Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1921-10-15
CHAPTER III.
4 Engage the Enemy

II was f0rtunats Lnat Sicpt wen
In my narrow berth on board the Ru-
fus Smith, for the next day was one
Of trial. Aunt Jane had recovered
what Mr.. Tubbs. with deprecating
coughs behind his hand, alluded to as
her sea-legs, and staggered forth wan
ly. leaning on the arm of Miss Higgles-
by-Browne. Yes, of Miss Browne,
while |, Aunt James own niece, trot-
ted meekly in the rear with cush-
lon. Already had begun to realize
how fatally had moderated the
lady Of the hyphen. in imagining l had
only to come and see and conquer
Aunt Jane. The grim and bony one
had made hay while the sun shone-
while l was idling In California and
those criminally supine cousins were
allowing Aunt Jane to run about New
York at her own wild will. Miss Hig-
glesby- Browne had her own collar and
tag on Aunt Jane now, white she, so
complete was her perversion. fairly
Rugged her slavery and called 1t free
dom. Yes, she talked about her Eman-
cipation and her Soul-force and her
Individuality, prattling away like
child that has learned its lesson. well.
Mercy, aunty, what long words"
cried gaily sitting down beside her
and patting her hand. Usually can
do anything with her when l pet her
UP bit. But the eye Of Miss Hig-
glesby Browne was ON her-and Aunt
Jane actually drew a little away.
Really, Virginia." she said, feebly
endeavoring to rise TO the occasion as
she knew Miss Browne would have her
rise, really, while It's very nice to
see you and all that, still l hope you
realize that have had "a Deep
Soul-experience, and that am no
longer to be-trifled with and-and
treated as IL I merchandising. ! am
at loss to imagine why you came. l
wrote you that was In the company
of trusted friends"
"Friends?" l echoed aggrevedly.
Friends are all very well, of course,
but when you and l have just each
other, aunty, / think 1t is unkind of
you to expect me to stay thousands
Of miles away from you all by myself"
"But 1t was you who sent me to
New York, and insisted on my stay
Ing there /" she cried Evidently she
had been living over her wrongs.
"Yes--but how different" l inter-
rupted hastily. ''There were the
cousns-of course have to spare you
sometimes to the rest of the family "
Aunt Jane Is strong on family feeling,
and frequently reproaches me with my
lack of it,
But in expecting Aunt Jane to soft
en- at this, | reckOned without Miss
Higglesby- Browne. A dart from the
cold gray eyes galvanized my aunt
into sudden rigid erectness.
MY dear Virginia." she said with
quavering severity, "let me remind
you that there are ties even dearer
than those of blood-soul-affin
you know, and-and, in short, in my
dear friend Miss Higglesby-Browne /
have met for the first time In my life
with IA Sympathetic Intelligence
that understands Mel"
So that was violets line! l sur
yeyed the Sympathetic Intelligence
with smiling interest.
Really, how nice And of course
you feel quite sure that on your side
you thoroughly understand-Miss Hig-
glesby-Browne?
Hiss Brownies hair was rather like
clothesbrush In her mlldest moods.
In her rising wrath it seemed to Quiv-
er like a lions name.
Miss Harding" she said, In the
chcst-tones she reserved for critical
moments, has nature impossible to
deceive. because itself incapable OF de-
ceptIon. Miss Harding and first met
On this plane--in an atmosphere I'M
usually favorable to soul-revelation.
! Knew at once that here was the ap-
pointed comrade, while In Miss Hard
ing there was the immediate recogni-
ton Of a complementary spiritual
force"
TITS perfectly true, Virginia" ex-
claimed Aunt Jane, beginning to cry
you and Susan and everybody have
always treated me rs II I were a child
and didn't know what wanted, when
the fact Is always have known per
fectiy wellr The last words issued
In wall from the depths Of her hand
kerchief.
"You mean, suppose exploded
.that what you have always wanted
was to 60 of on this perfectly crazy
chase after imaginary treasure T
There, now had gone and done It. D
course II was my red hair.