The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-05-29

iS % 1hCJ uo ia DUOES. we can
hire out for days work. There are
plenty of nice houses on the island,
I'm sure, where they'd like three tidy
and inexperienced day workers.
Neil" cried Pauline again, show
can you be so absurd? What shall
we 0 There, don't worry, Bella
dear. If we only knew some one."
Il have an uncle here" said
Bella, thoughtfully, the ro~se-leaf
color deepening in her cheeks.
What" cried Neil. pauline, we
are saved. Bella has an uncle!
Where? Who? Tell us quick, child!'
Il don't know" said Bella, quaking.
Il don't know him at all. He belongs
to my mother-there's a cousin, too
and he lives here on the island some
where, and he is kind and nice, 1 think,
only ectentric; but of course | ought
to have gone to see him before if |
was ever going to claim the relation
ship at all. To come down on him
for money when I've never even seen
him and never shall see him again,
l couldn't do that. o know"
Couldn't" said Neil. "and he our
only CLEAN Of hope! Bella Campbell,
your testing is ill-timed. Come, and
let's find him quick, before it gets any
~later!'
But really, Neil" protested Bella,
u mean it. l never should have the
courage to ask him in the world. To
introduce myself to him as his niece,
and then tell him about this ridicu-
lous situation and beg for help.
Can't you see? He would"
"Be proud of the honor" finished
Neil. 'Will you do ito"
81 can't" said Bella.
"Thrn I will"
Neil glowed with audacious energy.
You needn't look like that,
Pauline" she continued. "If Bella
refuses to acknowledge her kind but
eccentric uncle, / do not! 1 will go
to him and throw myself upon his
neck and say What is his name?
Frisbie? Elnathan Frisbie? Good!
Uncle Elnathan Frisbie,' [ shall say,
lend me a car fare, as you love me
three a fares. Uncle Elnathan!'
And he will-see if he Doesn't"
"Neil!" cried Bella. But he isn't
your uncle at ALL"
isn't? Bella, haven't [ always said
/ loved you like a sister? From this
moment L adopt you as such. Your
uncle shall be my uncle, and your
Tel, you are too ridiculous!'
Bella laughed helplessly. "Come,
then, if you insist upon it. Maybe 1
can screw up my courage if we find
him. i don't believe we ever shall"
she added.
But Neil had already marched away
triumphant, under the little bridge
and up the grassy lane, and the two
followed meekly. They inquired of
passers-by along the road, of super
cilious maids and unsympathetic
nlistresses at the doors of houses, of
fishermen hauling in their boats be-
side the little piers. They walked up
and down the narrow, crooked
streets of the quaint little city by
the sea, and grew V e hungrier and
more weary as they went.
But they found themselves at last
standing before a quaint, l~ow-roofed
cottage on a hill. In the tiny garden
stood, with his back to them, an old
man in a straw hat, who should, by
the honor and intelligence of all who
had furnished them with information
for the last half-hour, have been
Bella's uncle. And then Bella's cour-
age gave out.
Il can't!" she said, crimson and
quivering. And Neil, giving her one
glance of unutterable meaning, OPEN
ed the gate and walked up the path
alone.
"Mr. Frisbie?" she said, gently and
inquiringly to the back of the straw
hat. The old man turned and the hat
came off. "Mr. Elnathan Frisbie, I
b~elieye?" Neil said again, with her
most hewitching smile.
"Um-1n, that's mel" said Mr.. FRS
bic, with a somewhat unpromising
grunt.
Then I think, Mr.. Frisbie-did you
happen to hear of a grandniece
Of yours, your niece's child, Bella
Campbell?"
She turned to Bella with n last
VIII appear III HeT eyes DuG Ihat
young person instantly turned her
back, and Neil, finding herself hope
lessly committed in spite of herself,
held out her hand to the old man
with the prettiest air of modest and
engaging frankness, and he took it
with a slow chuckle.
.You don't say so! Bella Camp
bell, Rella Bodine's little girl! Yes.
yes, I've heard of you. And the
others?" He looked at the two fig
ures lowering unhappily by the gate.
shy friends, said Neil ass.sn;;ng
charming air Of familiarity and
proprietorship. .May they come in ~
.Yes-oh, yes, let 'em come In"
saiida Mr.. Hsrisbie, his chin and |
regarding them gravely as they came
Up the path, Bella shrinking, pink as
one of his peonies, Pauline pale and
rigid under the accusations of al
conscience.
ssShe looks tired, said the old MAJ,
abruptly, nodding at Bella, who in
turned quite white and re-
NAMED speechless.