Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-27

luuupS III tHe uliuuie-Inal was our dlnner
Luckily Amanda LETT US plenty Of bread and
butter. and the preserve closet is well stocked
After dinner gave Uncle Simon little advice
in my turn. and we sailed out in search of pro-
visions which need little or no cooking. With
plenty Of eugs and canned provisions we nav
carry on the siege for while. shall keep my
eye upon Amanda. and am not without hope of
inveigling her back when Uncle Simon is quite
tired OF the present state of affairs.
November %.
/ think both Uncle Simon and weigh few
pounds less than VIC did a week ago. Under
our starvation regime Uncle Simon has waxed
meeker and meeker every day. When it came
to the prospect of eating Thanksgiving dinner
of his own cooking he fairly collapsed Then
decided that the time had come, and went in
search of Amanda. She was loath to come
back at first but yielded to my representations
of the altered state of affairs. l don't think
Uncle Simon has been into the kitchen once
since her return. In other respects he is grad
uaily becoming more like himself, though decid-
ediy Gubdued.
And now about my own private affairs It
was on my way back from Amanda that met
him. Him" of course. means George Maxwell
He was looking very fierce and angry when we
first met. but softened little as we shook bands
supposed that he had come to see Lulu BeIden.
and took very good care 10 express no surprise
at his preseLce l chartered on for while about
the state of affairs at Old Farm, but he stopped
nee suddenly.
Don't talk about such things now, MaJdie
You know why have come. Don't pretend to
ignore it,
l stared at him. had no idea what he meant
nor What answer he expected.
Il have come, he continued, ito ask YOU why
not one of my letters has ever been answered.
why have never heard a word from you since
that first note which was filed with praises OF
Arthur Parker Is he the cause of your ST.
lence?'
arthur Parker.'' l cried and then went into
tit of laughter which must have convinced the
most iDcredulous. ''But what do You mean by
since have been here
George stared In his turn. g | have written
to you six times he said. "Finaily grew
wild. and wrote to Lulu Belden to inquire
| about You. Her answer told me that you were
we'll, and that was all. At last | could
standit no longer and came to see for myself
But what on earth can have become of the let
ters?"
Evidently the wisest course was to go to the
post office and ask about them. The first in
curry brought forth the entire budget which
grasped as one who has found treasure
why in the world were they not given to
Mr. Johnes when he asked for Miss Barry s
letters! asked Georges and the postmaster
laughed.
He never asked for them, and we didn't
know who Miss Barry was Mr. Johnes doesn't
come here any more for his mail. He has his
letters sent to Eastbourne, three miles away''
what does he do that for?' George naturally
asked
The postmaster hesitated. "Well, you sec
you re some Kin to him. and maybe YOU know
his little ways. It's about a month ago now
that he wanted to show us how to sort the
mail-by the initials of the first name instead of
the last. We didn't just feel like taking his ad-
vice, and So"
81 see said George and we both laughed.
so you were not deeply smitten with Parker,
after a1f!" said George
Not I; but what about you and Lulu Bel
DEM" asked
"You know. of course. that that is the rock
upon which Uncle Simon and l split" said
George.
Because you both admired her. and he was
Jealous" l said, sagely; at which George fairly
roared.
Not exactly. Because he wanted me to adj
mre her and | wouldn't, or rather / admired
somebody else more. He advised me to adj
dress her. and when l declined, further 'ad-
vlsed me to leave the farm which did"
There is no use writing down any more of that
episode There is no lear OF my ever forgetting
ii. and as this journal is written solely for my
own eyes, it would clearly be work Of super
erogation.
November 90
Yesterday George ate his Thanksgiving dinner
with me. Uncle Simon was dazed at first by the
news which we had to tell him, but. after some
cogltation, was moved to look upon 1t tavora-
1hoiC liiti tildl, III stcluS tIdL dtH some
thing of a favorte with him. in view of which
fact George Is to be taken backinto favor. Next
week 90 back to my school. the scarlet fever
having disappeared. and George will take my
place hele-until next spring, and then some
thing may happen which will bring me back to
reign over the old place as its mistress.
4" 1t isn't what | meant for either of you" said
Uncle Simon. ruefully. You know what my
plans were for you, George. and Madeline there
had intended for young Parker / promised
him the first chance"
fairly jumped as Uncle Simon revealed the
plot. which had never suspected. No wonder
Mr.. Parker always looked like a ''ish out of
water in my presence
1.-The only thing can see now" continued
Uncle Simon, thoughtiully. lis for Lulu and
Parker to put up with your leavlngs l shall
advise them
NO. dear Uncle Simon, for Heavens sake,
no more advice." I cried. Just see the havoc
1t has wrought in your household and would
yau 20 on scattering it recklessly about the
world? You will have the universe in blaze"
Uncle Simon laughed rather sheepishly and
was silent.