Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-01-17

said nothing unpleasant. He looked
the animal over, said he was worth the
hundred dollars to be paid for him in
goOus from the store. Marian even
thought she liked Uncle Phil thea.
He did not prophesy any evil or disas
ter.
After breakfast the lady thought she
would drive to her fathers, In The next
town.
She returned in season for dinner.
But Uncle Phil did not come down
to that meal. The lady rang the bell
a second time, but with no be,ter re
salt Uncle Phil evidently did not hear
the bell, for he never kept the table
waitinG for him. The door was wide
open, and she went In. The shlpmas-
Ter was not there. His trunk was not
there the picture of the Seabrd, il
which he had sailed many voyage, had
been taken from the wall.
Was il possible that Uncle Phil had
gone without even saying goodbye to
them There was letter on the ta-
BILE. Il WAS addressed to "Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Dykes" w it'll the letter
in her hand she FASTENED down to the
dnner-roOm. To SAY that she was as
tonished and chagrined, would not half
express her feeling.
"Uncle Phil had gone ?" she ex.
claimed. "He has left for good, bag
and baggage" She tossed the letter
upon the table, for she had not the cour>
age to open it.
"Then l suppose you are quite salts
fed, Marian. You have got the horse,
and got rid of Uncle Phll," said Mr..
Dykes, greatly grieved to learn that the
worthy man had gone; and he saw that
he must have heard the impulsiye
words of Mrs. Dykes the evening be-
fore.
Mrs. Dykes dropped into her chair
at the table, and burst into tears.
Just as she had become reconciled ID
the bOarder, he had fled without even a
word of explanation. She intended to
treat him with the utmost kindness
and consideration, as a noble warrior
treats failed foe Just then she felt
as though she would be willing to lose
the horse to regain Uncle Phil.
Charles opened the letter. 1t was
very short, but there was not a plrti-
Gle os bitterness in it. He should still
pray for them, and desiren to do all he
could TO serve and make them happy.
81 will go back to him and beg him
to come back, Charles !" exclaimed
the weeping wife. "You will never
forgive me-"
II am very sorry he has gone, but
will not hate you, Marian. We will call
upon him this evening at the hotel"
They did call. Uncle Phil was ex-
actIy the same as he had been before.
He was glad to see them, and there
was not particle of change in his tone
or manner. Both Charles and his wife
tried to say something about his leav-
ing their house but be headed then
off every time. He would not permit
the matter to be mentioned. They
went home, unable even to get in an
apology.
Both of them missed the kindly
words and wholesome advice of the
good man, though Mrs Dykes would
not acknowledge it. His good inhu-
ence upon both was lost. Even Charles
became rockies in his finances.
The close of Tinkham's s store brought
more business to the young merchant
for time, though the bankrupt's sue
cessOr soon made things exciting for
him. A ruinous competition followed
No longer restrained by Uu Gle Phil's
pradent counsels, Charles branched
out, and grasped more than he could
handle.
At the end of the year the balance
sheet was not pleasing to look upon.
Then followed a reckless attempt to
recover lost ground. Notes at the
Tripleton Bank became very trouble
some. One of them was given for
new piano. People said Dykes was liv-
ing too fast. The young merchant
was worried, He had yielded to one
extravaganza and there was long
train. behind it.
His next balance-sheet showed that
he was three thousand dollars in debt,
and his stock was not worth half the
sum. He saw that must fail. After
supper, one evening, he told his wife
all about it. Il would be a terrible hu-
initiation 10 fail, as Tinkham had; and
poor Marian wept as though her heart
would break.
In The midst of the scene Uncle Phil
walked into the room, as he always did,
witho ut the ceremony of knocking.
He often called.
"Uncle Phil, am going to fail, for
[ cannot pay a note Of four hundred
| dollars that falls due tomorrow. - said