Evening journal., 1903-10-13
MY UNCLE'S LETTER


penned a declaration one afternoon.
took the opportunity Of slipping the
note into one of these pockets when
she was not looking.
Then he took his leave and waited
patiently for an answer. But none ever
came.
Foor Ruben was not one to risk his
fate a second time, and he ceased his
visits to the home Of the Jams. After
awhile he went away to England, and
Newport knew him no more. He be-
came rather celebrated as scientific
man. Tie bashfulness Of youth gone
by, he became grave, gallant gentle
man Of the old school. and he had his
admirers even among our sex, but he
never fell in love, and he never mar
ried.
At sixty-two years of age he took it
into his head to see Newport before he
died. In those years it had become a
fashionable watering place. There were
one or two great hotels and plenty Of
cottages. The sea view was as fine, the
sea air as bracing, the girls as pretty
as of yore, but they did not wear paint
ed muslins with poppies on them nor
outside pockets Of embroidered silk.
Ruben Van Note strolled along the
beach and looked at the old tower and
sighed over the past a little. Then he
strolled up the street to the house Of
the Jan family. 1t looked very much
as formerly. only the trees were large
and the ivy vine quite covered the
brick stable with the pigeon houses on
the roof. All its windows were open,
and n woman was busting the shutters.
When she came out upon the porch to
shake a cloth he spoke to her.
Does the Jan family live here yetT
he asked.
The woman gave a long, slow shake
Of the head and said:
"The last of the Jan family died
three years ago, Miss Priscilla Jan. 1
was her maid She was getting on in
life-sixty years old-and a delicate
body always, but l think she would
have lived a long while yet if she
hadn't had an accident. Her carriage
was upset by a tipsy coachman. and
she was hurt and shaken. The shock
to her nerves killed her, the doctor
said. That's her miniature when she
was a girl over the mantel. If you'd
step in and look"
Ruben stepped in and saw Priscilla,
in white and red, smiling at him from
the chimncypiece. 1t was a good like
ness. Could she really be dead? He
staggered back and seated himself on
the sofa.
"And she never marriedY he said,
/ speaking aloud uncOnsciously.
"No, sir" said the maid, believing
/ herself addressed. "She never married.
Such a pretty girl, you'd never believe
it. She had offers, but they did not
suit her. Once she told me, sitting just
there, sir. where you sit the Christmas
after her parents died, why they did
not. She was fond Of a young gentle
man once. but he came and went and
never said a word and, as she believed
! never cared for her. She cried anC
cried of nights but told no one anC
she lived single until she was forty
Then one day. when she was up in tn,
garret. she found a pair Of red sill
pockets in an old box. She had missed
the pockets. They used to wear 'en
outside. sir which seems funny now
She had missed them and never guess
ed where they'd gone. but somehow
they'd been dropped into the box tha
was carried up garret that very night
She'd not seen them for twenty years
J and she took them out and turne,
them over. and a letter fell into her lap
1T was sealed. and 1t had her nam
on it. and when she read It she found j
was an offer from this young gentle
man, an offer. sir, that she would hav
, said yes TO and thankful
81 cried, Martha she said 1T wa
J too late to answer it, even If l hat
known where he was, but hoped som
time he might come back and know th
: truth. He viii never know now, Maj
tha,' she said, unless we meet in heay
: en- And l put the little pockets, wit
: the letter in them. under her head 4
1 the coffin, as she bade me. Sort of lill
a story, isn't it, sir?"
? 1T is very like story" said M
] great-uncle.
{ He sat looking at the picture 70
: awhile, and the girl went on. tn
property was left to a charity. all but
! legacy to herself. and there was to b
an auction next day, and she was clear
p ing up for it, and then she begged hir
to rest himself as long rs he please
e and went about her work.
e When she had gone Ruben Van Not
took the miniature Of poor Priscill
e Jan from the mantelpiece and put
: into his bosom and walked away.
Doubtless the maid wondered Ion
; whether that respectable old gentle
e man could have been the thief q
E whether some other had come in at th
r open door in her absence.
+ But Priscilla's pretty face lay agains
E Ruben's heart until it ceased to bea
and l have no doubt that II lovers r'
! now their vows in heaven these tw
r hearts have met there. these two whoI
Z the treacherous buckle of the scarls
! pockets parted forever on earth.
--
mbo Moon