The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-06-07


and wrote u letter to Bob II was even
more characteristic than the letter from
his son.
My Dear Rob -- 1.-THE time has come, e
o. the walrus said, TO speak OF many
things" I'm IN the dcvil OF tix, and ]
guess It's your turn 10 help out your poor
| old dad, Besides, you got me into II, II
was you, with your precious Boston Ideas,
that got me 10 engage II govcrness for my
tomboy girl | blessed you profusely al
first and, rs far as Bcss goes, l still do.
She Is getting quite tame, nut tho STA
mese twins, as you call your brothers. have
set up u three ring circus, and ! have &c
20 around watching the animals no they
won't bite each other and die OF hydro.
phobia, I'm getting little too old TO
play tho role OF ringmastcr with any sue
cess And It's all on account OF Elisa, I"
as we used 10 sing.
This goyerness whom l got on your nd.
vice is very engaging young lady. and.
in fact she has engaged tho affections OF
those two pups, cont blame en- very
much. either, That's the worst OF u. She
says she's twenty one, but she doesn't
look II day over eighteen A cunning lit
tie brown eyed trick you could hide up
your sleeve Has an A. II. from Wellesley
and claims she was born and bred In Bos'
ton. which Is really all have against her,
The twins began by hating her. and !
had 20 give en- couple OF thrashings
apiece 10 make EN- stop playing unheard
Of practical jokes, Now have TO thrash
'em to keep EN- from loving her too siren.
uously.
It's getting too much for me. II you
expect 10 keep my gray hairs out OF the
grave. you come home and distract their
attention. You always could manage
them. because you did not have 10 live
with them. This Ia both prayer and u
command. Come home and help your
helpless DAD,
p. s-If you stlli feel that you must
marry, marry the governess. She's the
best | ever saw-from Boston too. prl.
vately, think she was born In Chicago,
and Wellesley Is all that ails her. Per-
haps she knows you. haven't asked her.
He sent this letter and at dinner
that evening looked around his table
with n compacent and chuckllng sat
isfaction. The twins looked thin and
pathetic and tried not to eat much,
Miss Gray was demure and smiling In
dainty dinner gown, and the holden.
Bess, had her hair ribbons properly
tied and both stockings pulled up. Din
ner was peaceful, but there was Il
tempest afterward. and Mr.. Barton
sent the twins 10 bed at 8 o'clock. He
was unusually gentle and patient with
them.
After they had made up for the night
they talked about this. They did not
like the look Of It.
Did you see how he grinned at herr
Just like an old goat! II we don't set.
tie who's to have her and get busy,
he'll end things by getting her him
self" said Bert.
Make a pretty stepmother. Rather
prettier than her stepsons, should
say" was the insinuatlng reply.
Two days later Mr.. Barton came TO
lunch with telegram In his hand.
1--WE good news" he said. "Bob's
coming lnurSdhy.
Bess gave whoop and jump and
grabbed the telegram, which Bert
snatched from her hand before she
had had chance to read word.
"Hurrah" yelled Dick, doing a war
dance specially Of his.
Miss Gray, with very red face,
tried to keep Bess from dancing a jig
on the table, and Mr.. Barton, seeing
her evident annoyance, spoke apollo
getlcally. When you become acquaint-
ed with Bob you'll not wonder quite 80
much at this fendish JOY. He's rather
a good sort, II he Is like his dad.
Shouldn't wonder II you'd like him."
he continued complacently He has a
habit Of being fond Of Boston"
Il shall do my best to like him." she
said prettlly to the old man, and as she
ran upstairs she said to herself, "I'll
see that the Boston habit becomes set
tied"
Thursday came. All the family but
the governess went to the train, and
Bob was almost carried home on the
family shoulders. Dinner had been
postponed for his coming, and Miss
Gray waited rather nervously in the
dining room. She had donned her pret-
test dinner gown, and her eyes were
very bright and her cheeks very pink.
The twins came In first and stood to
one side to see what Bob would say tC
their divinity. In moment they
leaned, weak and helpless, against each
other, and then they feebly left the
room. Bob, not waiting for the intro
ducton Mr.. Barton seemed trying to
make, walked across the room and
calmly kissed the governess.
Mr.. Barton grew slowly, darkly pur-
pie. $50 you're In this, too, you, YOU
go easy, dad!' said Bob. II bet you
currency to cookies I'd beat you at this
game. You're skinned. The currency
Is mine. Buck up, dad, and salute
your daughter. AS for the twins, they
can't say they don't like their sister"