The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-07-02

I observed my uncle closely while
he talked to my father. He was tall
man, slightly built, with regular fea.
lures, fresh complexion, and keen.
restless eyes. His manner was very
earnest, and he had habit Of looking
hard at the person to whom he was
speaking. His style was too asSres;.
sive to please me. but / considered
him q very clever man. and was much
interested in all that he said. Per
sonally. be slightly resembled my
father; In other respects the two men
were absolutely different My father
was q man of few words. and his sub
dued manner showed that he regarded
the doings of men rather as a specta-
tor than as an actor among them.
My uncle and father continuing to
talk together upon subjects In which
neither my aunt nor ! could join. 1t
occurred to me that the lady was ne
elected; and I delibefated upon the
expediency Of opening q conversation
with her. Failing to think OF anything
more appropriate, / asked her how she
liked England, but was SO nervous In
putting the question that / Knocked
the contents Of o salt cellar into her
lap.
This unlucky accident afforded me
an unexpected relief. Ny. aunt &C.
cepted my apologies SO gracefully. and
with such charming good humor. that
was enabled from that moment to
converse with her like q rational be-
ing. Looking at her somewhat more
observantly than I had done before.
I noticed that she had profusion OF
brown. wavy hair. that her light blue
eyes were large and expressive. her
features beautiful. and her figure ad.
mirably proportioned. Altogether, !
thought her the handsomest woman
I had ever seen.
II arrived in England less than
week ago." she said, and have seen
very little Of your country. like
London immensely. what l know Of
1t at Kenslngton; but have not even
visited your Museum there yet When
We return to London at the end Of the
week. I hope TO present my introduc-
tions and SO about little with my
sister"
Have you q sister In England:"
asked my father. looking up.
YES" said uncle Sam. answering
for his wife; didn't you know that?
Mrs. Truman has a young sister who
lives with us-ber only relation In the
world excepting We three. I thought
I told You about her."
mo-" said my father; II have never
heard Of her. Why didn't you brig
her with you to Holdenhurst?
Constance was more upset BY the
voyage even than l." remarked my
aunt. ''and did not feel equal to com.
ing here"
You should know Connie" said my
uncle. addressing me; shes q smart
girl"
made no reply to this; but my aun,
filed up the gap by asking IL I was
at liberty to return to London with
them. that they might have the benefit
Of my knowledge Of the metropolis.
knew Of no objection to the propos.
al except that my knowledge Of Lon.
don was very limited-an objection at
once overruled.
Taking him all round. I prefer old
Marsh to an man ever met: not be-
cause be gave me one Of his daugh.
ters and half Of his fortune. though
that Is something. but because 1t was
he who removed the English scales
from my eyes and caused me to look
at the world like an American"
And Is Mr.. Marsh dead:" inquired
my father.
Very dead" said my uncle. "He
has been balancing q marble column
on his chest in Greenwood Cemetery
for three years or more"
My father and were shocked ut the,
levity Of uncle Sam, and our faces
must have indicated our thoughts. for
aunt Gertrude remarked:
You must not mind all that my hus.
band says. His acts are more Chris.
tian than his words. cannot re-
form his manner. 50 must apologize
for him."
We'll. you see." said uncle Sam.
continuing. too strongly marked
Christianity spoils a man Of business.
could cite several instances. After
all. what are called ton&st men are
merely thieves who lack the courage
OF their corvictions-feeble folks who
treEblc at taking tie shortest way
to the accomplishment OF their pur-
poses. know many q man In New
York accounted q paragon Of virtue
who is as :ull OF hypocrisy as ever
was Holdenhurst Church on a Sun
day. like 20 deal with q man who
I know will overreach me II he can.
and who expects as much Of me; mat
ters are simplified. and the trade
moves quickly"
when you liveL in England you
had no such ideas. If remember
rightly. you used to read poetry. and
We're inclined to be moody ard s.n-
timental, rs Ernest Is now"
True: but I am sorry to hear that
your son Is stricken that way. Look
to him: watch him. So long as he
confines himself to reading poetry
there Is some hope Of him; it's when
he attempts to write poetry that you
must put him into straitjacket. Let