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Warner, Anne, 1869-1913

"The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary"


"Can't you get my Sunday umbrella out of the closet now an' do a parasol
dance?" the insatiate demanded; "one of those where you shoot it open an'
shut when people ain't expectin'."
The maid went to the closet and brought out the Sunday umbrella; but its
shiny black silk did not appear to inspire any fluffy maneuvres, so she
utilized it in the guise of a broadsword and did something that savored of
the Highlands, and seemed to rebel bitterly at the length of her skirt.
Aunt Mary writhed around in bliss--utter and intense.
"I feel like I was livin' again," she said, heaving a great sigh of
content. "I tell you I've suffered enough, since I came back, to know what
it is to have some fun again. Now, Granite, I'll tell you what we'll do,"
when the girl sat down to rest; "you write for those cigarettes while I
take a little nap and afterwards we'll get the Universal Knowledge book
and learn how to play poker. You don't know how to play poker, do you?"
"A little," cried the maid.
"Well, I want to learn how," said the old lady, "an' we'll learn when--when
I wake up."
Janice nodded assent.
"Excuse me shuttin' my eyes," said Aunt Mary--and she was asleep in two
minutes.


CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - "GRANITE" - CONTINUED.

Mary and Arethusa--Aunt Mary's two nieces--were not uncommonly mercenary;
but about three weeks after the new arrival they became seriously troubled
over the ascendancy that she appeared to be gaining over the mind of their
aunt.


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