The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-29

fuly-kept hOrin had awakened a new train
of thought and conjecture, that, somehow,
was connected in my mind With the mes
sage conveyed by the picture, and produced
tumult of vague wonderment.
CHAPTER ".
Another day of discomfort and anxiety
was nearly over, and I was trying hard to
hA my attention on a book, when Alison,
VINO was now quite a frequent visitor, burst
into my room in a state of unusual excite
ment, and her eyes and cheeks showed signs
of recent tears.
Allie my dear, what is the matter? Come
and tell me-"
l drew her down on the sofa beside me, and
took off her hat, while her blue eyes filed
again, and her lips trembled pitifUly
'Mollie,' she cried. what shall we do? 1t
is too horrible!'
But what dear? Do, please tell, me-"
oh it all comes of that wretched rob-
berry," she exclaimed more angry and resent
ful than | thought her gentleness capable OF.
ITO think that they would dare to accuse
and arrest dear Uncle Bruce!'
What did you say? What do you mean?'
I gasped.
Il mean she repeated tearfully, "the
they have just arrested is my Uncle
Bruce!"
But, Allie l said, bewildered, are you
sure? That was a young man"
"Of course, he is young, for he was the
last, and my father the first of large family.
the rest are dead Uncle Bruce is only
twenty-five, and he is the best and dearest
uncle that ever lived; and to think that he
5hould be suspected of stealing, like COM
mon thief"
My poor Alison" I groaned, this makes
it worse than ever. What do?" Then
a bright idea struck me, and l cried, joy
fully: How strpid are! Why, Allie, dear,
of course, as you are so intimate with him
you will easily be able to prove that he was
in London, as he says. at the time of the
theft
But Alison shook her head, dolefuly.
we have none CT US seen him, or heard
Of him, for nearly three years., she said,
sadly. until today when my father was
called upon to identify him.
appointment. I SUPPOSE that accounts for
your never having mentioned him to me in
confidential talk"
Alison nodded.
1--WE never speak of him at home now"
she said; lit is a very painful subject. You
see my grandfather died when Uncle Bruce
was quite a child, and as my father so
much older, he undertook the care of
him. and had him educated, with the idea,
that he would of course, take place in the
office which poor old dad seems to think
should be the height of a young mans am
btion.
"Unluckily my uncle disiked the idea from
the very first, and begged my ia Their to let
him study painting instead; but father would
not hear of it-painting, he said, was all
very we'll for a pastime, like music, or the
theater or any amusement: but he had no
patience with people who pretended to make
professions of such things and was resolved
that no money should go to encourage such
an idea.
HE offered uncle a good post in the Of
flee. with a prospect of partnership later on,
and for a time Uncle Bruce obliged to
accept it and study his art in spare moments.
But we all knew that he hated the life, and
chafed at the uncongenial work, and even
mother at last venteured to intercede for
him. for we were all devoted to Uncle Bruce.
who always seemed to me like elder
brother But you know how obstinate my
father is
Alison's story interested me strangely, and
listened with growing interest as she went
Father refused to allow him anything
excepting for his work in the Office and
Uncle Bruce worked in that way for a
year or two, until he had managed to save
a little money, and then he told US that he
had decided to leave the office for good, and
give his whole time to painting which his
artist friends sure he would succeed
with.
ooh Molle, that was a miserable scene
NY father was furiously angry, and said the
most bitterly unjust things to poor Uncle
Bruce until his temper too and a
dreadful quarrel followed, that I shudder to
think OFF,
"At last father declared that long as
his brother persisa ed in his folly he would
have nothing more to do with him, and even
forbade him to see or write to any of us,
unless to tell us that he had changed his
mind and was prepared to come back to
his work.
st shall never forget the hard look in Uncle
Rruce's white face, or the angry CLEAN in his
ewes that usually sparkled only with fun and
kindness; but he only asked calmly
lis this final. Richard?''
CIT is" renlied rather. and the sooner