Wichita eagle., 1888-09-25

4
won't see him again. But what-what the
deuce is that!"
A mingled look of terror, doubt and
amusement went over his face as he lifted
the end of his long, white beard, which ne
now observed for the first time He passed
bis hand upward and traced the beard to his
chin, and then he gave it a sharp tug.
"Of all the farrago Of nonsense which
comes in mans head in dreams, this is the
most absurd. A long, white beard On me, q
man of IS; and heavens" he continued, as
| he caught glimpse of his face in the mirror
over the mantel, .'there's white hair, and
wrinkles to correspond. This matches the
thin legs. I shouldn't wonder if / turned to
an old woman next, with black satin dress
and lot of faIbalas."
Here he burst into loud fit of laughter.
''What is the matter with my voice, I
wonderT' he exclaimed; ''it's of a piece with
my beard, and my wrinkles, and my legs. Ii
| were awake and looked like this, and
talked SO, should think / had got to be SO at
least Won't have fine tale to tell to Guy
in the morning"
Peter came in with tray bearing plates,
dishes and eatables, and John with the tea
service When they had spread the cloth on
the library table and arranged everything.
my rather stately housekeeper, Mrs. Lang,
sailed in.
Mrs. Lang" said ''lct me present you to
Mr.. John Trelawney, who remains With US,
and to whom every one in the house will pay
as much Difference and attention as to me.
Uncle John, this is the housekeeper, Mrs.
Lang"
Mrs. Lang was evidently mystifed, but
she was equal TO the occasion. She per-
formed an elaborate courtesy. Uncle John,
as polite old young gentleman, rose and
bent his body in acknowledgment.
"Now," l said, ''no one need wait, as we
are to have some conversation on family mat
tiers. can even dispense with your attend
ance, Mrs. Lang"
The housekeeper shifted family, but depart
ed with the others.
''Now for the feast of the Barmecides,"
said Uncle John, gayly. "No! the tea tastes
as natural as though it were tea. These
chops, too, what is the matter with my teeths
Why, hang It'll they're half gone. | see, all
in keeping-sans teeth, sans everything"
"Uncle john" interposed, ''you must ex-
cuse me if l caution you to be careful about
your eating. As your stomach has been &C
customed solely to liquid food for over
eIghty-four years, solid matter might
Liquid foodl eighty four years." he burst
out Now what could have led to such a
mental vagary even in dream! And know
ing this to be dream, why can't l wake
myself!'
The supper passed off, though Uncle John
would pause occasionally and tap his head
and smile. He evinced signs of fatigue
shortly after, and l led him to a chamber,
where assisted him to disrobe, and left him.
The next morning, finding he was very
weak, had chocolate served to him in his
room. The servants were evidently puzzled,
and l could fancy the below stairs parlia-
ment in active session. But they were well
drilled, and evinced no surprise in our pres
ence, and made no inquiries as to how and
when this newly found relative had come to
be visitor. About II o'clock my guest rose,
and l assisted him to the library, where we
had breakfast While we were eating he
was startled by the screams of steam
whistle-the railway passing within 200 yards
of the house.
/ ''Wha-what is thatT'
ooh, nothing" | said, ''but the train. We
have a railway crossing over the estate, and
q station within quarter of q mile from the
house. This was an out train, and the engi-
neer always sslutes me-"
Railway! train"
The servants were listening and changed
the subject by finding fault with an egg
which was overdone When we had finished
took Uncle John into the library, got him
an easy chair, and handed him one of the
/ New York morning papers. He looked az it
in amazement and repeated its title.
''Why, / never heard of it before he said;
fsand the type is so small that | can't read it.
Oh, | see! White hair, wrinkles, thin legs,
weakness, poor teeth, and SO failing sight is
in keeping l wonder am not deaf"
l took grandfathers spectacles from
drawer.
Try these,n 1 said.
He put them on, but shook his head.
perhaps you were near sighted when you
were young" said.
WAS! I am near sighted"
TRY these, then" and l handed him pair
used by my father.
| 'Ahl these do nicely. Let me see! July
! 10, 1854 That's funny. by telegraph, Lon
/ don, July 1S The queen received the Ameri-
| can minister at Balmoral to which he had
/ been specially invited Balrnorali the queenl
/ Queen of England l suppose, But why not
/ the kinga Balmoral! where is thatF'
/ at is Queen Victorias seat in the High
! lands"
/ And who the-I beg your pardon, but who
/ is Queen Victoria"
'She is the present reigning sovereign, and
succeeded William " forty-seven years
since"
ooh, she did, did shea and who was Will
| lam IV:'
/ He was Prince William Henry"
"What, that midShipman who set trounced
. Il,,tx ba IF
Wales.'
He succeeded his father, you know, as
( George " aud died without issue"
! "No. don't know But by telegraph
What does that mean, and how do you get
news from London in dayf Am expected
! to believe thatl The dream grows Queerer
and queerer."
explained the action of the electric tele-
! graph, but be did not seem to comprehend it.
The fantasies are wilder and wilder The
lightning is made a courier; by and by it viii
be bottled up for lamps, and the sun will
paint our portraits
IAN that has been done long since" re-
piled But the intrain is nearly due, and
With this field glass YOU can see it from the
balcony. There-I hear it in the distance.
You needn't rise, I'll wheel your chair to the
open window-so."
The train soon came in sight, dashed on
turned curve, and we could hear 1t slow
down as it approached the station Uncle
Johns hands shook, partly with weakness.
partly with excitement, but he seemed to
have had a good sight of the engine and cars
He sat there rejecting.
How was to impress him with the fact Of
his real condition. 1t would have to be done,
some time or other But would it overturn
Ii