Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-07-22
T DO believe that my uncle is the
most selfish man who ever

IOulcu " near cOuutIllUdIO IOGy TtudEh!
respecting that gentleman.
why, in the first place darling a,
you are only too well aware" replied
Bob, "he refused his consent to our be
We'll, dear Bob, lie may have been
right there" said Ccely, Soothingly
Twenty is little young to get mar
ried. isn't it,"
Not a Bit" answered Bob. impa-
tiently. If a man doesn't know his
own mind at 20 he never will"
But you may see some girl whom
you will prefer TO me- suggested
Cicely. Somebody who is better look
ing. or more accomplished"
What nonsensew exclaimed the
young man, irritably. DO you think
I'm boy. to change my mind every
five minutest"
20. no, dear replied Cicely, caress-
ingly but such things have happened
you know, and though it would break
my heart to lose you. would rather
you found out you didn't love me be-
fore we were married than after
wards"
But ] do love you, my own little
sweetheart. and always shall, ana We'll
get married in spite all the old can
tankerous uncles in Christendom
And as Bob spoke he placed his arm
around her and drew the young girls
head down on his broad breast.
Robert CurZOn was a student in st.
Georges Hospital. and Cicely was a
nurse probatOner at the same estab-
lishmcnt, aged respectively 20 and 10.
They had fallen in love with one an
other some six months previously, and
Bob had at once written home to his
uncle, Major Mainwaring, who stood in
loco PARENTS to him, as he was an or
phan.
There was very little opportunity for
making love in the hospital, but the
young people were in the habit of meet
ing in the park whenever circum-
stances permitted, and it was on a Sc
cluded seat that the conversation we
have recorded took place.
After II short interval. devoted to
what the novelists of previous gem
Grafton were in the habit of calling
tender passages" Cicely drew herself
gently away from her lovers embrace,
and putting her hat as straight as the
absence of II looking-glass would per-
init, inquired
What is this fresh news from your
ogre Of an uncle. dear"
why, | heard the other day." re-
spondcd Bob, that he was dangerously
i'll, had fall while hunting. and so
thought it would he splendid oppor-
tunity while he was weak and i'll to
get his consent to our being married.
an dhcrc is the communication whicn
I received this morning in reply"
And pulling a letter out of his pocket,
Bob extracted the contents from the
envelope, and read the following
epiStle;
"llonored Sir-l has been derectcd by
you're uncle, Major Mainwarlng. to
arnSwer your letter He tells me TO
say as how he can't write himself. but
he will Sc you, something as dom,
Ike 10 put on paper, first. afore lie lets
you marry afore you're twenty-five. He
also ses as how YOU bein mixed up in
II Ike, ort TO no We're to get him good
herse, and your to send him down can
manege him. | also sends chez AS de.
sired, and remain, you're obedent ser.
want, JABEZ RUNcEp"
He's the old mans valet and facto.
tum,' explained Bob. as he finished
reading the letter "And now. don't
you think that it is the most selfish let.
terry you've ever heard|
Well dear, | think You ought ~
make allowances
Look mere. Cicely," intcrrupted Ro,
Il know this man, and you don't I'm
the son of his favorite sister and IN,
only relation he has in the world. hos
an old man. who can't expect to live
much longer, who's had lots of fun IN
his day; been in the army in India and
a.. that sort of thing. YOU know ana
! he-er-er-behaveS in this sort of
way, | CONSIDER tn it's disgraceful
has had his turn; why can't he let
me have mine"
Bob, I've got an idea" exclaimed
Cicely, suddenly turning round and
taking his hand in hers as she spoke.
Let us have It, my dear" answered.
Bob in that patroni2ing manner which
very young men are fond OF assuming
In their dealings with the opposite sex.
lit may suggest something, don't you
know"
MY idea. Bob is this: Your uncle
wants nurse; let me go down and at
tend him, and when I've restored him
10 hellth aud he Is completely couval-