too tired for her journey. Come, Aunt Crete, you won’t need to go up-stairs again, shall you? I told Marie about the packing. It won’t be necessary for you to go back until it’s time for you to change to your travelling-garb.”
In a daze of anger and humiliation Luella and her mother climbed into their double rolling chair, and ate their ice-cream cones sullenly, propelled by a large, lazy colored boy; but Aunt Crete had a chair to herself, and was attended by Donald, who kept up a constant stream of delightfully funny conversation about the people and things they passed that made Aunt Crete laugh until the tears came into her happy eyes.
There was no opportunity for Luella and her mother to talk to Aunt Crete alone, even after they returned to the hotel; for Donald kept himself in evidence everywhere, until at last Luella made bold to declare that she didn’t see why Donald thought he had a right to come and take Aunt Crete away from them, when they had always taken care of her; and her mother added in an injured tone:
“Yes, you don’t seem to realize what a burden it’s been all these years, having to support Crete, and her so childish and unreasonable in a great many ways, and not having any idea of the value of money. I’ve spent a good deal on Crete, take it all in all; and now, when Luella’s going out, and has to have clothes and company, it’s rather hard to have her leave us in the lurch this way, and me with all the work to do.”
“That being the case, Aunt Carrie,” said Donald pleasantly, “I should suppose you’d be very glad to have me relieve you of the burden of Aunt Crete’s support, for it will be nothing but a pleasure to me to care for her the rest of her life. As for what you have spent for her, just run it over in your mind, and I shall be quite glad to re-imburse you. Aunt Crete is really too frail and sweet to have to work any longer. I should think my cousin was almost old enough to be a help to you now, and she looks perfectly strong and able to work.”
Luella flashed a vindictive glance at her cousin, and turned haughtily toward the window; then the porter came for the trunks, and the travellers said a hasty good-by, and flitted.
As Donald shook hands with Luella in parting, he looked merrily into her angry eyes, and said:
“I do hope, Luella, that it hasn’t been too much of a trial to have your ‘backwoods cousin’ spend a few days here. You’ll find a box of bonbons up in your room, if the porter did his duty, which may sweeten your bitter thoughts of me; and we hope you’ll have a delightful time the remainder of your stay here. Good-by.”
* * * * *
About three months after Donald had returned from Europe and settled to his Western university life Aunt Crete received a letter from her sister. It was brief and to the point, and Aunt Crete could read between the lines. It read:
“Dear Crete,—Aren’t you about sick of that nonsense, and ready to come home? Luella has decided that she can’t do better than take John Peters. He has promised to buy an auto next year, if the plumbing business keeps up. I think at least you might come home and help get her things ready; for there’s a great deal of sewing to do, and you know I can’t afford to hire it; and Luella’s out so much, now she’s engaged. Do come soon.
Your sister, Carrie.”
Aunt Crete looked sober; but Donald, looking over her shoulder, read, and then went to his desk for a moment. Coming back, he dropped a check for five hundred dollars into his aunt’s lap.
“Send her that from me, Aunt Crete, and another from yourself, if you like, and let her hire the sewing done. They don’t want you, and I do.”
Aunt Crete had her own bank-account now, thanks to her thoughtful nephew, and she smiled back a delighted, “I will,” and went off to write the letter; for Aunt Crete was at last emancipated.
Cloudy Jewel
