The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-09-28
UNCLE AND NEPHEW.

Z
'sWell, girls. Oak Lawn has a new
owner at last"
Mr.. Fairfax impaired this piece of in
eresting news as he reached for the
huge carving knife, and began vigor-
GUS assaultona mammoth turkey, whose
brown body sent forth an appetizing
odor. N va
"Oh, how perfectly splendid that will
be!A cried Miss Agnes, gushingly, as she
clasped her white hands in rapture.
"Of course they are very rich, or they
could not afford to purchase Oak Lawn.
Mamma, we must call upon them as
coon as it is proper"
Certainly, love-" said mamma
YEARLY.
"Doyou suppose there will be any
young gentlemen, papa?" asked Mabel,
with q counterfeit shyness.
"Or girs?" questioned Lille, before
Mr.. Fairfax could answer Mabel's ques-
ton. II do so dote on dear girl friends,
and there are none in the village
whom I care to become intimate WITH"
"HumphW said Mr.. Fairfax, unfeel.
! YOU did" guess II ~0o'0h' hur' you If
"'Well. think it's a downright shamew
cried Pet, tossing her brown head indig-
nantly. "We've taken such comfort at
Oak Lawn-Rover and I, and now it's
sold just as spring is coming on. Papa,
ifWe're so much better and richer than
other folks, about here, why don't we
have lawn of our own?" ~
"We are not rich, puss," said Mr.. Fair
fax, fondly. "In f.ct, it is hard strug-
gle for as to keep up appearance, as
mother calls it.''
Philip, Pm surprised that you have
the indiscretion to speak in such way
in the presence Of your daughte, s." said
Mrs. Fairfax, severely.
II know it's bitter pill, mother; but,
they'll have to take it down one OF these
days. and they may as well be prepared
for it."
mot necessarily, answered Mrs
beautiful homes OF their own in less than
year."
"You'll have to be more successful
than You have ever been yet if they
are," he returned, good naturedly. II
believe that YOU have been trying for
the last thirty years to get one of your
daughters married to fortune, and"
''Oh, papa, how cruel of you'll" sobbed
Miss Agnes. zone would think 1 was
so old to hear you talk, and am sure
won't be thirty for ever 80 many years."
"lf you can not keep track of the
children's ages, wish you would keep
silent about them," said Mrs. Fairfax
sternly.
Mr.. Fairfax fidgeted uneasily in his
chair; he was always getting into trouble
about the girls ages; but Pet usu lily
came to his assistance.
"You say that Oak Lawn has been
sold, papa?" she said. ''Tell us some
thing about the people who have bought
"Tne gentleman name is Dunlap.
He is bachelor. and he writes that his
nephew will accompany him to Oak
Lawn"
A bachelor did you say?" asked Mrs.
Fairfax. quickly. the cloud lifting from
her face and sudden hopeful express
ion coming in its place.
eyes," said Mr.. Fairfax, smiling:
s'and the nephew is q bachelor, too. At
least he is unmarriedW
"Oh, who cares for the nephew?" ex-
claimed Mabel. "He doesn't own Oak
Lawn"
"Girls finish your dinner as soon as
possible and come into the back parlor,'
said Mrs. Fairfax, excitedly. II want
to talk over the matter with you and
plan some new spring suits for you.
Everything depends upon favorable
first impression, you know"
Mr.. Fairfax groaned audibly at the
prospect of three or four new spring
costumes and the attendant expense
He hoped in his utmost heart, t
his wife would be more fortunate this
time than in her former schemes, and
he was wicked enough to mutter that he
wished Mr.. Dunlap was q Mormon, and
would marry the whole pack, with the
exception of little Pet +. He would like
to keep her himself.
Meanwhile, Pet--who had once hal
another name; but everybody even her.
self, seemed to have forgotten it-called
Rover, and away they went to have one
last good time in the beautiful lawn be-
fore those "horrid men" came to spoil
the fun. "a 2s2-
At length Mr.. Dunlap and his nephew
arrived, and were duly introduced to
Mrs. Fairfax's charming circle of mar
riageable daughters.
They clustered about the elder Mr.
Dunlap in a most bewildering manner,
That is, three of the Misses Fairfax; the
fourth, Miss Pct. was thoroughly DISCUS
ted with her sisters apparent lack of
courtesy and good breeding, in leaving
the younger, and by far, the most GEN
tlemanly appearing Mr.. Dunlap to en-
terrain himself as best he might.
"Wouldn't you like to see my roses?"
asked Pet, of this forlorn gentleman,
while her cheeks burned with shame,
and her eyes were full of indignant
tears.
''To think that mamma would act 80,
even if the girls are so anxious to secure
a wealthy husband that they forget to be
decent in our own homeW thought Pet
savagely. II don't care. I'll entertain
him, aud do hope he won't notice their
neglectp'
A sudden light came into the young
mans eyes at Pets question, and he an.
swered quickly.
II should, indeed! love roses dear
lyp
II suppose he's glad to get out of the
room. / am, at any rate," thought Pet
"He's ever 30 much nicer thon his uncls.
if he isn't rich!
"There are my roses. Aren't they
lovely?" she asked, rs she conducted her !
protege toa corner OF the garden WI .ere
several rose bushes were covered with |
fragrant blossoms:
''BeautiIu!' he exclaimed, enthusi-
astically, looking admiringly at-not the