Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-07-06


the very slender income his parents
had left him. and the prospects Of help
from his rich. eccentric uncle.
They had been married nearly a
year now. aud two happier peoeple
never lived out OF paradise; but their
income was only small one, and there
were prospects of another little mouth
to feed. They had never quite given
up hope that in the nick of time the
eccentric uncle would turn up like the
godmother in the fairy story. and now
had come this awful. ill-written letter.
saying he haA twin boys. and no men
ton Of his wife-he probably forgot
to mention she was dead. Maislc
spread it out upon the table. and once
more deciphered as much as she could.
practically spelling out each symbol.
I'm bringing over my two lovely
twin boys; you will be delighted with
them: they're the image Of Rose G
suppose tina. is his wife,. "They yell
a good deal at nlght-all boys do, but
you can rig them up out Of the way
where they will disturb no one
ooh. Eric. how can we find room for
them all!"
Twin boys? 1t looks to me like
twin frogs. | never saw such writ
Ing. taesSr and Brutus. Did you
ever hear such names for children?
They're heather names, too. Awful"
And then Maisie gave faint shrek
as she looked at the envelope, for It
had been posted. not in Sydney. but
in London. True to his eccentric in
stincts, Hardcastle had thought. as he
intended to come over, and as the next
vessel would carry the mails, incud-
ing his letter, he might just as we'll
bring the letter over in his pocket and
post It in town.
I'VE must prepare room for pos
sible wife and nurse. and we shall
want wee bed for the twins. Eric"
And, quite unconsciously. the little
woman glanced toward wee bed
which was being prepared for another
little tenant, and there was an eX-
preston on her face which made Eric
bend over her and kiss her
They turned ont Of their own room
To make room for Lord and Lady
Hardcast.e. hired n wee bed. and placed
it with bed for the nurse in the
dressing COON. Eric flew out and or
dered unheard-Of luxuries. and had
scarcely returned when Il carriage
drove uE
Malsle was sitting in the drawing
room, eight feet by eight. trying to
look dlgnfied and Eric himself went
to the toor. He hesitated for mo-
ment to open it-he had preceded their
little servant-and. ere turning the
handle. :leard:
You can go back to town, John. or
whatever your name Is, and take the
lwins-Why, where the devil are the
StableS:"
Now. there are no stables in Pal
myra Villa-far from it.
And then Eric opened the door A
little man as brown as berry. as
hard az nails all over, with gray hair
and eyes. and an alert look. was Jack
Iiardcsstle. He did not attempt TO
shake hands. Small az he was. he
seemed to fill the narrow hall
"Well, young man, what have YOU
to say for yourself?"
Il am glad to see you, uncle"
"Of course. Of course-only natural:
but do You mean to say that on tiva
hundred year you can't occupy u
larges dog kennel than this"
Il am only earning two-tifty, I'M
Gle"
DO you mean to say Spooner 4
Co. are not paying you five hundred a
year,"
NO, sir-why should they"
''Recause told them to. of course
they're my solicitors. own forgot
| had arranged to grease your wheels
a bit for you before left England last
dear me. that's seven years ago
and when did think Of it-let me see,
| was in the Andamans them wrote
myself-and in my own handwriting
to rake sure-and told them TO pay
you five hundred a year as long as
you behaved yourself, and l got ca
| NE bdCh HiVItHS uiitl W ulu-I was III
MEXICO then: Five hundred lunches
of bananas not arrived. | couldn't un.
derstand what they meant suppose
there was something the matter with
my handwriting"
Malsle could stand this no longer
She had stopped looking dignfied and
was crumpled up with undignfied
laughter So she came out and intro
duced herself, and the little gray man
kissed her
but you are not alone. uncle?"