The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-06-28
! HOW JOE BRITTON
I WIS misunderstood

John Trenholme looked up suddenly
from his breakfast plate.
I've surprise for YOU" he said. You
can't guess who is coming to make us a
visit"
Mother and daughter exchanged
glanccs.
Don't you remember my telling you"
said John, "of certain Aunt Salomc
who was very good to father when he
was a boy: There was nobody quite like
Aunt Salome Well, this is her nephew.
the son of a much younger sister. Aunt
Salome died recently somewhere in Cali
fornia. and Joe is coming here to settle
up her little estate The old farm over
Springville way was hers, and She left a
brick house in town. All of it goes to
joe"
rs he a college man." inquired Mabel,
stepping on thin ice again
Il understand that he graduated from
one of the western universities" said her
father, shortly.
Some little red schoolhouse up the
gulch, | suppose" commented Mabel.
Her father looked ut her sharply. then
pushed back his chair and left the table.
Cousin Joe came. \ tail. rather dark
young man of six and twenty. with strong
check bones, square chin and bright
gray eyes. John Trenholme brought him
home with him. and both women saw at
once that the newcomer had made an OK
ccllent impression on the head Of the fam
lily, fact which aroused an additional
feeling of resentment in Mabel's soul
I'm disappointed in him" said Mabel
to her mother after dinner.
He seems very quiet and unassum.
ing" ventured her mother.
That's just it," said Mabel.
They saw little of Aunt Salome's neph-
ew during the next two or three DAYS.
John Trenholme took him away in the
morning and brought him back ut night.
and then absorbed his attention in the
evening. Pretty Mabel thought her re-
spectcd parent was OVERRIDING it little.
She hadn't been left alone with the west
ern youngster for single moment What
was worse, the western youngster show
ed no desire for her company
One night he brought home with him n
large, square express package, which, be
ing opened, disclosed a beautiful tawny
skin Of large size and exquisite markings.
present for Mrs. Trenhome
Its quite too lovely for a rug" said
that delighted lady What is it?'
"A jaguar," replied Joe.
but there are no jaguars in Califor-
MIA" said Mabel.
NO" said Joe.
rs it from n menagerie"'
"From Il large one" said Joe.
And that was all he said about it.
That evening they were going over to
Judge Graham's to an informal reception
in honor of Professor Pelton, a distin.
gushed educator from the great universe
ty i'll the neighboring city. Joe looked
very well in his afternoon clothes, and
Mabel felt at ease as far as his outside
appearance was concerned. If he only
wasn't so dull and stupid. He didn't look
at her as she came down the stairs. and
she flattered herself that her light gown
and new hat were both very becoming.
He was certainly a very stupid young
man.
Joe walked with John Trenholme and
Mabel and her mother traled behind. The
men were evidently enjoying each others
society to a high degree They talked
and laughed in way that was highly OK.
asperating TO Mabel. Why didn't the stu.
pid fellow try to entertain her as he was
evidently entertaining her father? Per.
haps her respected parent was hypno-
tized.
When they entered the big reception
parlor at the judges, what was Mabcs
surprise to see tall, scholarly appearing
man dart forward and seize Joe by both
hands and draw him into a corner.
why. joe" she heard him cry. lis
this really you"
That's Professor Pclton." whispered
John Trenholme TO his wife and daugh.
ter. "He seems to know our Joe"
Our joe" had a decidedly funny
sound. Mabel laughed
But "our Joe" didn't apply to the
young westerner that evening. The Tron-
holmes enjoyed very little of his CONVEX
saton. First the professor would but
tonhole him, then the judge held him in
lively conversation. Then he was passed
along to Miss Minerva Graham. the
judges talented daughter. One would
have thought Joe was the twin lion Of
the evening.
Mabel resented this in her pcryersc lit
tie heart What right had these people
TO monopolize her fathers guest? They
must be doing it through sheer sympathy.
What could they see in such stupid
fellow?
"You have a most delightful visitor.
Miss Trenholme," said a voice at her el.
bow. She looked up. 1t was Professor
Pelton.
"Oh, you mean Mr.. Britton." said Ma.
bel cNmplacently. Yes. he's quite an
ideal guest. He is so quiet that mamma
and | scarcely know he's in the house"
Perhaps he needs little drawing
out" said the smiling professor. Joe Is
ms entertaining as book when you get
him started. Hasn't he told you about
the fight with the jaguar? No? Well
just ask him where he got that scar on
his temple" And just then the judge call
ed the professor aside.
A little later it was announced that