The Opelousas courier., 1901-01-12
a helpless contemplation Of each other

-
with wrinkled brows.
"Of course we must tell him." Annie
repeated, irresolutely.
"Of course" said bud again.
But that was as far as he went.
A rustling sound from MI. Dodson's
armchair reused them to a sudden
sense of his presence.
"Are you awake, Uncle Dodson?'
said Annie, getting up slowly to go to
him, bud following.
wide awake, my DEAR" said Mr..
Dodson. promptly.
"Does your head ache?" said Annie,
bending over his chair and feeling
deeply hypocritical.
Mr.. Dodson's reply was a strange
one. 1t was q short, rather sarcastic,
laugh.
Annie and Dud exchanged startled
glances. Could he have overheard
them7 No; it was impossible.
But he turned upon them abruptly.
$50 you've. gone and encouraged
that good-for-nothing young Candy,
have you, miss?" he began, fixing
Annie with humorously-stern gaze
thrown yourself away on that young
upstart, Ell"
Poor Annie could only stare, be-
wildered.
"And You, SIR" Mr.. Dodson went
on, turning to his nephew-"you'He
tied yourself to some little chit of q
schoolgirl not out of bibs yet, / sup
pose? A nice pair you are"
His listeners stood speeches..
did you-o~erhear us?" murmured
bud, at last finding his voice with an
effort.
mot a word, sir-not a word" said
Mr.. Dodson, coolly.
You're q clairvoyant, then" Ella
culated the young man, half believ.
ing it.
Mr.. Dodson laughed again, in evil
dent enjoyment of their confusion.
"And you were afraid to tell ne.
Ell" said he. %You were going to
deceive a poor, helpless, old mani"
"No, no" said bud, in weak pro-
t~estation.
But Annie's face expressed only a
growing wonder.
"How did You know. Uncle bod
son?' she said, beseechingly.
For answer, Mr.. Dodson took up the
hand mirror-Annie's birthday pres
ent-from its satinlined case, held 1t
before his eyes, and motioned the two
to look into it.
1t reflected, with wonderful dis
thickness, the entire real of the room,
including the chairs in which they
had sat.
when / saw you, my DEAR" said Mr..
Dodson, looking up with twinkling
eyes into Annie's astonished face
"when / saw you exhibiting q dia-
mond ring which appeared to be d re-
cent acquisition, and bringing up the
album to show-well. let us say old
Mrs. Presley's picture-and when I
saw you, sir, whipping out an alb
surd little tin-type and actually talk
ing about it as though 1t were some
thing worth looking at drew my own
conclusion"
"You aren't angry, dear Uncle Dod-
son." said Annie, timidly, a queer mix
ture of relief and apprehension in her
face.
But 1 am" said Mr.. Dodson, with
a smile which refuted his words. land
l think l shall leave my money to
well, say to a Home for Destitute
Dogs. Neither of you deserves itr'
but neither of us want it." said
Annie, tenderly. you'll enjoy it your
self for a long time yet"
bud echoed her words.
Il suppose / shall divide it equally
between you," said Mr.. Dodson, mus
ingly, "but you don't deserve itr'
Mr.. Dodson was among the liveliest
Of the gay gathering at Annie's wed
ding, a few months later.
He gave away the bride; he made a
stirring speech, and he led a quadrille.
But his word of generalization to
young Mrs. Candy was a puzzle to the
bystanders:
"You W it all to the hand-mirror,
my dear!"-Saturday Night.