The Lamar register., 1903-04-29
CHAPTER 10.

|
he asked, by way of drawing out his
interlocutor.
"oh, yes; every one knew the pro-
fessor." was the answer, with judi
cial delibera.ion "He was fine
man, the professor was; tribe
| fighty in his notions. according to my
lights. and not always knowing as to
which side his bread was buttered;
but real Christian gentleman. and
taking points from no one in his busi-
ness. too. though he did plank out
| good many dollars in them patents of
his, that never showed him no profit.
and that would ha' come in handy
LOW. l reckon. for them that's left.
That's fine girl of his; she favors
her father. too. Going to stop long?"
The driver as he asked this ques-
tion drew up before a medium-sized
house of old-fashioned pattern, gabled
and of weather-beaten shingle color.
with vegetable garden on one side.
only a few hours probably. Is
this the placer"
| That's where he lived, sir. ever
bince he come here" said the man.
mufiiing his speech again, by way of
| respect to the departed.
Harold Stagg passed through the
little gate. and strobe with a busi-
ness-like step to the door. on which
! he sounded vigorously with the
knocker that took the place of bell.
After moment it was opened by
small boy who looked at him doubt
fully. as though he suspected who the
visitor might be, but did not dare to
make the first advances.
II take 1t you must be Harold Stagg
Baldwin," said the owner of the first
two-thirds of the name.
Yes. SIR" said the lad, with a glad.
sheepish smile.
well. I'm your uncle Harold" he
said. patting him on the head. 81
suppose your sister got my tele-
gram?"
Yes. sir. She's expecting you"
Whereupon his namesake seized
the handle of the valise, by way of
evincing hospitality and hiding en-
barrassment at the same time. and
began pulling it into the entry.
AS Harold. Stagg followed him.
larger boy and tall. slim young
woman advanced from the threshold
OF an adjoining ROOM.
"Ah, my dears!" he said. grasping
Silas by the hand and embracing his
niece. I'm glad to be with you"
will you walk in. uncle" said Flea
nor. ushering him into the room
| from which she had come.
1t was cosy little apartment; its
furniture and stuffs, though slightly
worn and slightly old-fashioned. were
tasteful. II suppose you are ready
for breakfast" she added. 1T will be
ready in moment"
Yes, l am a little hungry"
Harold spoke cheerfully. An atmos-
| sphere of grief was instinctively OPP
rressive to him. Moreover. he felt
that he ought to try to enliven the
Tan-visaged family. Poor little girl!
| How pale and sad she looked. with
dark places under her eyes, that told
| of heart-ache and loss of sleep! She
vas pretty. to, distinctly pretty. with
a delicate, pensive style of face that
matched well her willowy figure. but
she appeared far from strong. He
wondered what Emma would think of
her. There was not a trace of en-
barrassment in her manner, as she
did the hospitalities of the breakfast
room. Offering him his choice of tea
or coffee, and providing for his other
needs with a serious composure that
was astonishing to him. from its lack
OF consciousness. and yet was in no
respect girlish. He could scarcely be-
lieve, until he convinced himself by
inquiry, that she was but eighteen.
Early contact with the responsible
ties of life had developed her in GER
tain ways beyond her years. and yet
left her child in many respects.
How would she and Emma get on?
What would Emma think of her?
Il have come out here, you know,
to take you all back with me to New
York" said Harold, presently, getting
10 the point at once, as was his won't
1t Is your aunt's wish and mine,"
lie added, breaking the silence that
followed his announcement.
The two boys looked at their sister
in a doubtful, bewildered sort of way.
She was evidently thinking.
"That would be very pleasant,
uncle, and 1t is very kind of you to
suggest it; but as we have to support
ourselves, wouldn't it be wiser Tor
us to begin here at once where we
are known" she said, in her calm,
dispassionate tone. you see, papa
left very little property-nothing, ex-
Gept his patents and this house,
which is mortsaged for half what it
is worth; SO that we have no money
10 live on. Papa talked it all over
with me as well as he could, the
cay before he died. He said he had
been meaning to insure his life dur
ing the last year. but he hadn't the