The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-04-30
UNCLE JACKS STORY.

UNCLE JACKS STORY.
1t IS not much of a story in itself, new
ertheless I love to tell it, and perhaps it is
because | have told it so many times,
and that it is true that it makes so great
an impression upon me. However, YOU
shall hear the story. NV Nephew Philip
wrote me that he was tired Of roaming
about the world, and as he expressed it,
was going to visit his good old uncle
once mere and then settle down to bust
ness. Philip was a good boy and I al
ways felt proud Of him.
About the same time my Sister Judith,
who IS the remaining part of my family,
received a letter from a young lady friend
saving that she was also coming to see US
and make a good long visit.
Being an old man, you know, I will
have my joke, and when Judith read
Jeanne Morris letter to me, I said "Noth-
ing could have fallen out more delight
fully. Upon my word, this arriving on
nearly the same day looks like fate,
doesn't it?' Judith rebuked me as in
duty bound.
well, Jeanne Morris came, and she
set our usually staid and quiet house
quite beside itself with her charming
ways. =
Philip came, too, and when they met !
introduced them in my own awkward
fashion.
"This is that scapegrace, Phil. Voor-
hies," / said. "You have heard us talk
about him more than enough. I dare
say we have made Miss Morris hate YOU
in advance, Phil"
What more I said I do not know; I kept
on talking, though conscience that I had
produced a verv unexpected 0 de thea
ter. l was evidently doing a work of
supererogation in introducing those two
young people. They recognized each
other, and this unexpected meeting was
a surprise, thoug I saw at once that it was
not Of an agreeable nature to either.
Phil turned pale under all the sunburn
left by his sea voyage, and Jeanie-well
Jenie looked as I remembered seeing her
do once when she was little, and an older
girl with a bad temper boxed her ears
she locked positively faint, with a ming
ling Of emotion in which it was difficult
to tell whether a sort of frightened sur
prise or proud Indignation was upper
most.
l glanced at Judith. For once in he1
life Judith stood helpless, as near reduced
to a state of coma as I was myself.
Jeanne was the first to speak. She held
out her hand.
"How do you do, MI. Voorhies?" she
said, "Imet your friend in Europe. Uncle
Jack, she added, to me in explanation.
There was more talk, but I could see
that both Philip and Jeanne were embar-
rassed and soon the party broke up.
AS soon as Jeanie and Judith had left
US and the instant the doors closed Phil
turned quite savagely upon me.
"Why didn't you let me know that
girls was to be here2' he demanded.
"How could 1 think of it?' pleaded
in desperation. II did not know that
you had ever set eyes on each other.
Good gracious, Phil! what does it all
mean?"
"Mean?" cried he, lit means that III
not spend a night under the same roof
with her! [ can't help how it looks-I
don't care what anybody thinks--I am
off,"
"Going awaya Why, you'll break
Ouu4lu > IGdIl!
"Don't talk to me about hearts p roared
Phillip. "There's no such thing when
women are commemorative article was
left out of their anatomy. However.
that's neither here nor there-I can't
stay; [ would not endure another hour
OF such purgatory as that dinner has
been tor any price one could Offer"
MATTERS did not seem to go smoothly,
somehow" said I. '.--
"smoothlyw echoed Phillip, in a voice
that sounded like the blare of a war
trumpet. Then he laughed, in a bitter.
tragic way that would have done credit
to the Mephistopheles himself. .
DO tell me what 1t is all aboutlnI
cried, feeling more bewildered than ever.
"There's v any use in explana-
tions," replied Phil, loftily. II am yerv
sorry to appear rude; I can only trust to
your goodness to excuse it." .an
I sat dazed, as he left me, wondering
what it all meant. Maybe I dropped in,
to a doze. Anyway, I felt as i'll had a
nightmare; 1 reused myself enough at
last to think that I must join the others,
when l heard Judith's step in the hall, g.
"Jack! Where are you, JACKIE" she
cried.
"Here I am" I groaned, rising to meet
her. = OO...-.f' .s- : ~ ia. {:
ibid ever mortal hear the like o.