Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1895-02-06
ACENUINELOVE AFFAIR

most disagreeable and forbidding air
$50 you expect me to pay your debts,
do you, sir?''
II thought that perhaps you would be
kind enough to help me, answered his
nephew Jim humbly.
Ibid you? Then you thought wrong,
young man. Do you suppose l have
nothing better to do with my money
than to squander it on an idle young
reprobate like yourself?"
II admit that l have been-er-wiIat
you say in the past, uncle, but | have
given it all up now and taken to steady
ways. have, upon my honor, and be.
lieve that if could once get rid of my
debts should do very well -
THAT the old story" sneered Uncle
Obed. "Penitence and reformation when
the sinews of self indulgence fail and
while the discomforts of debts are press
ing. But once set free, with a rehabili-
tated credit, you'd launch out like a
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 Bigham so often, eh?"
Il go down there to play golf" said
Jim. coloring, however, under his
uncle's scrutinizing gaze.
"a nice occupation for a struggling
young barrister to be wasting time and
money upon, even if the excuse were
truel But it isn't, sir. A girl is at the
bottom of your constant journeys to
Bigham, and you can't deny it."
"Uncle"
"Don' uncle me, you reprobate, you
silly, philandering young idiot! l al
ways knew you were fool, but hard
ly suspected you of such abject folly as
this. TO think of running after penni-
less girl, pauper, a poor relation, de-
pendent entirely on her aunt's bounty,
and you situated as you are. It's worse
than suicide, sirv'
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 butts, the other in
terrupted him rudely. "It's no use, your
! trying to throw dust in my eyes. heard
the whole truth only yesterday from
Miss Bailey, the young lady's aunt, and
| with whom she lives as companion
And properly disgusted the aunt is too
Says she shall send the girl away unless
she gives up her insane engagement to
you. And serves her right Poor rela-
tions have no business to fall in lore
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
good and true and pure and"--
Ugly" interposed his uncle, stop
ping Jim's outbreak. "She has monopo-
lized all the plainness of the family"
"And all their brains, retorted Jim
"She has none Of their money, you
idiotp'
"And none of their vulgarity."
Uncle Obed was now very red-in"
deed almost purple
''This is a nice tone to assume to your
urcle," he said, especially when you
come asking favors from him.
81 can't help it, uncle It's your
fault for abusing Gladys. She's the best
and dearest girl in the world. love
her with all my heart. and I mean to
marry her."
"How do you propose to marry on
nothing q year?' demanded his uncle
perhaps you think the girl will get
some of her aunt's money. But she
won't-not q penny. That have ascer-
tanned"
mo difficult matter, said Jim scorn
fully. Miss Bailey never ceases to i'm
press that fact upon all her acquaint'
| ances."
"She is quite right, you puppy, in
spite Of your sneers," retorted Uncle
| Obed. I'm these matters little present
candor saves great future misery. You
had better be equally candid with that
silly chit of girl and tell her that your
prospects as regards my fortune are. to
gay the least of it, remote"
s'She knows il" answered Jim curt
", too much annoyed now to think of
diplomacy. 81 told her that when !
asked her to marry me.
"Yes; l have no doubt You represent
ed me to her in pretty light But you
don t suppose | care, do your Your bad