 cultivate the
| friendship of persons she believed could
| help her in a social wav, and she invited
| a New York clubwuman to make her a
visit. The guest was known for her dpni-
| fed manners. her pride in cid family con
nectons and her love for the conventions
| Of life
! Late one afternoon while the two
women were on the veranda, a ehabby
| buggy entered the grounds and pro-
| ceeded mp the driveway toward the
| house The occupant was an old woman
| in faded bonnet and dress The New
England woman saw with dsmay that
II was her Aunt Phllomena. who had
habit OF turning up at inconvenient
times Aunt Phlomena was so wears
old. and had lived all her life in a back
woods community. which. like herself
had failed to keep progress with the
rest Of the world She detested railroad
trains. automobiles and everything mod
ern, and when she called on the niece.
which was seldom. she preferred 10 drive
the seven miles 10 her destination Her
relatives regarded her as sort Of family
skeleton. not to- I've exhibited 20 their
friends oi an exclusive social world in
which they were seeking a foptheld Aunt
Phllomena. however, possessed fortune
in valuable lands, and her relatives felt
they should keep in her good graces
She brought the buggy 81 stop az the
veranda steps The clubvoman's eve
aparlSled with pleasure Here ahe told
herself, was one Of those quaint New
England haracters of which she had
4.
as being delighted to meet her. Aunt
Philomena extended her hand coldlv
She glanced disapprovinglv at her man
nish attire. rakish hat. and close form
fitting short skirt Her nicces efforts
to put her in good humor we're unsuc-
cessful II so happened that her niece
had TO excuse herself for half an hour
70 attend to an urgent matter in the
village On leaving tho house she took
her aunt aside, and said.
AuntIc while m away do not do
anything 10 shock our friend You know
what | mean
Aunt Philomena made wry face and
looked offended, but did not reply She
sat down in a rocker while the guest
made several unsuccessful attempts to
draw her into conversation There was
an g1or Of pipe tobacco in the air. and
the guest realized finally that it came
from the old womans clothes.
/Aunt Philomena, she said hesitat-
ingly NOW that we are alone would
YOU be shocked if / did something? You
see l-er-smoke a cigarette occasionally
| come by il naturally, for my grand
mother. who was a dear old soul like
yourself and used 20 live somewhere IN
the backwoods, as YOU do, smoked
pipe. Would you mind if | smoked this?"
She produced dainty cigarette case.
offering a cigarette TO Aunt Philomena,
who waived it aside
why, you poor dear" Aunt Phil
mena replied, you're lady after my
own heart. Smoke your little cigarette,
but I'd rather see you smoke somethin'
better. Ill be with you in a minute"
and she drew from the folds Of deep
pocket a much-worn and stem-bitten
briar pipe, and brand of tobacco much
favored by woodsmen and sailors be-
cause of its strength She filed her pipe.
lit it, and pulled contentedly for fifteen
minutes.
When the nieces returned the two wo-
men were pacing the veranda arm in arm.
After Aunt Philomena had departed the
clubwoman said to her hostess:
Your aunt is a dear, charming old
lady. / am so glad | met her. She has
invited me to luncheon at her home to-
morrow, and | have accepted | know you
have some shopping to do and wont
mind. She is going to have something we
both like New York Times.