The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-06-25

thoughts, lead on, and 1 will follow"
The man was too bewildered to protest;
besides, he was new to the house, and al
though he felt that his situation was trem-
bling in the balance, he meekly moved to-
ward the library, ollowed by the pre-
sumptuous stranger.
Mr.. Brown had just finished reading his
nephew's note for the third time as the ser
want entered and laid the card on the desk,
and he had just time to glance at it, when
the young man with the miraculous shoes
seized his hand.
"The same old man !" he cried, joyfully;
s.not changed a bitl Age not stale nor
time wither an ounce of Theophl Bless
your heart, sir, how glad I am to see you?
How do you dor"
Mr.. Brown shot up from his chair like a
rocket, impurpled with rage, and absolute
ly glared at the intruder.
"Who-what-what does this meant" he
roared, while John Thomas fed for his life.
"Who are you, sir? and what do you
want?"
"Who am II" repeated the other, in ap-
parently great wonder "Well, upon my
word, this is humiliating indeed! Not re-
member mel Are we, then, indeed, so
soon forgotten when we are gone? Why,
sir, 1 remember you like a book"
Every likely" said Mr.. Brown, fiercely;
you havn't answered my question. Who
81, sir" replied the intruder, making a
hasty but Intellectual search for a handker-
chief, "am James Brown ~Bartlum-my
card lies before you. In short, sir, l am
your nephew"
"Indeed!" said Mr.. Brown, looking from
the card to the owner, and eying both with.
considerable d~isfavor. Sc you are
James?"
"Yes, sir" said James taking a chair,
and composing himself therein with great
care. 81 am the unfortunate young man
of whom o have no doubt heard a great
MANY tales
."And nothing good" said Mr.. Brown.
sharply, sitting down with a bump.
81 am sorry to hear it" rejoined MI.
Bartlum, with an air of great concern.
sThe breath of SANDER might have passed
me by; but no matter. To change the SUBJ
ject: it has been five years since I last saw
Eyes.
"You have not changed a particle while
I-well, I've seen the world, uncle"
"Indeed, sir!
ST nave travelled from Hearts Content to
San Diego, and been all things to all men.
I lave surprised myself by working at
carpentry, driving a stage and editing a
paper, all inside of six months. I dined at
the Palace Hotel in Frisco with the Corean
Embassy one day, and exactly thirty days
from that date I was in Virginia City,
saving wood for my dinner. You never
sawed wood, uncle?"
"You wouldn't like it; neither did L; but
a man must eat, uncle"
"There is no dangenas bald Mr.. Brown,
Dramatically, "of any man starving if he
viii work."
"Humbug, my dear sir! n cried Mr.. Bart
lum, cheerfully. "Dont't you believe it. 1
have tried it, and I know. Besides, a man
needs clothes and a roof over his head in
addition to his daily bread. The world is
| very big, uncle, but it seems to be all pre-
empted by some one else. I have knocked
all around the American part of it, n
here I am back where I started returning
to my native city, and spending the first
night in the station-house."
ain the station-housep
"As a lodger, sir. Don't be alarmed, sir;
your nephew is poor, but strictly honest.
Through many trials he has done
anything worse han saving wood. Your
spoons are perfectly safe, SIR"
"Then, SIR" said Mr.. Brown, sternly,
"perhaps you will condescend to tell me
| Just what you WANT
Mr.. James Bartlum arose and stood be-
| fore his uncle like a statue. Mr.. Brown
looked at him from head to foot, and noted
in detail every article of his raiment, until
his eyes became riveted on the Congress
CATERS, and these proved too much for him.
at is very humorous" said Mr.. Bart
lum, smiling easily at his uncle's unbound
| ed mirth, land I have often enjoyed them
myself. l am quite a cartoon, l know, and
if I were wearing these clothes for fun, 1
/ uOhU kuOW VI uudU i SuOulu see Uu0 uLu
side more frequently"
Mr.. Brown suddenly checked himself and
became grave. "Sit down." he said. 81
beg your pardon. You are in need of-of
clothes?"
"Everything-clothes, money, a place to
sleep, friends"
"Why did you come to met"
"Why does the drowning man seize a
straw"
"What claim have you on me?"
"None-only that we are of M blood.
Understand me, sir. I know you are not
bound to support me. Let us forget our
relationship for a ome Consider
simply that I am merely a starving man,
ready and willing to do anything for a
living, with not a chance in ten thousand
| rich, never know what it is to go hungry to
bed, and can count up ten Thousand friends.
| Consider"
"Silence % Numbered Mr.. Brown, in q
great rage. D you suppose I am going
sort. This house is yours, sir, as long as
you behave yourself. You have been a
v~agabond, sir-you are a v~agabond, sir,
and 1 have no pity for your misfortunes
John will show you to my sons room. You
remember George? You can make your
self pr~esentable, I dare say"
"Uncle, you overpower me! expected
nothing more than a dollar-and a kfck.'
$50, sir! No more of your shameful
levity. You shall pay me for this, sir,
never fear. Throw away those shameful
clothes, sir; and burn your shoes, sir
burn them!"
Mr.. Bartlum was q rapid dresser, but
when he returned, inside of thirty minutes,
bathed, shaven, and attired in George
Browns best suit of black, his uncle had
vanished; so he planted himself in his
vacant chair, possessed himself of a book,
and made himself comfortable. Hardly
had he lone so when the doc flew open
and a very dark young man and a very
fair young woman rushed in n almost
fell upon him.
80, sir" cried the young man and the
young woman in a breath; and then they
paused and looked at each other in evident
trepidation, while Mr.. Bartlum regarded
them in mild surprise.
At length the girl said, in a disappoint-
thar you are. Didn't we, Walter?"
"Much older" assented Walter, deci-
sively.
81 regret to say" said James, gravely
'sthat I am not oldsr han I am. But let
tRss pass. What is the MATTER my chill.
"Well, sir You tell him, Walter"
Of this affair"
"Stay!" interposed James. "Is this
secret? Because, if it is. you had better
keep it. l am a stranger to you both"
"We know it," cried Walter eagerly
"but that makes no difference. I insist
upon your hearing it."
go, very well!' said Mr.. Bartlum, re.
signedly; "since you insist, fire away"
Walter took his companions han il
his, and began in a very manly tone:
"Sir, we have known each other since WI
were six years DID,"
"Six years old,' said Mr.. Bartlum, will
a Judicial air. every goodl"
""That is, l was six, and Isabel wa
three. We have never been separated TO
more than a year, and have grown to Low
the last month or two Uncle Brown ha
noticed our intimacy and questioned Isabe
about it. She confessed all. He then flew
into a violent rege-he is very violent a
times"
"Yes, 1 know he is"
"-and actually swore at her, and for
babe me the house. To-day 1 wrote him
-o%a r,oH;nD a forp,ol 0Far for Ts,bo1,