The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-12-27

color, which was the only remnant OF
her girlish prettiness. had disap-
peared, and she was very pale. Ma
tilda was beside her in twinkling,
breathless and big eyed. "Oh. what
IS 1t, mother? Bad news?"
II hardly know whether to call 1t
bad news or not" said Mrs. Ellicott,
with little ripple of laughter, al
though the tears started to her eyes.
"Your Great Unclc John is coming"
Matilda dropped the hoe with
which she had been working among
the tomato plants, and sat down on
the steps. She had heard about her
Great Uncle John ever since she
could remember. She knew that he
had brought up her father, and when
he was twenty-one had given him his
choice between letting books alone
and going into business, or relin-
gushing all expectation of becoming
his heir. 1t had not taken Matilda s
father long to decide, and a number
of people, Uncle John among them
thought his choice showed lament
able lack of good sense. In the oc-
casional letters that had come from
him since Matilda was old enough
TO understand their import, he had
always taken the ground that his
nephew, working for small salary
In a little village academy, had made
0 failure of life.
''I suppose ] ought not to feel as
do" sighed Matilda's mother, in
self-reproachful accents. but, ]
dread his coming, dear Your Uncle
John is one of the people who think
1t crime to be poor. l can't bear
to have him looking down on father.
A hot Tesentment at the very sug-
gestion rose in Matilda's heart and
burned in her cheeks. How long
clutching at the noe handle as II II
had been weapon of some sort.
"The telegram says q day or two
answered Mrs. Ellicott, referring to
the yellow slip of paper in her hand
land he will be here Thursday"
Thursday! Oh, that's some days
Off! We must put our best foot for
ward. that's ALL" Matilda's fore
bodings vanished in a sudden rush
of resolution. I'VE can fix things
up 60 they'll pass for day or two
My chickens are fine for eating now
and the garden is doing beautifully
It's the spare room that's the prob
lem."
Ten minutes later, as she stood in
the guest room, room seldom unoc-
cupied. for the Ellicotts hospitality
was not proportioned to their bank
account, the problem seemed still
more difficult of solution. Ordinar.
lily, when family friends were ex.
pected. Matilda busted the battered
furniture and turned the rug so thai
the most worn portion would be Gov
cred by the bed-all with light
heart. But now she looked abou,
her through the disappearing spec
tacles of Uncle John, and the result
was not reassuring.
He'll got such bad impression
at the start, with everything worr
and shabby, looking as IL it needed
paint" Matilda stopped abruptly
Suddenly she recalled advertiser:
pictures SHE had seen representing
ladies in artistic gowns renovatins
dilapidated furniture, and her eyes
lighted with eager resolution.
Five minutes later her brother
John, Matilda's faithful henchman
was hurrylng to the nearest hard
ware store. In half an hour the ex
pertinent was under way. The frs
results were not what Matilda hat
expected, and she called in John fol
suggestions.
Il guess maybe you ought to sand
paper 1t FIRST" said John. THAT,
the way Harvey did when he painted
his boat
Matilda looked about the room
and compressed her lips. Then sh,
said shortly, Run to the store ant
get some sandpaper. A good lot o
1t. We've got to be quick If we'r,
going to make a good impression OF
Uncle John"
When Matilda went down to sup
per that night she looked tired ant
anxious. She had begun to los
faith in the advertising ladies', WELD
ing their brushes without detrimen
to their dainty gowns. She ha,
spotted her dress and spattered tn
floor. and had sent John out twic
for turpentine to repair damages
Moreover. the original complexion o
the furniture showed darkly through
the white coating she had given II
as IL determined to assert itself, AM
the spots and scars seemed more Il
evidence than ever.
mo wonder you can't cover u
the hard knocks Of twenty years Il
one day" her mother comforted her
1T will look better after anothe
coat
II shouldn't wonder II It tool
twenty coats, one for each year.
said Matilda, gloomily. II wouldn'
care II you didn't have to wait 10
one 70 dry before you put on tn
pext; my time is so short
Her f0rebodings were not alto
Gether realized, however. by n
thiri coat the furniture began I
3 look really white, and Altar the 0ftl