St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-11-27
UNCLE BOB'S LOVING CUP.
A THANKSGIVING STORY.
BY PETER NJ ARTHUR.
Copyrighted

e. no, a fOurth-person pre-
1t ent, it is too bad that Il
kSssS SOL scene could not be give
ST. k2GcEEdGI permanent form by syn
Is pathetic artist. Edith an
Z Louis Ridgely were standing by Ii
tie cot saying, or rather looking, goo
! night" 10 their frstborn. She was tai
= graceful rather than imposing, and he
fine pale face was lit up by luminou
- dark eyes that glowed with the expe
n rience Of disappointed hopes and low
defeated by disobedience. Her way,
black hair was such as might vel
r, be called a woman's glory But while
her whole appearance and poise suggest
!. ed a complete and healthful womanhood
y there was still something about her that
suggested a capacity for teasing that
S might, if unchecked, develop into nag
5 gng. He, on the other hand, was also
: tall, with a tendency toward corpulence.
His plump clean shaved face had lines
of ndecison that were compensated for
BY an expression of warm heartedness
that is at the same time evidence Of a
quick temper He was simply bubbling
over with the glorious self satisfaction Of
a happy father AS for It-but it is a
sin to call baby 1t even with a capital
the baby, the king of the household, he
was sleeping peacefully. There was moth
ing about his breathing or little sleep
motions to indicate Group, collie or any Of
the ailments of childhood. AS the happy
parents stopped over the little cot the
father began in an affectionate whisper:
isn't he
"Sh-h-h-h" And the young mother
raised a warning forefnger.
At that moment the doorbell reused
the silent house with a double ring that
suggested urgency. The baby started
and began to wriggle, while the mother
patted him and crooned softly to soothe
him back to sleep. The husband tip
toed quickly out of the room so as to
reach the door before the bell should
ring again and complete its fell work.
When the baby was quoted and the door
had closed softly on the departure of the
LbltSIdDH messenger ~'lI - AtIdSClJ
brushed the brow of the tiny sleeper
with her lips in final good night, tucked
the little coverlet about him, turned the
night lamp a shade lower and stole from
the ROOM When she reached the par
lor, she found that she had passed from |
peace to a storm center. Her husband |
was pacing back and forth in the parlor
and was simply convulsed with rage.
"Why, what's the matter, LouisT'
; "Look-look at this. Read this" And
he held out crumpled telegram.
"The old scoundrelw he continued.
1.-THE nerve of him! l shall kick him
out of the house! How does he dare!
Huh"
whats this? Uncle Bob! I'm COM
ing to spend Thanksgiving with you.
Arrive tomorrow Ohw And the young
wife sank into chair overwhelmed.
/ Coming to see how his little scheme
worked toward making US miserable, l
suppose But perhaps he will try to ex-
plain that it was all a practical joke.
If he does, I'll show him where the
laugh comes in and see if he enjoys it,"
ooh, you mustn't do anything hasty,
dear! Your own experience as a lawyer
Should show you that sometimes the
most inexplicGble things become quite
simple when they have been explained.
| admit
"Thcre you are again, trying to find
an excuse for him, though you admitted
when we decided to settle the matter
forever and let bygones be bygones that
what he did was inexcusable if for no
other reason than that it had caused us
so much unhappiness. But the injury
was mostly-in fact all-directed at me,
so of course | can never expect you to
look at the old scoundre's conduct as |
do" The end of this speech was accom-
panied with a scornful information and
look of unreasoning anger at his young
wife that reused her in turn.
/ "Well," she replied, with exasperating
Quietness of tone, you must admit that
the real offense was not wholly his. OF
course he apparently did wrong in let
ting me know about your previous love
affairs, but he could not have done it if
you had not been a hirt before you met
me and deceiver after you did. You
always protested that you had never
loved before and yet it seems that you
had been engaged
ION, don't start that all over again!
Confound it all, haven't l proved to YOU
a hundred times that never really loved
any one but your"
eyes, and your tones and actions lust
now go long way toward showing the |
Sincerity of your protestations," she COM
mented sarcastically as an angry flush
Suffused her cheeks.
But before following their quarrel fur
ther it may be well to explain the real
cause of it. Uncle Bob was a bachelor
uncle of Emma who was engaged in
mining in the west and very wealthy.
Every few years it was his habit to come
east to spend part of his surplus, and as
ne was lavish in the entertainment of his
nephews and nieces he was q wonderful
favorite. Louis had known him in the
west before he had given up his practice
in western city and come to New York.
where he had established himself firmly
End become acquainted with Emma.
This acquaintanceship resulted in love
lind marriage that promised much hanni-