Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-13
THE SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 1884,

sob, that is it?' said Jack; 'sthen
hope he is one of the right sort, for l sup
pose we shall see plenty of him."
But, Agatha, you didn't care about
knowing any Of them, don't you remem-
berr and Frank looked up at her sister
IN honest perplexity.
but this is different Papa seems as
if he had known him all his life, indeed,
he has seen him before, though it is years
ago. Besides, he is not young man, or
or anything of that sort" Agatha added a
little vaguely. ''lt Will be only as if we
had suddenly found new relation. Papa
is calling him James already"
'Uncle James! Yes, that will do very
nicely" said Frank. Heca take US skat-
ing and all that sort of thing when Arthur
is gone to that hOrrid Woolwich."
'YOu just tell him so, Miss Frank. If
he doesn't think you a cool young person,
Pm Dutchman."
''He will think me most charming
niece. Come, Agatha, let US 90 and put
on our best frOcks for our uncle.'"
1t was the good Deans fancy to have
his four children round him at his late
dinner. Without some such arrangement
he would have seen little or nothing of the
two younger. 1t would have been worse
than useless quoting "custOm" to the
Dean in such a case, so when the Major
entered the draWing-rOom, he found his
host and children already there.
Frank looked up and saw a tall, soldierly,
dark-faced, dark-mOustached man, "qute
middle-aged,' as she afterward declared
to Jack, land every inch an uncle" The
Major saw the Dean, his kindly face look
ing more kindly still, as he stood before
the tire-for, though August still, the day
had been cold and cheerless-One hand in
AU9fhqfG Ia N Il
shoulder. And the Deans eldest daugh-
ter, he saw her now, as it were, for the
first time. In the dim light of the low
ceilinged, dusky library he could scarcely
have been said to see her at all. But he
saw her now, tall, fair, white-rObed, lamp
and freight full upon her, little queenly
looking, a little stately; dark, smooth,
ripping hair, a broad, smooth brow, a
calm, rather sad, sweet face. The glow
from the fire lent flush to the soft, creamy
complexion, and lighted up the soft, dark
eyes that were raised to greet his entrance.
James Browne was not quite the sober,
middle-aged individual the Deans child
rem deemed him. At tiye-and-thirty man
has scarcely outliyed all the fire and pas
sion Of youth, and, even as this man looked,
his heart was stirred, his pulses throbbed.
The old-fashiOned, fire-lit room, the Dean,
the little group surrounding him, faded.
Time had rolled back; once more gOddesses
walked the earth-One was smiling on him
now. But il was only tor a moment. To
whatever wild flights the Outwardly calm
Majors fancy might have wandered, he
was speedily recalled by his hosts voice.
"COme," the Dean was saying, "cOme
to the fire and let me introduce the rest of
my Youngsters. This is Arthur, an en-
bryO brother in arms, and this is Jack. /
! really don't know what we shall do with
Jack. Never make a Dean of him, fear
eh, jack"
"Make a lawyer of him, papa. He can
talk, can Jack, said Frank, with friend
ly nod to their visitor.
''POor Frank!' said the Dean. "LOok
at her, James; doesn't she look like
young lady who can never get in a word
edgeways?"
'My name is Frances, If papa would
only remember" said the Deans youngest
daughter.
''And l am to try to remember, too-eh,
| Miss trances?n
Frank, you know. You are neither papa
nor Jack"
Certainly not"
''Imagine you calling Agatha Aggy."
James Browne gave genuine shudder.
Il can imagine nothing so horrible"
eve used, you know, years ago; but she
didn't like it, so we gave it up. l don't
buiAk Sic HUNS Il Dll Inc du <AESE1s uO lOu
! Frank went on cOntidentially, glancing
over at Agatha, who, with the Dean, had
| gone over to a side table and was at that
moment turning over some music that lay
upon it.
"Heaven fOrbidh'
At the exclamation Agatha turned.
"What is it," she asked, coming for
ward.
ooh" cried Frank, 81 was only telling
Major Browne that he had better not call
you Aggy, because you didn't like it,
''Oh, Frank" cried Agatha, with lit
tie flush and laugh.
81 don't think there was much fear"
the Major said-he was laughing, too.
"How could they do it?''
At this moment, happily, the door was
opened and Ruffies announced that dinner
was served. AS James Browne lelt the
Deans daughters hand within his arm, as
he looked down upOs the face so near his
own, he told himself if he only might come
to call her Agatha he should be quite con-
tented.