Arizona republican., 1921-12-18
THE WHITE ELEPHANT THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN, SUNDAY STORY
 A COMPLETE NOVELETTE,

sisters. I always liked the second floor front at dear Millicent's and if you care to move her big victrola up for my use I shall appreciate it. always have mine going to put me to sleep. Don't go to a lot of expense preparing for me. for I am prepared to live simply. for know Tom has yet to make his way"
 Emily had read thus far to her husband when the letter fluttered down from her nervous hands, "a month or two, Tom, do you get it?" asked Emily. Aunt Tabitha is dreaded by all the family. She is very nervous and exacting, and re- quires an immense amount of wait ing upon, and then we'll have to use lot more coal to heat that extra floor"
 "Wen, she's old and relative. We'll just have to do the best we can. I suppose she gets lonely there in the south." Tom spoke more lightly than he felt, for 1t irked him to think of the wasted winter. Since the house had been left to Emily there had not been cent put by and the borrowed savings had not been repaid.
 So Aunt Tabitha had arrived with her smelling salts and sundry drops and pellets to be taken at stated in- tervals. She was, however, a charm ing old lady. with twinkling blue yes and soft masses of snow white hair, and when not in the grasp of a nerve attack was very humorous. She and Tom were soon great friends and Emily, struggling with the never ending work of the big house, some- times felt just a bit out of things. She had no time to read funny ar ticles or to sit idly chatting, and she resented Toms attitude, although she knew it was silly.
 Aunt Tabitha had been there about a month when Fanny Gray, second cousin of Emily's from Seattle, wrote that she was coming and that she was so glad to know that Emily had a big house, as she wanted to bring her chum with her. We are going to just make your house our head quarters and visit all the places within a few hundred miles of the city. Dottie is going to write a book l and she's gathering material for 1t. Isn't 1t thrilling to think we know some one who may be famous? We'll stay as long as we can, for I know you must be lonely there in the lovely house Aunt Millicent left you. I've often wondered why she didn't leave it to me, but you are so generous that it won't make any difference. know" she concluded.
 Touching faith in humanity" commented Tom. with a touch of bitterness which sat oddly on his lean 1 young face. Write and ask if she cannot coax her three young broth 1 CTS to come, too"
 | But, Tom. think of the extra ex- | pense! If 1 could only say we hadn't l room or that we were going to be away, but she will just march up l those brownstone steps and ring until I open the door, Oh, dear!"
 Tom had no plan to offer, and they l couldn't discuss it before Aunt | Tabitha lest she feel embarra ssed
 and she might think they wished her to go. It was all a muddle, with just | one outstanding fact-eXtra expense.
 Tom went off moodily to the office,
 leaving Emily to the cheerful task of | arranging the back room on the l second floor for the girls. She krew 1 they would think they should have | a front room, but that would neces- | sitate heating the third floor. The rooms had thick velvet carpets in- l stead of rugs and were very heavy to 1 sweep. Emily though bitterly of her l two 9 by F rugs in the flat. where l the janitor would come in and
 vacuumclean them for an absurdly
 small price. Her aunt had not ap-
 proved of anything so modern. SC
 there had been no modern appliances for lessening the housework and
 Emily had no monew to buy any such
 essentials. Therefore, she spent hours
 that she had used to spend in walks
 and trips downtown in endlessly
 sweeping the huge floor spaces
 Twelve rooms and all but the kitch- en had good carpets. Emily was toe
 conscientious a housekeeper to .,er- init any dusty corners and so shC slaved on, alternating her Iabors witt
 renewing the freshness of the dozen:
 of pairs of lace custains, for there
 were many windows.
 The girls arrived with some pretty