The Holly chieftain., 1897-08-27

way round the lane, because the field
was iull of cows; and. as Babs said:
lows are drefful tings. cause Zey
might be bulls" So the autumn after
noon was turning to evening when they
reached the fish pond where Uncle JacE
ought 10 be. Bu; no Jolly uncle ap,
Peared-pc perhaps his mamma had pui
MN IN the cupboard, because he was 50
naughty and made Auntie Jill cry. Rex
and Iabs began TO feel cold aud tired .
Il "is-I wis We hal a lot of tea,
lamented Babs
Perhaps we shall come 10 camp,
SAID ReN consolingly, travellers always
do. Then they will give Us some buf.
ialo cooked in pot on three sticks over
the IRE; and tell us where t Unclc Jack
! is"
SO they trudged on. cheerfulIy, lit
tie farther. But II got 50 dusk, and the
cows looked SO large and Wild in the
fading Light that they might almost
be real buffalces-which are very diff
ierent from play ones, as everybody
| knows. Bab's shoe stuck in the mud,
and couldn't be found, and Rex fell in
some stinging nettIcs, and they both
! got scratched scrumDIing through a
hedge. SO poor little Golden hair sat
| down on i bank and cried. and Rex
! stroked her head. and would have cried
| too. If crying hadn't been out of the
| question for big boy, who vas nearly
4 man. dada said.
Just then Farmer Burton came along
! with his dog Rover. He found them
| some apples out OF his pocket, and
| listened attentiyely whilst they eN-
| planned matters OF course. he ought
to take them straight home, but--a
wicked smile crossed the old mans lips
! they had come out to find Uncle Jack
and perhaps it would be good thing
! If they found him. He had seen him
walking diStractedIy about in Sleepy
| Hollow few minutes ago, and he knew
something about lovers guarrels. Why.
when h" MAS counting Dame Margery.
/ 40 years ago, they parted forever once
month. But he didn't tell the young
/ sters anything about this. only took up
Babs on his broad shoulders. and walked
along so fast that Rex had to trot to
keep up with him.
why does you laugh. Misser Bur
( ton?" inquired Babs.
"Oh. because you're such funny
| little girl to 60 hunting bufraIoes''
But il was WeN zat was gon' to
shoot zem," apoIogized She.
"Oh, beg his pardon" said the joyial
old farmer. Perhaps he would like to
stop behind and shoot them now?"
/ But Rex thought they'd better be
getting home as it was so late. Buff
I faloes, he admitted. in his private mind,
| were not 20 nice to hunt in the dark
As they were crossing the hollow. a
! big gentleman cane stridiug along.
Here's Uncle Jack" they both cx-
/ claimed at once.
why, Babs-Rex." cried he in amaze
/ ment. Whatever"
"Oh. they've come to look after you,
MIR Jack" said old Burton, solemnly.
| They'll tell you all about it. Perhaps
/ yOu'll see 'em home as it is getting late"
/ SO saying he disappeared over stiie
| with remarkable agility for his years
and size. All the way home he laughed,
until Rover thought that he must be
/ going mad, like some Unbalanced dogs
/ in hot weather. All that evening he
] chuckled to himself, until his dame con
| fided TO the hired man that the master
had something on his mind for certain;
and the hired man thought that "meb-
| be he'd had an offer for the heifer."
But not for many long day did he tell
I the story of the hunters
We'll, you young pickles," said Jack,
who used to be uncle, what the dickens
are you doing here? What the deuce
am to do with you?" he added, under
/ his breath, as he shouldercd the grille
Babs looked at Rex, and Rex looked
at Babs. I'VE were looking for YOU"
said the hunter at length.
cause we fort" said the huntress;
/ and then she, too, stopped.
! Uncle Jack smiled dismally and
kissed them both. "Well?" he inquired.
We 'spected you'd been naughty"
explained Rex.
ITO Auntie Jill" added Babs, cause
she's been cwyin'."
Awful" said Rex. solemnly.
AN we 'spected you'd be solly,"
I BltahVh lpubs, UP " HlLll
Elise no one wouldn't love YOU" put
| in Rex, emphatically. feeling thnt his
advancing years justified judicial at
| titude.
Jack hcsitsted and queer lump came
up in his throat. Jill was a tlresome
| little tease. 1t hadn't been altogether
his fault But Jill crying, Dear little
Jill! who told you to Gomez" said he,
looking puzzled.
Nobody" answered Rex.
1--WE folded our own selves" ex-
planned Babs.
of course jill wouldn't send them;
he might have known that. "Why do
you think Auntie Jill cried because I'd
been naughty""
Cause she cwies when Wex is
naughty, an mamma puts,him-"
Don't be such donkey. Babs," in
terrupted Rex, Indignantly.
Well" said Jack, '.I suppose must
take you young rascals home, anyhow"
AN say you's solly," pleaded Golden
hair.
Il should II | were you" counseled
Rex, putting his hand in that of Uncle
| who-used-to-be. because he was very
nice uncle, and nine isn't SO old in the
dark. "Men mast put up with some
thing from girls and ladies. and be kind
10 them" he preached. soemnly
That's real true. My dada says So"
Jack didn't say much, but he held
them very tight and carried Rex as well