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

doorway, looking critically about the
bare iittle room, stripped of all but
the mere necessities. Then he looked
at Matilda's tear-wet eyes,
Look here" said Uncle John.
That's not worth crying about"
There was another pause. Paint
was pretty fresh," said Uncle John,
thrusting his hands into the pockets
Of his nephew's dressing gown.
"Yes. 1t was" answered Matilda.
II painted 1t after we heard you
were coming"
"You painted itl" Apparently
Uncle John was about to express sur
prise. but thought better of it. Az
ter a moment he asked casually,
| why were you in such hurry"
Matilda laid down her work and
turned toward him. The eyes lifted
to his we're like those Uncle John
had seen in a boys face twenty-five
years before.
Uncle John, Matilda began, ''you
think fathers n failure because he
hasn't made money. You're mista.
KEN"
Her great uncle leaned against the
wall, as IL to listen more comfort.
ably. He showed no disposition to
speak. which was fortunate, as Ma.
tilda was not in the mood to brook
interruption.
He's taught in this little school
ever since / can remember" Matilda
went on. Hes walked up lots of
young people, girls that were silly
and lazy and boys that thought IL
smart to be dissipated.a He's made
them ambitious to amount to some.
thing. Hardly week goes by that
he doesn't get letter from some OF
his old pupils, saying that he first
opened their eyes to what life
meant
Uncle John cleared his throat.
He wasn't much more than boy
when he came here" Matilda went
on. He knows and loves every.
body and everybody knows and loves
him. They send for him when peo.
pie are going to die, and they name
their babies after him. Lawyer Bell
says father is all the time reducing
his income patching up quarrels.
And as far as we're concerned" said
Matilda, explosively, we're just the
happiest family that ever lived!"
Yes, but about that paint?"
I'm coming to that" Matilda an.
swered. 81 knew that you wouldn't
understand about these things. You'd
look at the house to see if father
had succeeded, and If it looked worn
and shabby you'd make up your mind
that he was failure. The furniture
In the spare room was so battered
that / thought I'd better paint it.
But 1t was such a short time that II
didn't quite get dry. The rug in the
front hall is borrowed, and so is the
jardiniere, and the pillows on the
divan in the parlor are fixed 50 as
not to show the holes in the uphol.
stery"
Uncle John looked at the black
suit. Aren't you afraid that the
paint will get too dry?" he inquired.
Yes, I'm afraid 1t will. Thank
you for reminding me- Matilda
went to work with a will, and Uncle
John walked off, whistling.
The next days supper was an early
meal, for Uncle John was to take the
| 1880 train. He said very little to
Matilda since their encounter of the
evening before, and she was sure
that she had mortally offended him,
although her conscience acquitted
her of doing more than telling him
the truth Consequently she was
| quite unprepared to hear him say
abruptly:
Nephew John, l have been talk
ing with your wife about this girl of
yours, and she confirms my idea that
she has ability, is clever with the
brush, in short"
| Uncle John paused with a grim
smile, and then continued: II imag-
inc she would profit little, how
ever, by a course in the Fine Arts
Academy. If she thinks best to ac-
cept my offer l shall consider 1t a
privilege to meet her expenses"
For once Matilda was dumb, but
her father accepted this good for
tune as he had accepted all the
events or his life, good or Ill, with
sweet and simple dignity.
I'm glad to have you say that,
Uncle John" he said. "for l am am
bilious for my daughter. l am sure
she has ability. She will do you
credit"
'If she does, she won't be the
first Of the family to do it, said
Uncle John. He put his hand ON his
nephew's shoulder and let it rest
there heavily. 81 hope" he said, Il
may live to be as proud of Matilda
as | am of her father
And in that crowning moment,
when all her dreams seemed coming
true and the way was open to her
hearts desire, Matilda had room for
bur one thought. All else was swal-
lowed up in the Joy of knowing that
her father was vindicated. his sue
cess recognized. - Youths Compan-