Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-08-26

was only too willing to consent. F0
the Irst time in our acquaintance. sher.
WAS something in Mr.. EyerIeipb'
manner that made even me, humble d
l was, think that I was not without ,
ciarra for him.
The beggar had crept, uuobtrusiyelv
into corner while my foot was being
bandaged; but Kitty, reremberips
him. left me when she found tho hur
was net serious.
/ Poor old man" she said, I'VE baf
nearly foreotten you. You must bt
hungry. Here, eat some of these; ant
when aamma hes finished with Maggie
she will make You cup of tea"
The cup OF tea was made, in due time
and a substantial supper set before tie
mendlcant; IN fact, all the cold meat
we had IN the house. When MIR. Ever
leigh returned, and We proposed; TO go,
the old beggar rose to his feet.
! am stranger to you. ma'am," lie
said. addressing mamma, 81 and natural.
iy you will not wish to leave mo hero in
your house. ! will wait outside till
you come back"
! "Wait outside!" cried mamma. "and
in the cold Nc; your face IS an hon
est face, if over there was ore. ST;
down again, here by the fire, AMI stay;
and sleep here tonight, and take din
ner with US tomorrow. 1t will be a
homely meal, but such as it is. you will
be welcome to it,"
Heaven bless you, ma s'am!" said the
old man. with shsky voice. and |
thought saw tears in his eyes.
Somewhere about ten o'clock, there
came u roll of wheels on the drive. and
hustle at the door. Presently Jack.
| who had gone to see what was the mat
ter, rushed back, his gray eyes dancing.
"Oh, Bertha" 1 sayl" he cried out,
stiding u burst of laughter; "you
know the beggar, the old man We
turned off this morning? Well, he's
back again, here at the door; and oh.
my buttons! but he's our uncle from
China!"
My aunt turned sharply at jacks
words. He saw her look of consterna-
ton, and screamed with laughter again.
say, now, mamma it's true. Don't
you wish you'd let me give hiu, the
cold turkey?"
My aunt did not utter word. but
she hurried to the door, and Bertha
followed.
There he stoodl-our long-expected
uncle from China, little, weather
beaten old man, with pale, pinched
face. My aunt rushed up to him at
onco. and would have smotherel him
with kisses; but he merely gave her the
tips OF his yellow fingers.
~ made acquaintance with your
niece this morning." he said, with q
hry, chuckliDg laugh, turning to mo as
be came in: and tho little girl there.
too" She is poor Marian's child
eh? She's got her mothers fair face
and good heart. She gave the beggar
welcome. which some others 1 know
OF didn't. All, we'll. I suppose it's
human naturs. But I'll make it up to
her, all the same. Never turn needy
man from your door. Mrs Chidlaiah y
Poor aunt The look on her face was
too ludiorousi In spite of our rela-
tionship. I laughed till my sides ached.
But Bertha went to her room ana cried
herself to sleep.
Well, there is little more to tell. It
really was our uncle from China, who
bad chosen to come to rs, wearing the
guise OF beggar; and if only my aunt
had had little charity in her heart,
her long-cherished expectations might
have been realized.
As it was, the sreat China fortune
went to me. and Kitty. aud Jack; and
Bertha got never penny. And, more
over. when Horace Eyerleigh did speak
he had spoken that evening, before our
uncle declared himself, il. was me he
asked to be his wife.
Bertha takes it all bitterly to heart,
and my aunt is inconsolahle; but I,
believing we get only our Just deserts,
have nothing to say.
Yes" remarks my uuole. Maggie
and kitty and Jack shall inherit all
have. They were kind to me when
they did not know who 1 was; that's
the sort OF people believe I'M"