The Tupelo journal., 1903-05-29
Not at home, / suppose? ?"

the conversation to u safer topic.
How lovely it is here! And what a
dear house you have"
won't you come in?' said Mr..
Frisbie, waking to a sense OF his re-
spo%nsibilities. You might sit a
while and get rested"
THANK you; we'd love to-" said
Neil. looking at the others with a
winning smile under which they read
an iron command.
She skipped in with alacrity, and
they followed with reluctance. She
admired everything in the little par
Tor. She drew the old man out to
talk about his books and treasures
in a dry, deliberate way, and was so
honestly interested, so sincerely COR
dial, that he seemed to soften more
and more under the influence of her
charm.
When they stood again at last in
the little garden. where the old man
had gathered a big bouquet as they
wandered about among the flowers,
Neil, warned by the growing twilight,
and feeling thai the crucial moment
had arrived, advanced heroically to
the attack. She led up to the story
of their financial straits so skilfully.
and told it with such Il gay and pref
ty mixture of fun and pathos, that
the old man actually smiled as he
listened, and began to tumble hope
fully in his pockets.
Neil could not forbear one glance
of triumph at her companions, which
was turned into a blush of confusion
as he looked up a moment too soon.
well, we'll" he said. And what
would you have lone if there hadn't
happened to be an old uncle on the
island?"
81 don't know" said Neil, with
truth.
"We'Il send it right back as soon
as we get home; and we're so much
obliged TO you-Uncle Frisbie."
Bella suppressed "a groan of horror
at this last touch of audacity. But
the old man had only rubbed his chin
and looked at Neil with a placid
smile.
Don't mention it," he observed,
handing her a bill which he had
pulled out Of an old leather wallet.
Glad to have had the chance to ac-
commodate We. Your cars about due.
You'd better hurry along. or you
might get left"
Thank you. we will" said Neil,
shaking his hand with effusion.
"Good-by! Thank you ever so much!
Mother would have sen her love,
you know"
Yes" said Uncle Frisbie. you
might give her mine-if you think
she'd like to have it. And YOU tell
her her daughters a fine girl-a fine,
brave young lady, and "A credit to
her, to be sure!"
The humorous wrinkles deepened
round his eyes. He turned sudden
ly to Bella.
las for this little girl" he said,
in a different voice, I'D be pleased
if she'd take the posies; and if she's
no objection, I'd like to give her a
kiss-just for her mothers sake. I
used to be pretty fond of little Bella
Bodine!"
He looked round with an air of
innocent surprise at the astonished
and abashed faces of the girls. Then
he broke into a sly, deep chuckle
of enjoyment.
"Splendid." he said. "YoI did it
splendid, But, you see, sizes the
very living image of her mother. this
child. Might be Bella Bodine herself
standing t~here-just about her age
when l first saw her. And shy. Lit
tie Bella was as shy's a partridge!
Land, | don't blame We any. Twas
rather Il tight place"
"But-you see, sir-we-ske-" be-
gan Neil, GREATNESS, and blushing
~furiously.
"Oh, yes. l see, fast enough" said
the old man. still shaking with his
low mirth. II amt blaming We. You
did it handsome, and that's a fact
couldn't have been done better. And
you're welcome to the money. I'd do
more'n that for little Bella Bodine.
4 l. " = u tcNh IS III plSttS
fast you'll lose that car. Give nv
love to your mother, Bella. AS for
you. miss" he called over the gate
to Neil, who went out last, "if l was
going to have another niece, |
wouldn't ask a pluckier one-nor a
prettier. But don't forget your
money next time, for there mightn't
be an old uncle round handy to Dor
ry Of"
The gate slammed, the little horse
car tinkled into sight, stopped, and
went on again, as three limp and
wooden seat.
Never" said Neil in bitter self
condemnation, ''neve again will [
stoop to practice deception for the
benefit of my friends! 1t was a mean,
wretched thing to do, and I'm just
ashamed of it! Never will | bor-
row
Neil" said Pauline. solemnly, 1.-The
lessons to be learned from this ex-
perience are too many and too-too
varied to be discussed here. But
there is one thing-Uncle Elnathan
Frisbie. no matter whose uncle he
may happen to be, is a dear! And if
either of you ever disowns him again,
| give you warning, / shall borrow
him permanently myself on the
spot!"-Youth's Companion.