if it had not been for her old
mammy. When she was ten years old Mr. Frank--he had been home from
college a year--come to me and says, 'Sukey, I'm goin' to be married.'

"I didn't know whether to be glad or sorry, but I wished him good
luck, an' he went back up North for his wife."

"That was Mamma, you know," Louise explained to Dora.

"I remember how Miss Zelie come to me, and says she, 'Mammy, do you
think she will love me?'

"About that time Miss Marcia took it into her head to go to Europe.
She said something about taking Miss Zelie along, but I up an' tole
her that where my child went I went too, an' she 'lowed she didn't
want me.

"It was the prettiest kind of a day when they came home, and we was
out on the porch watchin' for them. They drove up presently with your
grandpa, and Miss Elinor she came up the walk ahead of Mr. Frank,
smiling as sweet us could be, an' she says, 'So this is my little
sister.' I knew that minute they'd be friends.

"Your ma was dreadful fond of children, and she made a great pet of
Miss Zelie, and she was as happy as a bird."

"Isn't it interesting to think of Aunt Zelie being a little girl?"
said Bess; "but go on, Sukey, and tell about when Carl was born."

"Well, it did seem like she was just too happy when the baby came. He
was a fine child, and Miss Elinor said Miss Zelie might name him.
Well, she and your grandpa would sit and argue about that name, and
after I don't know how long they settled on William Carleton. That was
the name of Miss Elinor's only brother, and William was old Master's
name too. Mr. Carl used to come down right often, and he and Miss
Zelie was great friends, though he was eight years older. Well,
when--"

Just at this moment the kitchen door opened; the children had their
backs to it, but Sukey sat facing it, and her story came to a sudden
stop. Bess, turning to look, was clasped from behind. Could it
possibly be? Yes, it certainly was Aunt Zelie herself.

"You darling! When did you come?" asked Louise, holding her fast.

"This very minute. I wrote to Frank that I would be home to-morrow,
and then found that I could get off to-day."

"And is Miss Lyons's brother well?" inquired Bess.

"Almost, and she sent her thanks to you for letting me take her
place."

"She is welcome, now you are at home again," laughed Louise, with
another hug.

The candy was almost forgotten in the delight at Aunt Zelie's return,
and would have been spoiled if Mandy