The Osceola times., 1885-01-17

your man, Sir"
For the second time q knock; and
next moment the maid-of-all works
somewhat clouded face was visible.
"Another gentleman to see Mr..
Frob sher," was all she said
"My uncle!" exclaimed Frank.
"Oh. my prophetic soul" cried
Dick.
Mr.. Gimp fumbled nervously with
his eyeglass. but did not speak. The
three men glanced at each other with
sort of guilty consciousness.
"Show the gentleman up" said
Frank to the servant. "Now, Dick, at
tention. Now, Mr. Gimp, if you
please" His face had..darkened again as
it had darkeded when his uncle's name
was first mentioned. In his eyes there
was an expression such as Dick had
rarely seen in them before. He went
back to the sofa between the two win
dows and resumed his seat
Footsteps were heard on the stairs.
Mr.. Gimp crossed to the door and
opened it. 'Mr. Pebworth and Miss
Deenc," he announced in his blandest
tones, but despite himself there was a
tremOr IN MS voice.
This parsonage came forward slowly
and with degree of hesitation very un-
usual with him. His small gray eyes
| quickly took in the room and its occu-
pants, resting finally and for the second
time on Frank, who from his seat on the
sofa was regarding his uncle with no
favorable eyes.
"Where is my dearest Frank" demand
ed Mr.. Pebworth. "Where is my scape-
grace boy, whom have never ceased to
cherish in my heart as though he were
a son of my own?" Without waiting
for an answer, he crossed the room with
a sort of elephantine lghtness, and
made his way direct to Franks sofa.
'Ah, here the rascal is. But not i'll, /
hope. God bless my heart, not ill!'
Dick had started to his feet by this
time. "Why, uncle, don't you know
me"' he cried. don't you recognize
your long-lost nephew? I'll never be-
lieve in family likenesses againn
MIR. Pebworth turned with quickness
that one would hardly have given him
credit for. If Disconnected at all, it was
but for moment. "What, Oh, ah, to be
sure" he exclaimed. "Very stupid of
me. Rather short-sighted at any time
of life. That must be my excuse" His
back was turned to frank by this time,
and next moment lie was shaking Dick
warmly by the hand. "My dearest
Frank. ! am delighted to find youl
Now that | see you closer, | should
recognize you anywhere! Your likeness
to my late lamented sister, your poor
dear mother, is truly wonderfuln'
"Glad to see you, uncle. A long time
siuce we last met" responded Dick, in
a hearty ofl-hand way.
A long time, indeed. But have
never ceased to think about YOU, nor TO
wish for the day to come when | should
see you again. That happy day is here
at last. But here is my niece Elma
waiting to greet you. Elma, my pet,
your cousin Frank. the cousin whom we
have so often talked about and longed
to see
The young lady thus addressed was
slender dark-eycd girl of some twenty
summers, with clear-cut aquiline
features, an olive complexion, profu-
sion of soft silky black hair, and a love-
ly dimple within an inch of her lips
when she smiled. She was plainly
dressed in a costume of some dark soft
material, which she wore with grace
and distinction peculiarly her own. She
had shaken hands with Mr.. Gimp on
entering the room, and they were now
talking in an undertone together.
Being thus appealed to by MIR. Peb-
worth, she came forward with the quiet
seli-possesscd air that seemed a part of
herself. How do you do, Cousin
FrankP' she asked, proilering her hand
as she spoke.
" Pretty well. thank you, Cousin
Elma.n answered Dick; and he thought
| that he hsd never seen prettier hand.
1--WE have had fine day. haven't
we, Cousin Erank?h
"A very fine day, indeed, Cousin
+, Elmx."
now that we haze discussed the
weather, we may be considered as
knowing each other intimately And
now say something amusing to me. A
laugh would do me good" There was
/ a sort of demure twinkle in her eyes,
and she glanced at Mr. Pebworth as
she spoke. That gentleman and Mr..
Gimp were talking together.
Dick shook his head and colored
little. "You will find me but a dull
/ dog, Cousin Elma. don't believe
| there is one particle of amusement to
/ be extracted from me--But | must in
| troducc both you and my uncle here
/ Mr.. Pebworth turned and became all
attention-''to my friend Mr. Dick
/ Drummond. at present on the sick-list,
| but at all times the best of good fellows
and the dearest of chums-Dick, my
uncle, Mr.. Pebworth-my cousin, Miss
Deene."
Frank had risen, and was standing
with one hand resting on an elbow of
the sofa. His face was very pale, and
there was dark resentfu light in his
/ eyes as he turned to Mr. Pcbyorth and
bowed coldly TO him. But the angry
CLEAN died out, and his lips parted
with faint smile, as he bent his head
to Miss Decne.
Mr. Pcbworth turned his back on him
without ceremony. "A friend who
must be got rid Of" he muttered to
himself Then addressing himself to
Dick, he said: Il wish my darling
Clunie were here to enjoy this happy
meeting; but unfortunately she is away
at Cheltenham for few days. A cling
ing timorous pet, my dear Frank, but
brimful of poetry, and blessed with n
most ailcctionate disposition - Eh.
Gimp"
"Oh, most aficctionatew The little
lawyer was evidently on thorns, and
was wishing himself anywhere rather
than where he was.
81 Iooks upon Gimp as n second father