The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-05-11

J: HOW JOE BRITTON
! WIS misunderstood
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


Aunt Salome. Well, this is her nephew,
the son Of a much younger sister. Aunt
Sulome died recently somewhere in Cali
fornia. and Joe is coming here to settle
up her little estate. The old farm over
Springville way was hers, and she left q
brick house in town. All of it goes to
joe"
SIS he college MANI" inquired Mabel,
stepping on thin ice again.
Il understand that he graduated from
one Of the western universities" said her
father, shortly.
Some little red schoolhouse up the
gulch. suppose" commented Mabel.
Her father looked at her sharply. then
pushed back his chair and left the table.
Cousin Joe came. 4 tall. rather dark
young man Of six and twenty. with strong
cheek bones. IL square chin and bright
gray eyes. John Trenholme brought him
home with hirl. and both women saw at
once that the newcomer had made an ex-
ccllent impression oa the head of the fam
lily. fact which aroused an additional
feeling of resentment in Mabe's soul.
"I'm disappointed in him." said Mabel
to her mother after dinner.
lie seems very quiet and unassum-
ing" ventured her mother
That's just it," said Mabel.
They saw little of Aunt Salnme's neph-
CIV during the next two or three days.
John Trcnholme took him away in the
morning AMI brought him back at night.
and then absorbed his attention in the
evening. Pretty Mabel thought her re-
spcctcd parent WAS overriding ii a little.
She hadn't been left alone with the west
ern youngster for Il single moment. What
was worse. the western yoGngster show.
ed no desire for her company.
One night he brought home with him n
large. square express package. which. be-
ing opened. disclosod Il beautiful tawny
skin of large size and exquisite markings.
d present for Mrs. TrcnhOlmc.
Its quite too lovely for Il rug" said
that delighted lady. What is it,
"A jaguar." replied Jcc.
"But there are no jaguars in Califor-
nia." said Mabel.
NO" said Joe.
as it from II menagerie|
"From a large one" said Joe.
And that was all he said about Il.
That evening they were going over to
Judge Graham's to an informal reception
in honor of Professor pel:on. diStin.
guiShcd educator from the great universe.
ty in the neighboring city. Joe looked
very well in his afternoon clothes. nnd
Mabel felt at ease as far us his outside
appearance was concerned. Ii he only
wasn't SO dull and stupid He didn't look
at her us she came down TIE stairs. and
she fiatterpd herself that her light gown
and new hat were both very becoming.
He was certainly very stupid young
man.
Joe walked with John Trenhome and
Mabel and her mother tralled behind. Inc
men were evidently enjoying zach other $
society to high degree. They talked
and laughed in Il way that was highly OK
aspcrating to Mabel. Why didn't the stu
pid fellow try to entertain her MS he was
evidently entertaining her father? Fer
haps her respected parent was hypno-
TIED.
When they entered the big reception
parlor at the judges. what was Mabcrs
surprise to see tnll scholarly appearing
man dart forward and seize Joe 10y both
hands and draw him into corner.
'Why. joe" she heard him cry, sis
this really you?"
That's Professor FELTON," whispered
UOHu " WIG thu hdh6H
ter. HE seems to know our joe"
Our joe" had n decidedly funny
Rnt our Joe" didn't applv to the
Young wcste.ner that evening. The Tren.
holmes enio7pd very little of his CONVEX.
49,: tS.,',. a., ,,os ,,,,,,,,I L,,t
s"',oi' ihS' 'hs potsss """ w., oI :.
t t"nlo'e n.Hi ne, rrh LUZ" ~ ~ nm ~
oIon,, to AIiss Ninprvn Graham the
i,drr's talented daughter. One would
bovo th,rybt J,a v,s tho twin linn NJ
,ho o,.an;n',
Nil -, .h;. :, hos. ,or,.o,.o r;+-
.,o hn.,, VIZ r;,-bt had thsse n,.,nIe
to monopolize her fathers guest? They
must he ,loipr IL Through sheer sympathy
What copIa ,hnv .ee in such stunid
fa,lonp
..vo,, h r,o.t ,,I;rhtF,, -;.;tor
Misc Trn,,,,Ir,e " said n roi,.a NJ hrr 81.
bnw She leaked m, II WINS Professor
pcl,on
.nh ,o, ,,,or Mr pr;t+o, - cold No.
H., ,', ~ ". ~. o,,;,o ~,
;Sd,t ,,,.in. u ,,,,;,, ,h,, r,anr,a
~ ,'l',,,,,,. t,,n,,. ~ i, ~. hnmsa,'
..parl,ars bo nnods IittIe dr., wing
out " ,,ij tho smiIirp nrofessor ".Joe ia
os nntnrt,iu;,y nc g, bnok whom vou yst
liz, .,,.,,J u,.,., bo ,,lJ ro,, ,bout
,ha f,b, nth thn i,,,n,rp NJ We'll
just ask him where he got that scar on
his temple. And just then the judge call
ed the professor aside.
A little later 1T was announced that
Professor Pel:on had very kindly extend
ed the duration of his visit and would by
general request deliver his famous lee
ture, up the Orinoco," at the Presby-
terrain church parlors the next Saturday
evening, whereat there was hearty ap-
plause.
After the Trcnholmes and Joe reached
home and just before they separated for
the night. Mabel turned to Joe and said:
Pardon me, Mr.. Britton. but I'm sure
there must be something interesting
about that scar on your forehead. How
did you get it?"
From cat" replied Joe with faint
smile. Good night"
Mabel felt for n moment as il she had
been rudely rebuffed. Then she smiled.
'.He must have guessed that Professor
Pelton told me to ask him." she muir.
INJURED to herself.