Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-02-23
Uncle Eim's Motor,

Aprie Hughes stood in the back
PORCH. among little crowd of chick
ems. They had run clucking up at
sigh Of her. having learned to connect
the pink dress and blue bowl with a
2tass of crumbs.
As she lifted her face the bright sun
sshfz,s showed it pathetically pale and
thin. considering its youth and pretti-
ness- Her sister Kitty passing the
&itchen window, frowned as she
glazed out.
MY" she said to herself; "how
dreadful bad Annie does look out in
the light. That comes O. Dick not be-
IN here for a whole week; an that
come o'-well, p'r'aps fathers spaz-
.xuns is dangerous, but guess it's to
Annie most. If this keeps on, some
5ody'n get a piece O my mind!
Somebody" was her father, Abime-
1ech Hughes, or Uncle BIN, as he was
scommonly called. He was widower,
with two daughters, the elder of whom,
Hftty, had been his housekeeper since
Aer mothers death many years before.
Mitty was thirty-five. practical and
,Imrozaantic- She did not turn toward
marriage, preferring to remain In the
familiar home where she had entire
seGufrDl. But Annie, more than doz-
SGn years her junior, was Of a softer
mature. She was already wooed and
Wun by Dick Welby, prosperous
.yuAhx, farmer of the neighborhoed.
they had planned to be married
early in the spring, when Dicks new
Aoxse would be completed. That was
Xwp months ago, and Annie was still
Annie Hughes. with no near prospect
=Afs; Becoming Mrs. Richard Welby.
Eos hsr father. himself was the unex-
spected obstacle.
1t was too bad of Uncle BIN, since
HE bad given ready consent at the
tims'0f- their engagement And why
:notz asDick owned one of the best
farms in the countryside, and was
thrifty and energetic into the bargain.
A manly. good-natured young fellow,
he Had everybody's good word.
If was just one of Uncle Bins no
dons. for, though shrewd at driving a
bargain. ne was both; crochety and
He always had some sort
of whimsey in his head. which lasted
until it was driven. sout by the next.
People understood this and made al
rIewance for it, as it. was amusing, and
adnrI lno one.
Bnt the present notion. threatened
yrayer results. AS the time for An
MES wedding drew near, Uncle BIN
began TO fidget about the changes in
volyed- He could not have everything
cpseI, he said, so long as he felt SO
poorly. To. strengthen his position,
me- brought forward a constitutional
shortness of breath, which, in spite of
the DOCTORS assurances, he maintained
wnnlf yet be the death of him. 1t
was useless for the young people to
declare that they would not upset any
fling; that they would just marry
ami settle down quietly. Uncle BIN
answered with such strong
sYu39eEmne of "spazzum" as cut short |
farther argument. Thus he had gained |
his own way for more than two
nfnfhs. And the end seemingly was
moi yet
v Dirk had no faith in these "spaz-
zumsL" STILL there was always the
uncertainty, and, even If
he would have risked it, Annie would
nDs. 1t-was a gloomy outlook, and, as:
TIE iweaks passed, he became moody !
and sullen. J. Finally matters reached
= crisis. He quarreled with Annie,
and went away vowing that he, would
not come again till she would consent
tn marry him at once.
Wick kept his resolution for week.
Then chance glimpse of Annie fair
Iy frightened him by the change tire
yealed. Throwing pride to,the winds,
me- harnessed his brown mare in hur-
ry, and DROVE rover to- Uncle. Bins.
:: His sudden appearance so startled
Annie that she nearly dropped tray
OF dfishes:. But Uncle BIN looked up
pIacidly from his aftsr-dinner pipe.
:sSst down, Dick, he said. kin
or stranger, amt ye? Ben busy?".
J, Yes, Il have" answered Dick.
c.Safne business that's brought me
over here today. I'm tryin' to figure
ont whether Annie an me are goin'
to be married or not. See here!" He
caught hold of Annie, and turned her
wan face toward her father. Does
that look like the same girl you your
self give me leave to court last year?
where's her color? where's her bright
eyes? Can't you see you are KILN
her by inches?"
But here Uncle BIN, who had begun
to fidget on his chair, suddenly slid to
the floor, where he lay twftching.
THE send s at hand" he gasped.
Gimme the eamfre!-Hitty!"
Kitty rushed in at the call. Don't |
you worry, father" she said as she ap-
psfs4 the camphor. 'well have you
round agatl in, no, time. Nothin' but
4 stitch In the side. guess" ..
NIFTY Bald her father ,solemnly.
my reign ID short The old mower