Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-09-02

these were the grimmest kind OF facts.
SO in day or two poor Uncle John was
pereectly miserable. No one had any
thing to say TO him, and he moped in his
miserable little den alone, wishing he
hai, remained at the mines, at St Louis
anywhere. rather than have come here.
But one evening there was tap at the
door which interrupted the most dismal
reverie he had yet had. and who should
enter but Miss Fanniel
She threw her arms around the old
mans neck and began to cry little, and
he, rather bewldered, responded by such
soothing words as he could command;
and presently she said: ''Oh, Uncle John,
what must you think Of us all? You are
treated so badlyl | arn going to tell
you the truth, dear Uncle John; it's
mammals fault. Lucius says it's sin
and shame, and so it is, and l won't
encourage or take part in it."
There was a good deal more sobbing,
rather unintelligible and very affecting
to the listener. but the truth soon peeped
out, and John Warbeck in a fash saw
all.
The revelation was the greatest grief
of his life. His sister. the pretty. kind
Clara of long ago. changed to thisl
.'She loved my money and not mel" he
thought. 1t is worth a quarter OF a
million, and more. to find out thing
like this. Now, what shall do about it?'
Fannie's countenance soon cleared up,
seeing he was more cheerful. and 90 they
talked a long time in the soft twilight
Of that little room. and she told him, as
he tenderly sinoothed her pretty hair, a
little secret. II was, Of course, some
thing in regard to Lucius. She and Luz
cius were secretly engaged to be mar
ried
"And you see this pretty ring, Uncle
John? Well, he gave me that-isn't it
beautiful it's pledge, you know,
of his fidelity and truth. We are going
to wait for each other ever so longl"
And truly they were, If poor Fannie
was going to wait for the accumulation
of that .'easy competence" upon which
her mamma insisted as sine qua non,
but which as yet was thing seriously
projected and not begun.
All this was very delightful to old
John Warbeck. poetical romance in
which he instantly became profoundly
interested, to the entire exclusion of his
own affairs. He got up, went over to
his trunk, and took from that capacious
receptacle pair of old fashioned ear
rings and breastpin The breastpin
was u large locket set with diamonds,
and there was faded daguerreotype in
1t Of a lady-some one, perhaps. whom
Uncle John had once admired.
yours, my child" he said, tenderly
pinning the gift to her dress, and placing
the earrings in her hand when you
look at them sometimes you'll think Of
old Uncle John, won't your
These things We're antique enough, it
is true. but worth dare not calculate
how much. Fannie kissed her uncle SO
often, between crying and laughing,
that for the first time he realized the
coveted sensation Of ''being eaten up"
And so she left him and slipped down
stairs to show them to mamma.
Mrs. Archbald's large eyes opened in
the greatest amazement.
1.-The handsomest | ever saw!" she
CALCULATED with gasp; and that even
ing John Warbeck was invited to sup
with the family = ito try the fried
chicken
Somehow he had sort Of instinct
that enabled him to see humiliation in
anything that savored of resentment,
and SO he complied and greatly relished
the fried chicken. Fannie's little con-
tidence, however, was not without its
effect. He no longer remained moping
in his room. but went out every morn
ing with great regularity, and seldom
returned till nightfall. He also became
very intimate with. Lucius, and what
ever their secrets were, Fannie, | s,is-
pect, was not excluded from sharing
them.
''Clara,r said Mr.. Archibald one day to
his wife, ''who do you think met in
| Spurrier's banking house this morning,
making deposit, toog'
81 don't know, Mr.. Archibald, I'm
sure"
] John Warbeck."
john
Her husband nodded. Mrs. Archibald
became thoughtful, and something
startling seemed to have occurred to her.
That night John Warbeck was agreeably
SURF ed to find that he was no longer
to occupy the little back attic room.
why you will insist ON that horrid
room, John, can't imagine" said his
sister, ''when you know there are three
or four vacant chambers on the second
foor."
We'll, Clara. it's all one to me-" he
answered good humoredly; "but, now
that we are alone, | want to be frank
with you. I've been here for some time,
and--and it he hesitated-',i goes
against my grain to live at any place
without paying for my accommodation,
you know, don't feel Independent.
Now, here's a hundred dollars-not for
my board, You know, Clara--but Just as
a present want YOU to buy dress OF
something with it,"
John Warbeck," said Mrs. Archibald
Indignantly, ii do not deserve this in
suit Your home is here as long AS mine
is here. felt honored-l felt touched.
john. she continued, tears starting to
her eyes, when you wrote that you in
tended to spend the evening of your
days under my roof; and now to offer
money-to your own and only sister
who has always loved YOU
And she quite broke down and sobbed
violently.
John put away the money and soothed
her as well as he knew how. but she left