The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-06
,'Estranpe turned quickly around

Paul L Estrange turned quickly around
and looked at his uncle.
sis anything the matter, sirl" said he.
"The matter? No. Why should there
beY'
"Only your tone was SO peculiar-that
is ALL"
"Well, to tell the truth. l was think
ing" said Maj. L'Estrange.
"Of what, sir?" questioned Paul.
"Of where you meant to get the money
to pay for all these things" dryly an
swered the old man.
"Why, from you, of course" said Paul,
half puzzled, half amused. "You have
always given me all the money wanted"
"But that is no sign that | shall always
continue to do So" deliberately remarked
the old gentleman. "Look here, Paul, /
am thinking of turning over new leaf"
81 don't understand you, SIR"
Don't you? Then l must endeavor to
elucidate my meaning a little. The
money is mine, isn't it,"
"Most assuredly it u.s." Paul answered.
with knitted brows.
"Well, then, have right to deal it
out as | please. And l am seriously
thinking of stopping your allowance"
"Of-stopping my allowance, Uncle
Gerald?"
eyes. If you want anything you can
come to me for it, you know"
Like school boy, Uncle Geraldr'
cried the young man, with crimsoning
temples.
"Why not?" serenely questioned the
old gentleman. "Do you know, have
an idea that it makes man extravagant
to have the handling of too much mo-
ney. That, l believe, is your opinion
also"
"Mine, ehp" echoed PAUL.
cit is what you tell your wife," said
Uncle L'Estrange, with twitch of the
corners of his mouth.
Paul looked puzzled.
"But she is woman, sir"
"And ergo, she has no wants! Is that
logic, my boy?"
81 am always ready to give her any
thing she wants!" exclaimed the young
man.
EXACTLY the platform which l occupy
in respect to you," said Gerald. "And
yet you don't seem satisfied with the ar
rangement l propose. Come! Let's be
judicial, my boy. Let us be perfectly
impartial. Fiat justitia, ruat celum,
you know. If my niece's money is to be
dealt out to her penny at time, SO
must my nephew's."
"My dear uncle" cried Paul, jumping
up, Il never looked at the thing in that
light before. My poor, little Dolores.
What a sordid old miser I must have ap-
peared to her. Why didn't some one do
me the favor to tell me what an egregi-
GUS idiot was making of myself? What
shall l do, Uncle Gerald? Shall make
her a regular allowance-so much
week."
II dare say we shall find some salts
factory method of adjusting the bal
ance," said Maj. L'Estrange, with a
smile. "It's sort of ad hominem argu-
ment, this of mine, must confess; but
it was a real trouble to little Dolores,
and SO l thought I would just hold up
looking glass to you, Nephew Paul. But
don't look SO grave; you shall have your
supper at Auranio's and your chestnut
mare, and all those othel little luxuries
of life which have grown to be necesSi-
ties to you. But Dolores must have her
bon bons and flowers and little charity
coins also. AS | said before, fiat justitia."
"With all my heart, uncle, said Paul,
laughing.
And SO little Dolores won her cause
after all. She came to her uncle the
next day.
ooh, uncle" she said, II am SO sorry
told you that about Paul"
"Why, my dear?" asked the major.
Because we have talked the matter
all over" said Dolores, "and he is so
good. am to have separate allow
ance all of my own. Isn't he splendid!
And I wouldn't have him think I COM
planned of him for all the worldr'
Don't be afraid, my DEAR" said the
major. ut shall be a state secret be-
tween us two forever and day. And
you are sure you're quite happy now?''
"Oh, yes, quite" declared Dolores with
emphasis.
But she did not know that Uncle
Gerald was the magician who had
wrought this wonderful change. New
York Ledger.