The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-08
Somebody's Uncle.
CTale of a Portrait. In Two Parts.)
PART II.

PART II.
| It had been knocked down to a man
named Smith, and the buyer had paid
the money and taken the picture with
him That was all 1 could discover.
| Just at this time Jenk, our family doc
| tor, invited me to his birthday party.
Jenk and myself were old pals, and as he
| informed me that several OF my chums
| would be there, / accepted the invitation.
| I was in for a big surprise, however. !
had hardly got into the hall when what
should 1 clap my eyes on but that very
picture. 1t was hanging. somewhat reno
waited, by gold wire in the coy par
lor.
Then, as 1 stepped into the room I
heard pretty voice say:
'Oh, DOCTOR Why. that's unciei Oh, I
am so gladi l thought that horrid-"
Now, you may guess 1 was surprised
when I heard that voice.
Jenk caught sight of me.
Halo, Old fellow" he said. Miss
Stewart. this is an old friend of mine
Mr.. Gordon"
Her face was a picture as she turned
to me. guessed instantly who the 'hor-
rid was. She did not seem to be recon-
ciled 10 me- but I felt if I could get into
her good graces 1 might explain to her
that she was laying claim to my only an
cestor. 1 couldn't help noticing that she
was even prettier than I had thought.
We were eventually left alone, for which
I have TO thank Jenk. He's a very good
fellow in that way.
For a little while she did not speak.
Then when l asked her to let us be friends
she looked up shyly and slowly put out
her hand. I was overjoyed to find that
she took in the situation without an ex-
PLANTATION, though 1 would have liked to
explain.
However, I took the first opportunity
of getting Jenk into a corner and tell
ing him my story. He seemed surprised,
and simply said he had taken a fancy to
the picture. 1t seemed reasonable enough
for him to say this, but the moment he
had spoken I felt that he had been gull
ing me. In some way 1 formed an opin-
ion that he had brought us two there sole
ly on account of the picture, and when
we sat down TO supper my suspicious were
confirmed.
well. Miss Stewart" he began, re-
proachfully, ~ didn't think you were ca
pable of playing such a trick upon me,
really didn't
She looked up surprised. and gave such
an innocent little laugh that I felt tempt
tain he was abiding to the picture.
why, what ever have L done?" she
said. Two tiny dimples were in her
cheeks, and her eyes peeped merrily from
under their long lashes.
My fist clenched.
It's too bad" said Jenk, in an appar-
emily much-injured tone. AFTER my get
ting interested in your story of your I'M
cles portrait I find that you have been
laughing at me; that the uncle isn't yours
at all, but Gordon's."
My doom was sealed, knew, as he ut
tered those words. The smile died out
of her face and the look she gave me
sent my head dizzy. We were friends
no longer. 1t was war to the knife.
If was deeply in love with her before.
I was insanely so now.
1 came upon her alone later in the even
ing. I hung on to the belief at that mo-
ment that another explanation would
smooth over things. Instead, she almost
few out of my sight It was in the par
lor, and that old humbug Of an uncle faced
me as she flew away. Why L didn't pull
verize his wrinkled face then and there
1 don't know; but I must have been very
near it.
In another hour the party would break
up and do what 1 would 1 couldn't find
a means of our becoming reconciled. At
ter passing an hour of torture cudgeling
my brains, 1 stepped into the hall, to find
Miss Stewart on the point of depart
ing.
The man who was to drive her home
had just finished his whisky when his eye
lighted on the picture He looked hard
and softly, and squinted, and finally slap
ped his leg and chuckled.
1 glanced at Miss Stewart, who stood in
the doorway, and was met by a defiant
look that had a touch of triumph in it.
Our thoughts were evidently in the same
direction. We each expected to establish
our claim now by the evidence of the
,oachman. No doubt he recognized "Old
Bill
We'll, if that amt a licker," he said, |
squirting and looking again.
You know him, perhaps, do your" |
asked Miss Stewart, clutching the mans |
irm.
Know him?'' said the man with a grin
I think I does. Why, dash me! that's |
ny old uncle.''
think if had had a mallet in my |
land at that moment nothing could have |
me from banging his skull.
l gripped him like a vice, and Miss |
Stewart and L exclaimed together, Your |
lncle?"
All he said, with an astonished nod.
my old uncle-old Bill! Ah?" he re-
,eated "'es waitin' outside, too, looking
Lfter the ole pony"
His old underwriting outside-looking |
-fter the old pony? I could hardly be-
ieve my earsi
But when he brought in his relative
here was no doubt of his claim The
raywhiskered, touzled old fellow was like
he portrait as two oranges are like one
mother.
There y'are," he said-"that's 'imv'
md he gave another grin. why, Bill"
lie said, bowling in the old mans ear
its no mor'en two years since that chap
ainted it. is Itch, Bill? e never turn
d up with the fifty pun we wuz goin
o ave when it went IN the 'cademy, en-,
}ul?''
And that was the dismal ending-old
Bill was alive and kicking. and the fam
" nose was a fraud.
1 don't know how il came about, or what
vas said; but know that 1 walked home |
With Miss Stewart, and remember that
he porch Of her house was dark when
re parted.-Answers.
ExtPntion of Metric System.
The Russian government, 1t is reported,