Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-09-24
Cant be" said Uncle David.


Look a. here. my man, argued the
old gentleman. I'm lookin for ny
niece, married 20 store-clerk, Mrs.
E!giu by name. Now is it likely they d
be liv!n in palace like tha,i'
Don't know anything abolt that,
said the policeman. Bat it's number
ninety nine.
And he went on slapping himself
more yindictively than ever.
Uncle David stood staring at the tau
house a few moments more, and then LIE
assembled the steps and rang the bell.
1T can't do any harm to inquire,
anyhow" said he to himself.
Amaid in tluted muslin cap, trllnmed
with myrtle-green ribbons, and
! founced nerinO dress, answered the
! far off tinkle of the bell.
docs Mrs. Evelyn Elgin live here"
said Mr.. Doty.
"Guess you've mistook the door,
Mister, said the dsmsel, supercilious-
, ~, glancing at the basket and bag.
docs Mrs. Evelyn Elgin live here?'
repeated Mr.. Doty.
'";Yes, she lives here, but she's re-
ceiving.'
Doing ,rtat'' said Uncle David.
"Ain't it New Years day?" said the
girl, with pert toss Of the myrtle
ribbons. Receiving calls, stupid -
"Very WE'LL" said Uncle David, star
ing past the girls head at vista of
gaslighted hall, paneled in pink and
gold, and decorated with stands Of
! flowers. Then I'll call.
I Gba'c rooaivipu har ppnt1or an
friends" demonstrated the maid.
Very well-.I'm a gentleman friend
of hers
And he pushed unceremoniously
past.
"Your card, sir, if you please" said
the maid, holding out her hand in some
| CONSERVATION.
- haven't any card" said Uncle
David.
! And he walked, basket, bag, shaggy
greatcoat and all, into an elegant suite
OF parlors, where the velvet carpets,
mirrored walls, gilded furniture, and
great, glittering chandelier, all seemed
to glisten and sparkle together. In a
bay-window at the end refreshment
table was set out, with goodly show
Va Cut ldbS oCCdutClS, StlNCk COlCC-
and piled up tropical fruit, while near
by, chatting gayly to a group Of gentle
men, stood lady in trailing pink
silk dress, with flowers in her hair, and
jewels sparkling at her throat. Uncle
David Doty could scarcely believe his
eyes.
"Niece Evelyn" said he. slowly, sis
it possible that this is-yoa?"
Mrs. Elgin uttered little terrified
scream, and then covered her face with
her hands.
"UncIe David!' she gasped.
The old man looked dryly around
him.
"PoorI commented he. "Very
poor utmost economy-denying your
selves every luxury! Yes, I see! I
see!'
"But, Uncle David"
Don't trouble yourself to explain,
Niece Evelyn" he interposed. "It
isn't worth while. Do you see this?'
holding up narrow slip of paper. "It's
check for thousand dollars which
was bringing you. But as I see you
have no need of it, may as well de-
stroy it,"
And he tore it into strips, which he
scattered on the low sea-coal fire, and
then walked out of the room.
When Mr.. Septimus Elgin came
nome at night, not'D1uch the better for
the champagne which he had contrived
to absorb during the day, his wife met
him with pale, scared face, which Sc
bered him at once.
"Uncle David has been here" said
che.
"How much did he give You, my
dear p quickly demanded her lord and
master.
"Nothing; and he is estranged for
ever"
"Then," said Mr.. Septimus Elgin,
slapping one hand vehemently upon
his knee, "we're ruined!'
Mr.. and Mrs. Elgin sat looking at
each other, with the faded flowers ex-
haling sickly perfume around them,
and the gas-lights Pickering overhead.
Nor is it asserting too much to say that
they were not happy.
1t was scarcely month afterward
that Uncle David and Aunt Pandora
were sitting by their blazing fire of
pine logs, with its resinous "drip,
drip" kubbli1g down into the ashes
below, when there was q low click to
the latch, and a slight. vailed figure
came hurrying in.
"Why" cried Uncle David, rising
to his feet in breathless amazement, lit
amt never-our Evelyn!"
She threw herself, sobbing, into Aunt
Pandora's kindly arms.
ooh, take me back, take me back"
she sobbed, "for 1 have no other home
left"
And then she explained to them that
the brilliant Septimus. having forged
his employers name to a check. had
been compelled to flee the country, and
that sheriff's officers were even then in
possession of the handsome house in
East Barron street.
"My dear, let Lygoncs be bygones,"
said Uncle David, kindly. "Well
blot out the past, now and forever.
You are our little Evelyn again-and
now let's say no more about it,"
And so the good old farmer forgot
and forgave it all; but if Evelyn lives
to the age of feminine Methusaleh.
she never can forget that New Years
dav -AMy