Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-09-21
TContinued from first page. ]

tCOutluutQ IIOLn ufst pdSe-
twist her hair with the same energy that
distinguished all her movements. and that
this operation resulted in hard knob at
the back of her head ike door handle,
which certainly, would not harmoniZe
with these capeless head-dresses.
Just as his brow was overcast with this
thought, the pale girl came near Uncle
Abel, her check blushing as she did 30 in
defiance Of the other girls, holding in her
hand plain Legiorn bonnet, trimmed with
violet ribbon.
She wore amonrning dress, and the plsin
brooch at her throat held lock Of gray
hair.
's / think this might suit you, sir. - she
said. /" II your wife don't dress her hair in
these fashions. these bonnets would not do
at all This Is rich and plain, and covers
the back Of the head and neck"
"Wa'al now. tell me. for have got 50
bothered with these things that ] don't
know one from t'other. want to get oon-
net for Beasey, and ment TO. Now just tell
me If you would like your mother to wear
one like this2 Oh, beg your pardon, ma
am. didn' see, - and be touched the sleeve
of hef black dress. I'LL .. am sorry
The young girl brushed off a tear quickly
as she said,. / have no mother now I; but If
you'll trust me sir. think this will suit. -
She had stood. hitherto, Just out Of the
range of John Dare's vision, and had not
seen him at all Something in the sound Of
her voice attracted him, perhaps. and waen
Uncle Abel called
Here, John Dare he stepped hastily
enough toward them. The girl thrust the
i.x<. al hapIz and xpnItIH
have been out Of sight If her dress had not
caught on one Of the branching stands and
held her fast.
"Amy!" and John Dare, with a hot
flush on his face, caught her hand and so
detained her.
s'Amy Egbert, have found you at laste'
The girls face grew white and red b
turns, and the words she spoke came so
low and broken that only John could catch
their meaning.
Uncle Abel pushed his spectacles up on
his forehead, still holding the nat in his
hand, looking open-mouthed from one to
the other.
guess you must have knowed this
young woman aiore, didn't you?" he
said but John was too busy with eager
questions, and Amy was trembling and
blushing as she tried to speak calmly, and
so his question was unanswered. Pretty
Josie was dividing her attention between
q new customer and the strange scene be-
side her, and between anger and mortiii-
cation she looked in no need OF help from
rouge, rs she tossed her head, and nut
tered various uncourteous remarks in re-
gard TO THAT Amy Egbert and her beau.
Uncle Abel held the hat n while longer
quite patiently. but at last despaircd of
the interview being ended, 30 he cOughed,
and then said;
III take this bunnit. Twenty dollars
is a good deal. Bctey's worth it, amt
she John ?''
John need not have started so, or said
every which wasn't Il sensible answer
at all but Uncle Abel laughed little to
himself. and said, softly. "Oh, boys will
be boys and he was obliged to tell Miss
Egbert the direction over twice, too. and
felt quite uneasy lest it should not arrive
at his hotel ia time.
Outside the door John turned to leave
his uncle, and looked rs shy as girl, as
he said. ''Its all right, Uncle Abel. You've
found n new bonnet, and I've found IA
Am old friend"
Uncle Abel held his band fast, and
looked n moment, without speaking. in
Johns face in a wistiul way; then said.
looking in the young mans eyes. "she's
u mothcrless girl. John ?n
Uncle Abel - and John turned angri-
ly away. or would have done so if the de-
tanning hand had not held him with
grasp which sixty years had not weakened.
Look here. my boy, lmeant no offence.
None OF my blood turn williams. he add
ed proudly; but You see she's young
and purity and forlorn. and maybe, if YOU
see too much of her, she might get to
thinkin' more of you than would be good
for her. and if you amt in earnest guess
'twould break her heart
Shake hands with your uncle. my boy,
mean no harm; but | promised Liza
when she was on her dyin bed that
would allus try to give You good advice,
and the last words a'most that she spoke.
she says. Abel. watch over my boy
''My dear, kind uncle. thank you-in
deed do-for all Your kindness. but !
could not bear TO think that YOU should
misiudge me.
knew Amy long ago. when her par
ents were both living. and she had all that
wealth could give. loved her then in II
quiet way. but was too poor to tell her
so.
Then came reverses and death. and in
her poverty and pride the girl hid herself
from me rcsolutely until now.
She tried to earn her bread by her ac-
complishments. but failed, and gladly
took this means to do so.
Now. if can win her for my wife,
shall >bring Mrs. John Dare to see you
some fine day this summer-may |. uncle
Abel p''
So they parted. and the passers-by little
dreamed OF all that had been said.
"Wa'al. wa'al. if things don't turn out
queer - soliloquized Uncle Abel. home
ward bound. with bandbox placed on
the seat before him.
ITO think how near come to gettin'
one OF those gipsevs for Betsey. Why,
she would have laughed a week about it.
And then to think that painted pictur of n
girl was making game of me all the
while.
And then the other one, with her gentle
way. taking the trouble tn tell a stupid
fellow like me what was the right thing
10 buy. | uucss She would make our