The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-07

blurted out. You are right, Matllua-
He is no more ruined than 1 am; and
nice mess we've made OF II. But you
must 60 tomorrow, my dear. and see
him. I'd come with yon. but think
should DE best away; 80 that you may
throw all the blame on me. say what
you like, and do what You Ike; but,
for Heavens sake, secure him some
howl"
Next morning Mr. Bateman COM
planned of a headache. and stayed AZ
home.
1t was barely IL. when Mrs. Yeoman
was announced, and he had to pull hard
at his moustachevso check a suspicious
twitching OF his lips. Mr.. Teape had
been reading the paper. and he laid
this down as he rose to greet her cour-
teously. She shook hands with him
warmly. and then with the others; but
she chose a chair close TO his. and adj
dressed him so pointedly that there was
no awkwardness in Mr.. Bateman beg
ging her TO excuse them for few min
utes as he led his wife out OF the room.
Once outside, he behaved in a most
extraordinary way. He rushed TO an
ottoman that stood at the head OF the
staircase and flung himself upon it:
then, with his handkerchief stuffed
hallway down his throat, he rolled
about in silent laughter.
What is. Reggie? 1 don't UNDER
stand,"
Don't you, darling Then go and
listen at the door. i daren't. 4 shall
choke or explode"
But at that moment the door slipped
open an inch or two. and they distinctly
heard Mrs. Yeoman saying:
"Well, dearest uncle. you Will prom
ise to come to us. won't you, and stay
mean, altogether Life Is so short,
and we have been parted so long"
1t was TOO much for Reggie, who flew
downstairs and into the dining room,
where he laughed himself into COM
parative composure.
When his wife came I'm to say that
Matilda had gone. there We're threaten
ing symptoms OF a fresh outbreak; but
he observed something like distress in
her puzzled look, so he pulled himself
together. and said:
Don't be troubled darling. ] think
/ am madder than usual. But IL has
been so amusing. And | planned IL all
to get for the dear old fellow some con-
sideration from Matilda. Why do you
suppose that she came this morning.
II don't know; but she seemed TO de-
vote herself 10 uncle"
"Yes: and she pressed him TO go to
Richmond. And she shall go on TO the
end devoting herself to him, and press
ing him TO go to Richmond. Can't you
guess why?"
annuity"
"She does not think so. She has put
two and two together. and discovered
in him the relative masquerading as
a poor man 10 test the affection Of his
nieces."
"Oh. I never dreamed OF this. We
must go and thank him for his splen-
did gifts TO us. But what is there to
laugh at. Reggie. in uncle being rich.
after all?"
That's just 1t. Matilda thinks he is.
and she must go on thinking 1t. But he
isn't"
"He is not the relative then?"
"No."
'who is?"
"Oh, just a dear old stupid who has
the bad taste to be very fond OF YOU"
"Reggie--you? But
Eyes. it's lot OF money. isn't it?"
And there's more to come: for i backed
my luck when had 1t. and ! invested
n good deal in what is turning up
trumps. Where did get 1t 10 invest?
Why, from the Hamburg lottery busi-
ness. You said YOU knew ! meant try
ing it, and ] did. But there never was
such luck. Everything went right, and
l swept the deck."-Answers.