The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1889-11-01
UNCLE J0AB'S MISTAKE.

think it will be a match, and I'm yery
glad of it. A nice, straight, cherry
checked girl, with eyes as black as jet
o girl that has a fair notion of a batch
of bread, and can make softsoap with
anybody. I couldn't wish Frank a bet
ter wife"
"Some folks has all the luck" said
Farmer Crabbe, whose son was married
ito q pretty slattern, who reads novels
all day, and had no more idea of house.
keeping than the kittens that frisked on
her hearth.
1T amt luck" said Uncle Joab; cts
faculty-that's what it is"
And his wrinkled visage beamed with
satisfaction as he stood there under the
great feathery elm hat Swallowed the
farmyard gate, thinking what a model
wife Lydia Watts would make for his
only son.
1t had been the pride of Joab Fenn's
life to make his farm the model farm Of
the neighborhood, and when his SOL
came of age he formally decided it oyel
to him.
cts for Franks sake I've been max.
ing it what it is" said he. "Let hin,
go on with it now"
But, Father"
Joab Fem laid his hand softly or
Franks shoulder.
my boy" said lie, in a voice tina,
faltered a little, what object in life
have I beyond your happiness? Bring
home a nice, stirring little wife, carry
on the farm as I have begun it, and ]
shall be happy"
"You are the best father in the
world" cried Frank, fervently.
Farmer Crabbe trudged home with 6
setting of Black Spanish eggs in a hand.
basket, and Joab Fem strolled ~leisurel,
along the lane, his hands behind his
back, his eyes bent m%editatively on the
fresh grass, when suddenly the sound Of
voices behind the vine-draped stone
wall at the left reached his ear
franks voice and that of Myra Miller.
the pretty little distant cousin who did
the housework and kept the famil,
stockings darned.
Don't, Frank" said Myra. "There
you've split all my b~lackberrieesr!
"Oh, bother the b~lackberries" inter
jected Frank Fem; II can easily &c
some more. Here, Myra, let me carr,
the basket"
"But-your father wouldn't like it,
"Give it to me! will have it! Why
shouldn't he like it, Puss? ?"
"Because-you know, Frankly
dial"
"Oh, nonsense" said Frank, cava
lierly. Gas if Lydia Watts were hal
as pretty as you. That's right-don't
shrink away SO. Aren't We cousins?:'
Aud the CHEEKY young voices died
away among the berry bushes.
Uncle Joab stood quite m~otionless,
his hands still clasped behind his back,
his eyes still rooted on the grass. but
the expression of his c~ountenance had
altered altogether.
1T won't do" muttered Uncle Joab
to himself; "it will never do in the
world. This little blue-eyed mite of a
thing is going to spoil all my plans. At
this rate I must send her to Cousin
Peregrine Birtwhistle's."
And the very next day Myra Miller
was ruthlessly given notice to quit.
"Have I done anything wrong, Uncle
Joaby" questioned Myra, looking visit
fully up into her relatives face.
mo, my dear, no." said Uncle Joab,
twisting himself about rather guiltily.
@But old Mrs. Birtwhistle has the
rheumatism badly, and perhaps you can
be made useful there. Frank will soon
be married, you know, and"
Myra's lipquivered; the tears spark
led in her eyes.
"Oh. Uncle Joab, are they really en-
gaged?'
"Well, no, not quite, but the next
thing to it" said Uncle Joab. "It's an
understood thing between EN-"
Now this was trenching on the abso-
lutte truth of the question, but Uncle
Joab had an idea that it would not do
to mince matters just at present.
The girls sweet. 1ower-like face fell
instantaneously.
81 will go to Cousin Peregrine's"
she said, in a low voice. "I'm only
sorry I hadn't known before"
And Uncle Joab felt particularly
guilty as he kissed her good-by.
All this business was automatically
transacted in Frank Fenn's absence,
and when he came home from town with
q pretty little churn which he had
somewhere picked up for Myra the girl
was gone.
where's Myra% demanded the
young farmer, looking around in be-
wilderment.
3Gone to stay a spell at Cousin Pere-
grine Britwhistle's,@ said Uncle Joab,
glibly. aThey needed here there, and
So sue gone.
aAnd left no word for mel"
No. said Uncle Joab. But he
knew that the monosyllable cut Frank
to the heart.
They were married, Of course Pretty
Lydia Watts was exactly the girl to
comprehend the situation, and made the
most other advantages. And Frank, in
his Responding mood, succumbed to
fate, and supposed il might a we'll be
LYDIA Watts assany one else
Talk about circumstances, said
Uncle Jcab. ANY man could mold
GId6llI1sf12afs aipse!t y only ~