The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-02-20
A large valise stood in the hall, an,

badly It was some friend of Uncle bod
sons come to see him-he was some
thing of an invalid.
But the hat-a smart speckled straw,
with blue band-had an unmistakably
youthful air. She ran up the stairs
wonderingly.
Mr.. Dodson was sitting in the large
armchair before the window, where
most of his time was spent. A young
man of two and-twenty, or thereabouts,
noticeable for nothing unless for the
cheerfulness of his rather boyish face,
sat near him.
Mr.. Dodson looked up with well
coming smile as Annie entered.
"My nephew, Dudley Hobart, my
DEAR" lie said.
The young man rose and bowed
rather constrainedly, Annie thought.
Mr.. Dodson regarded her anxiously.
"Sit down." he said.
Annie sat down at his side, feeling
that something unpleasant was coming;
and the young man quietly withdrew.
''He is my nephew-my only rela-
tive" Mr.. Dodson began. "He will
inherit my property, my dear"
"Well?" said Annie cheerfully.
"Well," Mr.. Dodson repeated, strok-
ing her hand, che will inherit my prop
erty; but you must be provided for, too.
There seems to me but one way. have
thought of it much; but the best way
seems to be-that you should marry. So
1 have sent for him." said Mr.. Dodson,
going on hurriedly, land we have been
talking of 1t, my dear"
Poor Annie had listened silently.
Was this kind-hearted Uncle Dodson
who was saying these dreadful things?
"a little too business-lke to suit you
-eh?" said Mr.. Dodson, noting her
distressed face. eyes, of course, 1 ex-
pected that. Young folks nowadays
have an idea that their elders shouldn't
have word to say about these things
not word! But don't you see, my
DEAR" he went on kindly, "that it's all
the same thing. Suppose l had got
Dudley here without mentioning my
little plan? Well, you'd have been pret-
ty sure to fall in love with each other.
He's as nice a fellow as you'll find,
Annie, and he knows pretty girl when
he sees ono, l imagine. Well, then,
why should you hold back, either of
you, merely because give little push
to sure-cnough AFFAIR.""
The girl at his side turned her troubled
face away hastily.
1t was very simple thing surely to
put an end to all this. The mere mer-
tion of Howard Candy would do it, she
was sure, for Uncle Dodson was not an
ogre.
And yet, how could she meet his pos
sible displeasure and his certain disap-
pointment?
The words died away on her lips.
"a bashful pair of youngsters you
are, vowr' said Mr.. Dodson with a
laugh. "If Dudley didn't behave the
same way! Oh, well, you'll get over it,"
Annie opened her lips, ,hesitated closed
them again, with a weakness and cow
ardice of which she was painfully con-
scious, and rose with helpless tears
dropping.
Her recent purchase was still in hei
hands.
II have brought little present fol
your birthday, Uncle Dodson," she said
chokingly. and laid it on his knees.
1t was not until rather late houl
that afternoon that Annie found cour
age to visit Mr.. Dodson's room again.
She had carefully avoided Mr.. Hobart
Mr.. Hobart! 1t was certainly the ug
lest name she had ever heard.
She had taken lunch in her room, ,ant
she had not been out of it since
At four o'clock messenger-boy haC
brought very small parcel, addressed
to herself in Howard's well-knowr
writing, which, when she had opened i
eagerly, had been found to contain
: little band of gold, set with glitterins
, stone.
1t is most unnatural proceeding 70
Y a young lady to burst into tears at tn
S first sight of her engagement ring; bu
4 that is what Annie did
For the pretty shining thing SCENE,
only the symbol of her trouble and per
pleXity.
1 She knew perfectly that her righ
e course was to put the ring on the prop
e er finger, go boldly to Mr.. Dodson, an
8 explain its position there.
She did, indeed, get as far as putin
e it on, and gazing at it fondly, and ad
: miringly, and tearfully, from every con
e ceivable point of view; but there he
courage failed her.
n Dear old Uncle Dodson! How coul
d she dash his well-meaning hopes to tn
r ground with a cruel word or two? II
was so far from strong, sudden disaI
e pointments always did him harm.
q She had dried her eyes as these de-
) pairing thoughts came over her, an
II started mechanically for Mr.. Dodson'
Il room.
d Mr.. Dodson sat facing the window, a
usual. His head was thrown back an
: his eyes were closed
It Annie drew a sigh of relief; he wa
# asleep.
d Dudley Hobart was sitting in a corn,
e of the room, with a newspaper in h
n hand,and his feet disposed comfortabl,
o if not gracefully, on a second chair. II
rose hastily as Annie entered.
, 'He is asleep he remarked after
i timid pause.
ir 81 had observed it," said Annie shor
ii ly, not deigning to look at the speaker