The Coconino sun., 1901-02-23

Tt IS rather warm TOT the tlmc OI year," quoth the young lady, break ing the ice. -
 Albert raised his eyes and assent ed. He would have done so had Miss Pennington said that it was cold.
 "What nice eyes he has," thought she. It was unusual for Gladys, to notice mans eyes. "It was fright fully hot at the lake last August" she said, aloud. q think it could hardly have been warmer in town"
 "It wasn't bad in town, except in the middle of the day." replied Al bert, bravely.
 ''So you were not fortunate enough to be away on your vacation?"
 Albert laughed. "No, l have my vacations in November" It was then October.
 "That must be nice for shooting" murmured Miss Pennington, vaguely. "You hunt, don't you?"
 q fish little," answered Albert.
 There was another silence. Miss Pennington turned to her other neighbor. Then Albert found cour- age to speak to his, a young man whom he knew quite well.
 A November vacation was Hobson's choice with Albert. Sometimes, if trade was active, he got none at all. He came last on the list of clerks at Jobson's. But, when he could, he thankfully packed his bag and went to spend two weeks in the Wisconsin woods with his only living relative. a great-uncle. t
 Great-uncle Morris was fond of the boy and good to him. His log cabin and little farm would hardly support one. and Uncle Morris held it the duty of every man to do his share of the worlds work. Albert did what he could for Uncle Morris. He bought a small stock of groceries and shipped them ahead of his annual visits in order that the expense of his enter tainment might not be burden, and he faithfully sent the old man the best Christmas and birthday gifts that he could afford. Uncle Morris had told him once that the farm would be his some day and some times, when Albert felt Respondent at his slow promotion, he pictured himself as living in the cabin, in old age, without even nephew to visit him. The thought made him tender toward the old man.
 Just as Albert was about to speak to Miss Pennington, once more, he heard her fathers voice: "My dear young friends" and the rest of the dinner was devoted to remarks, part ly instructive and partly catechet- ical, from that gentleman.
 Nevertheless Albert went home re. joicing. He felt that he had made a great step. Thereafter, he was en- titled to raise his hat respectfully to Miss Pennington on Sunday and upon the rare occasions when he met her on the street. Moreover, as in duty bound, he made his dinner call and acquitted himself with credit. his con- versation being mostly with Mrs Pennington.
 Great-uncle Norris died suddenly that year, not long after Albert re- turned from his November vacation It was a shock and a surprise to his nephew, for the old man was still vigorous and had seemed in even bet ter health than usual. Albert ob. tained leave of absence without sal ary and, drawing his little balance from the savings bank, hurried to Wisconsin to be present at the funer- al. The attendance was larger than he had expected; he was pleased to see how many friends and neighbors came to do honor to the dead. Chief among the assembly was Judge Steinberg, of Oshkosh, who greeted Albert cordially.