Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-07-25

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Ella, as all we'll drilled little wiye:
SHOULD do, ooeyed her lord and master,
and dinner proceeded as usual.
When 1 had lighted NV post.prandja,
pipe 1 stretched myself out upon tbe
sofa, folded my arms behind nv head
and intimated that was ready to hea
the "plan."
My wife came and seated herself or
low stool beside me.
lou see, Charley" she began, with
round, solemn eyes fixed upon mine
II have thought and thought all day.
and this seems the only thing to be
"Well?" said expectantly, as she
paused.
"well," she went on, s'I am conf
dent that Uncle Simon will arrive first
on Tuesday, and he shall have the
pink room"
Il have no objection" L observed.
as she paused again, "but L fail to see
how that can help us.n
Charley, you are so stupid. dear.
You know there is something the mat
ter with the lock OF the pink room
door,
looked-as felt-bewildered.
es," L assented, helplessly.
well, Charley" In impatient tones,
don't you understands"
"I confess to being still at sea, nv
dear" said, with abject humility.
But go on Unfold your plan, and
my feebler intellect will try to follow.
Tue uncle who appears first upon the
scene, Uncle Simon, think you said
Is TO have the pink room, and there is
something the matter with the lock ol
the pink room door. think I have
mastered these two important points.
And apres."
Don't you see?" my wife went on
with growing excitement. "The lock
has often stuck fast before. 1t did the
last time Uncle Simon was here. We
could not get II open for ever so long.
Don't you rememberP So what more
natural than that it should 60 wrong
on Tuesday?" And she looked at me
triumphantly.
But, my child" murmured, "it
won't go wrong as you call it, on
Tuesday. Things never do go wrong
when they ought to. It's only when
they didn't eught to-" concluded vuI-
carly.
"Of course, you silly boy, I know
that. But then, ysu see. III make II
go wrong"
make 1t go wrongl" I repeated.
"What do you mean2"
Ella regarded me wltherIngly, then
said:
Really. Charley. you seem as If
you were being stupid on purpose. Why
of course, when Uncle Simon goes up
to get ready for dinner L shall simply
lock the door. Then we can pretend
that the lock has stuck fast again and
that we can't get the door open. When
Uncle Gregory has gone to bed-you
know he always goes quite early-we
can let poor old Uncle Simon out, and
give him splendid supper to make up
for the loss OF his dinner. He is very
good natured, you know. And then, -
she concluded, she will be away In the
morning before Uncle Gregory is UE.
So there you arel''
gave vent TO a low, prolonged
whistle.
you are a most Machiavelian
young woman, Ella" 1 said gravely.
"What a diplomatist you would have
madep'
"Yes," modestly; ST think it rather
nice little plan 1t came to my head
this afternoon while was putting baby
to sleep"
There are two rather serious obiee-
tions, however," 1 observed, after
putting at my pipe for some seconds in
silence.
"wellp" rather sharply.
"Well-it seems an uncommonly
sneaky kind OF thing, doesn't It? Even
for usl" with a grim SMILE
"Oh. no." promptly. Not when
you get used to the idea 1 thought so
myself at first, but it soon wore on"
"Ahl'' 1 murmered, lost in admirs-
tion of this remarkable and easy code
of morals.
"You said two objections. Charley"
resumed my wife. ~ hat was the
other?"
How are you SO sure that my uncle
will arrive firstP" L inquired. ''lt 1t
should chance to be yours wouldn't
give much for the success of your plan.
Mr.. Carper Is a very respectable old
gentleman-but l think you could
hardly call him sweet tempered He
"Now. don't make objections, dear, !"
interrupted Ella, docisively. II know
your uncle will come first. because he
always comes early in the afternoon.
and Uncle Gregory never comes until
the last train he can possibly get be-
fore dinner time"
"BesIdes,n said weakly, ''there
Will be no opportunity for the lock to
stick fast, I imagine. / don't think
my uncle locks his bedroom door. Men
don't generally. L never do.
.'Oh. II doesn't want to be locked
you silly boy. II left the key inside,
how could l fasten it outside? Really,
Charley. you are much less intelligent
tAo, T y-nn -
1 bore this accusation meekly and in
silence. Was thinking what fearful
row there would be II the imprisoned
uncle got out before the appointed
time and found Us entertaining the
enemy at dinner. Then q sudden feel
ing Of compunction took possession or
me-
mo. by Jove," / exclaimed, rising
from the sofa and taking up position
on the hearthrug, '1 won't consent TO
auy such plan. It's certain to miss
IRE somehow; and then we'll bs In a
nice scrape. Let the two old fello~s
come. and have done with It Ii they
disinherit US both, and ignore our sons
future, it can't be helped I'm heartily
sick of all this pretense, and underhand
nonsense, and 1 won't have any more
of it."
But Ella, after q dismayed pause,
wept and entreated so, and, In short.
caIoled me In the way women DO caloie
us when they like, TO such purpose tnas
I at last gave in and consented, where
upon hyperbolical letters were written
to both uncIes expressive OF our pleas
ure At their projected visit, etc, and
permitted myself the luxury OF oeins
in An exceedingly bad temper for tine
next few days.
The fateful Tuesday arrived In due
course, and by Elias special request 1
came home by a much earlier trsin
than usual. The afternoon mad pAsSeu
without bringing Uncle Simon Our
svil star was evidently in the ascend
emit. for at half-past 8 fly from the
station drove up to the door, and from
n stepped Uncle Gregory.
looked at Ella witheringly.
..Nsvsr mind. dear, (" she said in hur-
-,.d tones. sit can't be helped- IN
Just leave everything TO