Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-04-05
band knew OF this and for some rea-

Oa0Q knew OF this and Tor some reas
son Of his own changed his mird.''
Dear child" said my uncle, you
weave quite pretty romance. That
little head Of yours is full of surprises.
| know a mystery is dear to a woman,
almost as dear as bit of scandal, but
don't build too much on it or you will
be disappointed. The man had proba-
bly, done his business with Captain
Bob out in Australia. 1t might have
been serious mining speculation
Ballarat, you know, is a great mining
center. II such is the case, what more
natural than that the man, hearing
Bob vas coming by a certain ship,
should be anxious to see him?"
"Why did he refuse to leave his
name?"
"As he said, it was probably imma-
teriaL I've often enough said the same
thing. Trust me, your husband will
soon turn up with a glowing prospec-
tus in his pocket describing a marvel
Gus property which IS within easy
reach of Ballarat. know those pros
pectuses. I've drawn up few of them
myself, in which have described with
wonderful fidelity reef or region l.
have never seen. Believe me. your
husband will presently blossom into d.
rector, possibly the chairman-:f they
can't buy a lord-of the Great Ballarat
Gold Mining company, Of which your
mysterious foreign gentleman with the
strange eyes will Most likely be the
vender."
My mother Immediately recognized
that it was no use arguing with him
when he affected that mood and. dear
fellow as he was. she always avoided
the city in talking to him. for once set
going on that topic he was a difficult
man to stop. So she went out to see
about some tea, and While she was
away he Informed me that there was 4
local Christy minstrel show in Maiden
head that night. for which lie had two
tickets. and that he had driven round
to see if l would care to 90. Of course
it meant staying the night at his house,
but he would drive me- over after
breakfast the next morning Boy like.
jumped at the offer. though did not
fail to notice that my mother gave
her consent with just a little reluc-
tance-a reluctance which | know my
uncle failed to perceive. Indeed. it
was no unusual thing for me to spend
days together with him when
was home for my holidays. and am
sure the thought that she might not
want me- to go never for a moment oc-
CURED to him.
fancied that she held me longer in
her arms than usual when the time
came to sag goodby. Her great eyes.
too. wore sad. wistful look as they
met mine. and | think now, as pic
ture that scene. afresh, that the strange
light which l noticed in them must
have been caused by unshed tears And
though | knew no cause for tears
recOllect well that she touched some
point OF tenderness within me and th:t
l kissed her again and again, and that
even when half way down the little
path. moved by some unaccountable i'm
pulse. | turned suddenly round. rushed
back to her and threw my arms about
her neck.
Come on. you baby" cried Uncle
Jim. who stood smiling by the open
gate, but as l passed him he laid his
hand affectionately on my shoulder.
and saw great giadness in his eyes.
He loved bis sister no less than |. and
that formed sweet bond of sympathy
between the three
Then sprang into the cart. and IN
Gle Jim came tumbling after me. Saun-
ders. the aforementioned wizened old
man Of II. let 60 the horses head. and
away we went My mother, standing
in the porch. pretty, pathetic figure in
a white gown. waved US a last fare
WELL