Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-03-12

pretty Things, vases ana Jars ana pipes
and screens, and I don't know what
all !"
"Oh those thingsl" says Uncle
Jack. "Well if you like 'em, do al
you please with EN-"
MAY II Thank you. Then IL
have some of them down in twink
Ing" said the girl.
She searched among the treasures
and put here quaint jar to holt
flowers, there an old screen or a panel
a rich rug before the fireplace, queer
boxes and trinkets on m antels ant
shelves. and vastly improved the looks
of the old place.
She even penetrated into the bes
parlor, which was only opened on
great occasions, and added many
touches there.
Over the stately, old.fashioned sofa
there hung a portrait of handsome
young fellow with merry eyes and q
dark mustache which interested Alice
greatly.
1t could never have been Uncle
Jack-and it looked too new, besides
"Mrs. Conner, who's this?" she
asked standing before it. one day.
"That is Mr.. Erskine's nephew
Edwin Lawrence" said Mrs. Conner.
He brought it to his uncle last
summer. Edwin is a wild boy, but
he's got good heart in him, for all
that"
"Is it good picture ?" asked Alice
Very good. You'll see him at
Christmas, and can judge for yourself"
said Mrs. Conner.
Somehow Alice took glance at
the picture in the'parlor a good many
times after that 1t would be rather
pleasant to have a young person about
the house. To be sure Uncle Jack
and Mrs. Conner were good and kind,
but then it was little dull, and a
young companion would liven up
things, especially as he was cookbook
rather-if the portrait was a
correct one, as Mrs. Conner said
So Alice began rather to long for
Christmas to come. AS for Uncle
Jack, he seemed to be growing young.
er and happier every day. 1t needed
no nephew or any one else to make
him contented. All, kind. foolish
Uncle Jack What wild dreams were
running through your head, those
days?
This bright young presence around
his house, seemed to him so like the
very Alice he had known so long ago,
it brought back the hopes of that past
time, and renewed them again. Was
it too late? Might not this second
Alice bring yet the JOY the first one
had failed to dol
All, Uncle Jack !! Do you vainly
dream that May and December can
never come together?
Christmas was drawing near, cold
and bright. Alice had been over to
the town to make some purchases,
with Uncle Jack. They were expect.
ing Mr.. Lawrence in a few days.
His room was all ready, upstairs, and
Mrs. Conner had planned some of his
favorite dishes, but he had not yet
arrived.
1t was late when Alice and Uncle
Jack got home, so while he went to
the sitting-room, Alice ran at once up
to her own chamber, to put away her
purchases before supper. Uncle Jack
had been most kind that day. He
had supplied her with unlimited
money for her own needs, and given
her several nice presents.
Alice was very grateful, and as she
ran down stairs again, she resolved to
express her gratitude in way she
knew he would like.
The lamps we're not yet lighted in
the sitting-room, but the fire cast
faint red glow over the old furniture,
and over some one sitting by the fire.
side.
Alice slipped up quietly, bent over
suddenly, and kissed the person in the
chair on the mouth, saying =
That's for thanks, Uncle Jackw
But oh horrors! The next instant
she saw she had made dreadful
mistake! The tall, 81 ender figure
which rose from the chair was not
Uncle Jacks burly forml 1t was an
entirely strange voice which said, as
Alice flung her hands over her face.
1T isn't Uncle Jack, but he thanks
you for such kind welcome, all the
same ~
The stranger held out his hand, but
Alice turned and fled. to hide her
burning cheeks in her own room.
Nor did she come back, until
Uncle Jack himself called her to
supper. Then, when she walked Sc
dately into the sitting-room, the lamps
we're lighted, and Uncle Jack intro
duced her to Edwin Lawrence. his