Smyrna times., 1895-08-28
A Genuine Love Affair.

"Ha" said Uncle Obed with his
most disagreeable and forbidding air.
so you expect me to pay your debts
do you, sir!''
1 thought that perhaps you would
be kind enough to help me-" answered
his nephew, Jim, humbly.
Did you? Then you thought wrong
young man. Do you suppose l have
nothing better to do with my monev
than squander it on an idle young re.
probate like youP"
Il admit that have been what you
say IN the past, uncle, but have given
u all up now and taken to steady wavs
have, upon my honor, and l believe
that if l could once get rid of my debts
| should do very we'll"
That's the old story, "sneered Uncle
Obed. "Penitence and reformation
Wien the sinews Of self-indulgence fail
and the discOmfOr,s of debts are press.
ing. But once set free with rehabili.
tated credit, you'd launch out like
lord. know you, Jim"
Upon my word, uncle" replied Jim,
earnestly, you wrong me, indeed you
do. My one aim and object now is to
settle down into quiet, steady fellow
And there's another thing" the old
gentleman went on, without noticing
his nephew's protest. What takes
you down to Bingham so often, eh ?"
II go down there to play golf" said
Jim, cOloring, however, under his
uncle's scrutiuizing gaze.
IA nice occupation for struggling
young lawyer to be wasting time and
money upon, even if the excuse were
true But it isn't, sir. A girl is at the
bottom of your constant journeys to
Bingham, and you can't deny it."
"Uncle!"
Don't uncle me, you reprobate, you
silly, philandering young idiot! l al
ways knew you were fool, but l |
hardly suspected you of such abb ect
folly as this. To think of running
after penniless girl, pauper, a poor
relation, dependent entirely upon her
aunt's bounty, and you situated as you
are. It's worse than suicide, STRIP
Uncle Obed by this time had grown
very red, and was evidently working
himself up into one of his most violent
RACES.
Il do not quite know what YOU have
heard, or from whom you have heard
IT," began Jim, nettled by his uncle's
overbearing tone; "but"-
Never mind the but" the other in.
terrupted, rudeIy. ITS no use vopr
trying to throw dust into nv ewes I
neard the whole Truth, only yesterday.
from Miss Bailey, the young LADIES'
aunt, with whom she lives as comnan.
ION. And properly disgusted the aunt
Is, too. Says she shall send the girl
away unless she give up her insane en-.
gagement to you. And serves her
right. Poor relations have no business
to fall in love with one another"
Look here, Uncle Obed," exclaimed
Jim, firing up, ''yOu may pitch into me
as much as you please. I'm used to It
from you, but not a word against
Gladys Boyd. She's everything that's q
good and true and"-
Ugly" interpOsed his uncle. stop.
ping Jim's outbreak. "She has mo- :
1opolized all the plainess of the family. /
"And all their brains, )" retorted Jim. i
"She has none of their money, YOU b
diot!" =
And none of their vulgarity."
Uncle Obed was now very red-in. h
Iced, aim ost purple. I,
This is nice tone to assume to vour h
lncle," he said, Especially when Won n
ome asking for favors from him." q
i can't help it, uncle. It's your
ault for abusing Gladys. She's the If
est and dearest girl in the world. n
1ve her with all my heart, and mean ir
} marry her." -
"HOw do you propose to marry on h,
othing yearP" demanded his uncle. SC
Ferhaps you think the girl will get OF
'me of her aunt's money. But she cl
ont-not a penny. That l have "a
:.
NO difficult matter" said Jim, scorn. sh
lily. Miss Bailey never ceases 10 w
npress that fact upon all her acouaipt. IL
lces."
She IS quite right" retorted Uncle
ped. I'm these matters little pres. lv
It candor saves great future misery bs
on had better be equally candid with Tn
at silly girl and tell her that your te
ospects as regards my fortune are. to fri
y the least of 1t, remote" do
she knows it, answered Jim. curt. te,
, too much annoyed now to think Of II,
plomacy. Il told her that when / yo
ked her to marry me-" elc
Yes, have no doubt you repre. tat
nted me to her in pretty light But th,
u don't suppose ! care, do you9 loo
'ur bad opinion of me is infinitely th.
're fiattering than your good, l as to
re you" an
Jim acknowledged the compliment reg
tn a sarcastic smile, which made tar
lcle Obed's red face turn distinct In
ade redder. wa
This is enough of your imprudencen sw,
said, angrily. II will give you my ref
'imatum without further waste Of VIII
'rds. Although you're a worthless !
Q fellpw, who deserves no assistance, pul