Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-01-09

q helpless contemplation Of each othes
with wrinkled brows.
"Of course we must tell him." Annie
repeated, irresolutely.
"Of course" said Dud again.
But that was as far as he went.
A rustling sound from Mr.. Dodson's
armchair rouseds them to sudden
sense of his presence.
care you awake, Uncle Dodson?'
said Annie, getting up slowly to go tn
him, Dud 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 strange
one. 1t was q short, rather sarcastic,
laugh.
Annie and Dud exchanged startled
glances. Could he have overheard
them? No; it was impossible.
But he turned upon them abruptly.
$50 you've gone and encourages
that goodfor-nothing young Candy,
have you, miss?" he began, fixing
Annie with humorously-stern gaze
thrown yourself away on that young
upstart, eh?"
Poor Annie could only STARE, be-
wildered.
"And you, sir" Mr.. Dodson went
on, turning to his nephew-'you've
tied Yourself to some little chit of q
schoolgirl not out of bibs yet, sup
pose? A nice pair you are"
His listeners stood speechless.
did you-o-erhear us?" murmured
Dud, at last finding his voice with an
effort.
"Not word, sir-not word! said
Mr.. Dodson, coolly.
You're q clairvoyant, then" eja-
culated the young man, half bellev-
ing it.
Mr.. Dodson laughed again, in evil
dent enjoyment of their confusion.
"And you were afraid to tell NE.
eh?" said he. "You were going to
deceive poor, helpless, old MANI
"No, no" said Dud, in weak pro-
testation.
But Annie's face expressed only a
growing wonder,
"How did you know, Uncle Dod-
son?" she said, beseechingly.
For answer, Mr.. Dodson took up the
and-mirror-Annies 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
tinctness, the entire rear of the room,
including the chairs in which they
had sat.
"When I saw you, my DEAR" said Mr..
Dodson, looking up with twinkling
eyes into Annie's astonished face
"when saw you exhibiting a dia-
mond ring which appeared to be 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 it were some
thing worth looking att drew my own
conclusion"
"You aren't angry, dear Uncle Dod-
SON." said Annie, timidly, queer mix
ture Of relief and apprehension in her
face.
"But I am" said Mr.. Dodson, with
q smile which refuted his words, "and
= think 1 shall leave my money to-
well, say to Home for Destitute
Dogs. Neither of you deserves it!'
"But neither of us want It," said
Annie, tenderly. you'll enjoy it your
self for long time YETI
Dud echoed her words.
81 suppose I 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 we'd
ding, a few months later.
He gave away the bride; he made a
stirring speech, and he led a quadrille.
But his word Of congratulation to
young Mrs. Candy was puzzle to the
bystanders:
'You owe it all to the hand-mirror,
my dear"-Saturday Night.