The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-08-31

delphia, and | spent the winter with
| her. She seemed to like Charlie when
he came on to see me, and re-
marked that he looked like his uncle,
which made Charlie very angry,
but it pleased me, for |
| thought she must have a
soft place in her heart for Mr.. Dob
bins, to think him anything like
Charlie. She refused to talk about
Mr.. Dobbins, though | tried often to
lead up to the subject, and the only
other time she spoke of him was
when | showed her that paper con-
tanning one of his Taxpayer" let
tiers. She read it, sighed a little, and
said, softly. "Poor Joshua, poor
Joshual" and just then the dinner
bell rang, or Pm sure | should have
heard the whole story. When | got
back | told Kate that [ thought we
ought to do something to reunite
the long-separated lovers, but she
didn't seem to takeanym more interest
in the plan, which / thought very
mean, especially as Mr.. Dobbins and
her papa had lately become such
friends that he spent every evening
at the house. l went to Charlie for
sympathy. 81 suppose it is because
Kate hasn't a lover" [ said. "She
don't know how dreadful it would be
to be separated"
81 say, Gracie," Charley said, eff
Uncle Josh and your aunt get mar
ried, what is to become of us?"
perhaps they will ask us to live
with Them" | suggested, but Charlie
:. said he didn't want to live with Mr..
Dobbins, and l couldn't blame him
for that. "We can watt" [ said
soothingly, eve have only been en-
gagged a year, and they have been
separated twenty"
eyes, watt" said Charlie, spitefully,
"and let that ugly, long-leggedH Hunt
ley fellow hang around all the time"
and then we quarreled, and l gave
him back his ring and made up my
mind to ask Aunt Grigson to visit
me as soon as she began to tighten
her mourning. So l began to write
to her and tell her that her health
would suffer if she continued to wear
her heavy Grape all summer. Aunt
Grigson is awfully afraid of dying, so
she soon promised to wear a Glove"
veil and come for o months visit.
This and Kate's queer behaviorquite
excited me, so that | scarcely missed
Charles visit, until [ heard that he
smoked cigaretts all day long, and
had taken his sisters visitor out driv-
ing twice. Then [ began to wish
Aunt Grigson and Uncle Dobbins at
the bottom of the Red Sea-but when
Charlie did come down from his high
horse I made him eat q great deal of
humble pie, and promise not tointer-
fere in any way with my plans. Mr..
Dobbins had become rather spruce
lately; he wore shoes at least
two sizes too small for him,
sported a new cane, and
wore a flower in his button-hole.
"He don't want Aunt Grigson to
think that he is growing old,"I said
to Kate. The plot was now ripe, and
I began to hint in my letters to aunt
about an old friend of hers who
would be very glad to see her again,
and also to send her copies of all the
papers containing Mr.. Dobbins' COM
plants, marked with his initials. [
think she began to feed a little inter-
ested, for she spoke of her lonely
home and half promised to take
Kate and me to the seashore in
August. What had Kate to do
with it, I'd like to know?) "Near
enough to your home for any friends
to run over and see U.s." she wrote.
At last the day came Of aunt's arriy-
al, and just before train time came q
penitent note from Charlie saying
that he had quite forgotten to tell
his uncle of her intended coming;
'but hoped it did not matter"
Matter, indeed! Twas so mad that |
broke two hairpins buttOning my
gloves. [ waited for Kate to 90
to the train with me, but no Kate
appeared. However, great was my
Joy to see Mr.. Dobbins %quarreling
with some laborers who were making
an excavation in the street; as he
came away, swinging his cane very
fiercely, [ ran down the steps. [ was
no longer afraid Of him. knew now
his ill-humor was only a mask for his
secret sorrow. and that sorrow was
about to be lifted from his heart.
"Oh, Mr.. Dobbins!" l cried. "Who
do you think [ am expecting to-day?
My Aunt Grigson. Think you used
to know her. [ hope you will come
to see her." A moments pause en-
sued. during which [ wondered how
much he would increase Charles sal
airy, and whether he would ask us to
live with them or give us a house OF
our OWL. Then Mr.. Dobbins turned
and glared atme. eyes, younglady, [
did use to know her, and a precious
firt she was" Still jealous of poor
Uncle Grigson, l thought, what al
Othello, but l managed to falter: She
isprobably good deal changednow,
Mr.. Dobbins."
Changed" he snorted, ~ should
say SO. l saw her a year or two ago
in New York, and very fat and ugly
old woman she had grown to be-"
ooh, Mr.. Dobbins, how a you?"
I asked, half crying. why, Thought
you expected to marry her"
ana fortunately L uluu T., lie CHUCK
led, "for I'm to be her nephew now,
your cousin Kate Royson and [ are
to be married next month. You may
tell Savilla Grigson SO when size ar
rives."
walked on to the depot in such q
maze of rage and indignation that [
shouldn't have known Aunt Grigson
if she had arrived, but she didn't-a
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