The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-12-19
CHAPTER VIII,
A MYSTERY

CHAPTER VIII,
A MYSTERY.
Mr.. Parker never forgot that memoir
able walk. With Margaret's hand upon
his arm he felt a manhood and dignity
within him such as he had never ex-
perienced before. They resumed their
conversation almost at the point where
baby interrupted it with the spoon. and
Margaret took pleasure in bringing out
the thought and sense that we're only
kept back by the difilence he had
found unconquerable till now.
IF | never see YOU again." he said,
as they parted; ''if we are never better
acquainted than we are at present, |
shall always remember this day. You
have taught me to have more confidence
in myself. l shall never forget that
you, with your beauty and high position
sc far above me- as you are in every
thing-considered me good enough to
sit with and walk with"
You will see me again." Margaret
said. II shall he very often at my sis
ter's now. l have to thank you, for YOU
saved me from a great disappointment.
l could not have seen baby. or STAYED
with him, had the room belonged to
anyone but Yourself"
They said goodnight, and a cab drove
up at the moment. A gentleman alight-
ed-a tall, stout, he%avily-built man, at
whom Mr.. Parker, at a distance of ten
yards, stared in b%ewildered amazement.
lie looked at his feet, expecting to see
a p%ondorous felt shoe covering a gouty
foot, and saw instead a shapely boot on
a foot of the proper size. He looked
from his feet to his face for a pair of
blue s%pectacles, and saw instead a pair
of clear, bright eyes, and then this gem
tleman went up the few steps with an
alert, powerful stride, carrying the
weight of his erect figure with ease and
dignity. Mr.. Parker saw him raise his
hat to Margaret, and distinctly heard
her say:
Uncle Michael.n
II am going out of my mind,o Mr..
Parker said to himself. II must be;
that beautiful creature has turned my
brain. l am going out of my mind, or
else / have seen aghost. Uncle Michael.
Why it was Mr.. Barker without his
equity foot and the blue spectacles!
Uncle Michael!-but these people may
be wonderfully alike. Steady! | shall
Ii against post presently and hurt
myself. Uncle Barker-Michael l mean;
the most extraordinary thing l ever
saw
lie told Mary when he reached home,
and she listened with a gravely amused
smile. Had not Mr.. Barker told her
that he and Uncle Michael were some
thing alike? 1t was no mystery to her,
but Mr.. Parker could not get over it.
"IIe was so much like the old gentle
nan upstairs" he said, "that when ne
looked at me-and he certainly did look
at mel half expected to hear his ter
rifle voice roar at me-"
II daresay you will see him here
Mary said, land then you can Judge for
yourself how much resemblance there
is. You took Miss Allenby home
safely?"
MY dear lady, you do not know how
much pleasure you have given me,n he
said, thoughtfully. ~ never met any.
one, except yourself. who food
me as your sisterdoes, or caredto What
a noble creature she ISL,
las good.n Mary said, "as she is
beautiful. She has a very high opinion
of you, Nj. Parker, and her friendship
is worth much to any man or woman. i
would accept anyone on trust whom
she had faith in; her instinct is so quick
and true"
That sens of manhood and dignity
never left Mr.. Parker again. 1t would
have Jared badly with his riotous friends
Lad they attempted to play their I'm
seemly jests upon him now. He stood
upon a different footing in the house.
and Miss Allenby, who came nearly
every day, rarely passed his door with
out stopping to say q few words to him.
Perhaps in mercy for him she v
stayed too long; she knew the poor fel.
low was stepped to the heart in love for
her.
They had almost given Uncle Michael
up for the night when he arrived in Or
thorpe Square: buteverything wasready
for him. Mrs. Allenby had tried her
best to remember what she could of her
brother-in-law's tastes and habits; she
had prepared the large front room on
the second-loor as a b~edchamber, and
put some solid, handsome furniture i'll
the room behind it, for him to read or
write OF smoke in-notth that he had ever
been a fayorite of hers, but he was her
late husbands brother, and he was rich;
the pains she took to please him were
not entirely based on seliishness.
Nothing conld have plensed the old
man more than did the unexpected
meeting with Margaret at the door. No
sooner had he raised his hat thar she
said "Uncle Michaelln and threw back
her veil to kiss him with q glad welcome
in her eyes. II shouldhave known you
anywhere" she added, softly-you are
SO like my father"
"God bless you, my child" he said;
'sthis is worth q thousand welcomes in
sidelp
He had looked with dread and dis.
taste upon the prospect of a formal and
prepared reception, and he knew that
Margaret's was genuine. Accustomed
As he was to expect IN Interested mQ-