The Colfax chronicle., 1900-12-22
'TWOULD BE A PITY
30 She Made Up Her Mind Not -
Spoil His Holiday.
"THE IMpUDENT young sooun-

in his hand. Many thanks fol
berth. Am coming down by 2:3(
train to have a look round, if you
will allow me.-Yours, respectfully
Leo Tunbridge.' That's fine letter
for q secretary to write TO his new
master! I'll see him hanged before
I'll let him look round. It's mon
strous!"
Perhaps he only wants to see what
the village is like, uncle" suggested
Amy Welch, diffidently. "Being Lon
doner, he is sure to think it quiet
II don't care button what he
thinks, and I'm not going to alter
the village to please anybody, least
of all private secretary. l dare say
you'd like me to get switchback rail-
way and big wheel down, just to
make the poor young man feel more
at home. Bahl I've no patience with
you"
But you don't understand me, un-
cle," protested Amy. at is natural
that Mr.. Tunbridge should wish to
look around before settling down.
There are such a lot of curious places
to see. and young Londoners-"
II want secretary, not land sur
veyor," interrupted Mr.. Welch, refus-
ing to be pacified. Get your hat on,
Amy, and run down to the station.
You'll be in good time to send him
back"
ITO send him back" gasped Amy.
impossible, uncle. You've engaged
him."
"Tell him." went on the old man,
obstinately, that have changed my
mind, and that he is perfectly well
come to sue me for compensation.
won't have him in here at any price"
1t was very timid, shrinking fig
ure which stood on the platform of
Easily Station as the $3.50 train
steamed boisterously in. Th. girls
first impulse when she saw the door
OF third-class compartment opening
to the grip of a bronzed hand, was
to rush to the notice board and pre-
tend to be studying the time table,
but an officious porter was Just wheel
ing "a heavy truck behind her, and
she was obliged to stand her ground,
and strive to look dignified and busi-
nesslike. This was an uphill task,
seeing that her cheeks were already
glowing with a most unprofessional
color.
"Mr. leo Tunbridge, 1 presume ?r
she said. bravely confronting the tall,
handsome young man who had
jumped out of the carriage. I'll
have come to meet you."
He lifted his cap end smiled at her
with every feature of his good-hu-
mored boyish face.
"That is very kind of you," he said,
at his ease in a moment. Really, it is
quite novelty to find anyone wait
ing for me when / get out of train.
All my life I've been accustomed to
meeting other people and helping
them to unearth their boxes from
overcrowded vans, and no one ever
thought of doing the same for me
until now. haven't any baggage this
time, though;. it's coming on by
later train. Is your father quite
ready for me?'
"Mr. Welch is my uncle" stam-
mered poor Amy, bewildered by the
strangers flow of language. my fa-
theirs cut in India"
How charming! So is mine" went
on Leo Tunbridge, determined to be
agreeable. II shouldn't be at all sur
prised to hear that they know each
other by sight. It's an awfully small
world, and Pm told that everybody
is on nodding terms with everybody
else out there. Shall we go out now?
I'm just longing to get look at your
beautiful village. Let me see, wasn't
Lord Byron born here? No? / was
always given to understand"
"Please wait moment until / ask
the porter what time you can 90
back" interrupted Amy. in despera-
tion. "I'm afraid you will have to
wait for an hour or two, but there's
a copy of Addison's Spectator in the
gentlemen's room, and few odd vol
umes of Whittaker's Almanac. You'll
find lot OF pages torn out, and some
OF them are scribbled on, but YOU
won't mind that, will you?"
II don't gather what you're talking
about in the least" said the mystified
young man. go back! Why, l came
down here to stop. Your uncle en-
gagged me to be his secretary, and told
me could start when liked. There's
nothing about Whittaker's Almanac
ana waiting rooms in the contract"
10 back while there is time" she
pleaded, "and don't ask me any ques-
tions. Believe me, am advising YOU |
Tor the best. My uncle is such queer |
old man, and lie will hurt your feel
ings terribly. You will never know
when you are safe with him-he acts
SO strangely sometimesn