The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-01-06
4 new YEARS STORY.
UNCLE cHARL1E's RIDDLE.

UNCLE CHARLES RIDDLE.
There is no loneliness like the soli-
tude OF q stranger among the busy
thousands In the crowded town.
30 felt Charles Merrill-Uncle Char
lie-as he threaded his way through
the city on New Years Day, many
years ago, to pay his invariable visit
at his brothers house. Uncle Charlie
loves the country as dearly asI do.
He was. at the time of which write,
a country gentleman, well-to.do. with
oil the refinement Of education, and
the true polish OF Christian courtesy
You would know him anywhere for q
man who could be trusted. In q crowd
he was the man whom you would sin.
gle out, If you wished to ask a ques.
tion. And still he was just
the person whom an imposter
would avoid. Nobody tried him with
tales OF feigned distress. Nobody Of
feret him gilt watches as gold, with
which the owner was compelled to
part. No confidence man" ap-
preached him, for there was some
thing in his clear gray eye which told
you that he could see through the
arch-device, conceal it never so wisely.
The honest applicant in real need
never failed to address him, and was
seldom disappointed; for Uncle
Charlie had that species of Freefha-
sonry which honesty esta blishcs
among honest people.
So it was no wonder that q little
girl. scantiIy clad, but very neat,
timidly approached him and touched
his arm. She had been repulsed many
times on that New Years morning;
sometimes by those who rude
ly scolded or curtly answer
ed her, somtimes by Others who
rendered her small money to escape
her importantly. She held q handful
OF small coin as if she really did not
know what to do with it, how she
came by it. or why people gave it to
her. Uncle Charlie looked intently ut
her face and then at her blue arms
and fingers, which trembleG with the
cold, as in one hand she held her
money, and with the other drew her
thin shawl about her.
"Why, child" he said. with smile
the least shade satirical, ''you should
hide that money in your pocket before
you aske for more. There is more in
your hand already than two or three
pennies to buy q loaf ofbr end Poor
child" he added, in a kinder. tone, "per.
haps you have little use for q pocket,
you indulge in no unnece ssary lux
uries."
IL did not ask you for money!
said the girl. "And did not ash
those who gave me this. My mother
did not send me out to beg, and w
have loaf of bread for today, and
one for tomorrow"
"Well, then, what is it?'
81 wish somebody in all this gre.1t
city to go and see my mother, for ST.,
told me to-day that she had not 4
friend in the worll!"
"And you could not find friend in
all thisgreat city and SO have taken me
who come here stranger. Why, little
one, you don't think to take me in
me, q right sharp man, from the Jer.
seys."
"Oh, sir. don't tease me, please.
Don't joke with ME, for I am quite
ready to cry. ! know you are kind
hearted man, whatever you may pre-
tend"
Uncle Charities first thought was tc
shake her off. He read tho news.
papers, and knew oil about the tricks
which are played in the cities upon
innocent travellers. The little girl
still stood shivering by his side. She
waited his decision without saying
another word; but her eager eyes fur.
lively scanned the passing crowd, as
if looking for some one else whom she
might accost. Uncle Charlie put his
hand in his pocket
snow don't do that, for I will not
takeyour money"
"Well, you are q strange"-bergar,
he was going to say, but he thought
better of it. "Go on, and l will fol-
low"
And so they went, Uncle Charlie all
the while thinking that he would not
figure in the 'local columns" of the
newspapers. even if he lost his watch
and pocketbook. He would suffer and
be silent. and no Alderman's office
should hear the story of his wrongs.
But his. decent opinion of him.
self assured him that nobody could
impose upon him! No, indeed! The
child, as she hurried along, looked
less and less like q little rogue.
Uncle Charlie began to think that she
was pretty, and as he scanned her ap.
pearance henoticed that her garments.
though scanty, were the well-saved
witnesses of better days. She turned
down court, and Uncle Charlie, fol.
lowing, soon found himself ushered in.
to room where he was little expected.
The single inmate was as much sur
prised as he.
"Mother," said the child. "yon said
you had not friend in the world. /
uhS0 UFOuBut you OIle. ana Cne Gu.
rious child looked round complacent-
ly. as if she really thought she had
done q clever thing.
The mothers face expressed bewll.
dered ast0nishment. But in O mo.
ment, though unused to mlrth, an in.
voluntary smile succeeded. II could
be angry with you" she said, "you
strangest of all children. But know
you think you have done right. And
must tell you, sir, that whatever my
little girl has said to you was of her
own notion, and not OF mine. sent
her Of an errand. hours ago, and had
begun to be frightened at her absence.
What is that you have in your hand,
Edith"
II did not ask for it," said Edith,
as she put the money on the table.
"They would give it to ME, and there
1t is. / said was no beggar."
The mother sank into O chair, over.
come with modification, and hid her
face in her hands. The discounted
child leaned against tho wall and
looked steadily ut the floor. Uncle
Charlie helped himself, unlimited to a
seat, and, feeling that his watch
and purse were still safe, deter.
mined to see the adventure out.
''Pretty clever acting, if it is acting"
he thought. He took in the whole sit.