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

know how many from there to Forty
second street. No, we must work on
passage, as they do in books. We ca
hire out for days work. There ar
plenty of nice houses on the islant
I'm sure, where they'd like three It'd
and inexperienced day workers.
"Neil," cried Pauline again, "ho,
can you be so absurd? What sha.
we do? There, don't worry, Bell
dear! If we only knew some one!
I'll have al uncle here" sal
Bella, thoughtfully, the rose-lea
color deepening in her cheeks.
What" cried Neil. Pauline, w
are saved! Bella has an uncle
Where? Who? Tell us quick, child
81 don't know" said Bella, quaking
Il don't know him at all. He belong.
to my mother-there's a cousin, too
and he lives here on the island some
where, and he is kind and nice, I think
only eccentric; but of course l ough'
to have gone to see him before if
was ever going to claim the relation
ship at all. To come down on hin
for money when I've never wen seer
him and never shall see him again
I couldn't do that, you Know"
"Couldn't!" said Neil. ''and he oul
only CLEAN of hope! Bella Campbell
your jesting is ill-timed. Come, anc
let's find him quick, before it gets any
later!"
"But really, Neil" protested Bella,
81 mean it. I never should have the
courage to ask lin 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. Twill you do it?"
81 can't" said Bella.
''Then 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, I do not! I will go
to him and throw myself upon his
neck and say What is his name?
Frisbie? Elnathan Frisbie? Good!
Uncle Elnathan Frisbie,' I shall say,
lend me a car fare, as you love me
three car fares, Uncle Elnathan!'
And he will-see if he Doesn't"
"Neil!" cried Bella. "But he isn't
your uncle at ALT"
isn't? Bella, haven't 1 always said
I loved you like a sister? From this
moment l adopt you as such. Your
uncle shall be my uncle, and your"
Neil, you are too ri%diculous!"
Bella laughed helplessly. "Come,
then, if you insist upon it. Maybe I
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
maids and unsympathetic
n,istresses 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 ever 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 Bela's cour-
age gave out.
II can't!" she said, crimson and
%quivering. And Neil, giving her one
glance of u~nutterable 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
believer" Neil said again, with her
most bewitching smile.
"Um.1n, that's mel" said Mr.. Fris-
bic, with a somewhat unpromising
grunt.
s'Then I think, Mr.. Frisbie-did YOU
e7er happen to hear of a grandniece
Of yours, your niece's child, Bella
Campbell?"
She turned to Bella with one last
wild appeal in her eyes; but that
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, BELLA 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.
my friends" said Neil, assuming
a charming air of familiarity and
proprietorship. "May they come in ?"
"Yes-oh, yes, let 'em come in,''
said Mr.. Frisbie, rubbing 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 a
startled conscience.s
I'LL "a -#N 49, =. q y -