The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-08-16

CnaSJlnd laQ Will Oh nST OWA'
Uncle Ed wanted to ride to the
church with her, and give her
away. AS her brother, it was right
and proper, he said. and the way
things ought to be done. But Aunt
Chastine laughed.
I'll 60 by myself" she said,
"just the way I have for such a
long time"
Nobody knew what she was
thinking of on her way to the
church. She swept into the car
rage as if getting married was
the most commonplace thing in
the world. But Uncle Eds eyes
filled as he watched her walking
down the aisle. her head held high,
and her heart in her face as she
approached the altar where Ellery
Klopf waited for her. as alone as
she was
Uncle Ed could think back a
good many years-forty, or more,
and he remembered that evening
when Aunt Chastina had stood, not
very different, except that her hair
was cleaning black, and listened
to her father amid the glass domed
curio cases and steel engravings Of
the drawing room in the brown
stone house on Madison Avenue.
Mr.. Bedford, a large pompous
man has cleared his throat. "Chas-
SIZE" he began, your mamma and
have been think of your future.
We have in fact, been think of
the day when you may wish to
er-leave u.s." His face Shone with
embarrassment.
Aunt Chastina's eyes widened.
''Leave you?" her voice was low.
''Why daddy, don't know what
you mean"
II mean, Chastina, that we have
been thinking of the day you may
be married" Mr.. Bedford said.
Aunt Chastina's regard was level,
and not at all self conscious.
''Well, daddy?"
Your mamma is not a we'll
woman, and it would grieve us
deeply to learn that you could be
cruel enough to leave her. Say,
will you promise not to marry un"
til she has passed on?
Even though he knew that his
sister had never had beau, Uncle
Ed wondered at her quick, laugh
ing complaisance.
IMAGINARY ILLNESS
Although Aunt Chastina smother
was considered the invalid, it was
Mr.. Bedford who died first, carried
off by apoplexy. And it wasn't
long afterwards that Mrs. Bed
ford's recurring illnesses were rec
ognized as being largely imaginary
by the children.
Just about that time Aunt Chas'
tina met Ellery Klopf, an estimable
young man who attended their
church. Ellery, a bookkeeper.
asked and received permission to
call.
Regardless of her ailments, Mrs.
Bedford remained in the drawing
room during his first visit, signing
audibly from time to time. To-
ward the end of the evening she
coughed delicately and said. "It
is so nice of you, Mr.. Kopf, to
call-especially in view of Chas-
tina's promise" She smiled archly.
"You know she's promised to her
mother"
Ellery, who has risen when she
began to speak, bowed. "Neverthe-
less, I shall deem it an honor to
call on Miss Chastina when per.
mitted," he answered.
PEACE SHATTERED
Later the peace of the household
was riven by Mrs. Bedford's hys'
terical outburst. Aunt ChaStina
was accused of being ungrateful,
unsympathetic, and faithless to
the promise she had made to her
dead father. You sat without a
trace of sympathy for me, your
poor sick mother" the older
woman screamed. Then she be-
gan to sob bitterly.
Aunt Chastina'S expression
hadn't changed any, and he1
mother stopped crying when she
heard the girl speak.
Mamma" Aunt ChaStina's head
was thrown back, and there was
q Steelhard quality about her
words. I have decided that I like
Mr.. Klopf very much" AS Mrs
Bedford began to cry again, she
raised her hand.
Il intend to see him whenever
he cares to call. I won't break
my word-but if you make his calls
diSagreeable, I shall be forced to
meet him elsewhere.
Mrs. Bedford stared. This was
O new ChaStina. Usually mild and
obedient to her whims, she hao
never before encountered defiance
in the girl. Her eyes were colo
when she answered and both Aunt
ChaStina and Uncle Ed were con
SciouS of a strange feeling when
they heard her dull heavy voice
HER LAST WORDS
you can do AS you please" she
said: so long as you keep your
promise. That's all care about
Those were the last words she
spoke to Aunt Chastina for AZ
years. And during all those AZ
years, her daughter stayed with
her
II didn't take Ellery Klopf long
to propose. He vent about it the
way people did IN those days, go
ing down on one tightly trouserec
knal, and hnldinn his hands n111