Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-01-10

like her.
They're too pretty, Uncle" she answered,
~ q sign. Il wont play fox and grapes.
Ihere's q bail-dress In pink silk. With
But you wouldn't understand"
from the pictures. perhaps" he
owned but know a pretty dress when
! see II on a pretty girl-like you. for
example. You'll be wanting n dress tor
the ball. l suppose, my dear? ?"
YES she said. turning her head away
Il shall be wanting one"
Marian had a particular reason for wish.
ing to go to the ball at the sauire's but
the dress seemed an insuperable difhcuity.
suppose we were to run up town next
S ~cek, Uncle ~" ssssestsd. nsnd have a look
these matters. eh?"
lie winked meaningly. And Marian
Jumped right out Of her chair and kissed
him.
You are really and truly kind. uncle"
she SAID You don't know how l want
Uncle rubbed Off the kiss as soon as she
had left the room.
II could have killed that child" he NUT
tered. blinking Indignantly. II anyone had
told me that she would be no underhanded
and mercenary. I'd have knocked them
down"
After these conversations they were al,
very attentive to Uncle and Marian always
kissed him for goodnight and that made
ulm i'cI so very outer. lie USED to pace
up and down HIS bedroom and clencn his
hands when he thought of them.
However. he dlssembled his bitterness very
successfully, and continued to show q keen
interest In all their concerns.
lie not only jOtted down particulars OF
fathers bill. and undertook to see the money
was what father wanted to start him fair.
and he must see about it,"
lie reminded mother that new furniture
required new appointments In keeping. and
she might as well send for all tho naraS-
sary catalogues while she was about it.
lie thought. too. that a bigger house like
the one the doctor was leaving. would be
better.
W. want IA good, big room for parties
for the children" he observed.
lie pointed out to bob that a young fell
low at a university needed a liberal allow
ance. so that he could go the pace with
the others; and he should never dream OF
sending him there without II. He would
not hear OF his paying par of his ex-
penSes by teaching.
My nephew must keep up a proper posi-
ton" he pronounced firmly.
lie explained To Marian that n young
girl needed a large variety of dresses and
hats. and jackets. suitable for all occa-
vantage; and that a foolish old uncle must
be excused for being proud OF a pretty
In short. he was amiable to everybody.
and on all occasions, Even Mink and the
servants liked him. The family professed
to think him the incest and kindest uncle
w" fN I" H'oty q oNtu
and trong-tempered old man. he assured
them but they vowed that they did not
believe him.
lie fixed a date for carrying out what he
called his little SURPRISES" He meant
them to be one big surprise-the announce
ment that he had overheard their cOnversa-
ton. and had seen through their mercenary
motives all along. and that they should
never have o penny from him. alive or
dead.
lie used to rehearse the speech in his
bedroom at night. When they heard him
they laughed as they thought that he was
hunting lions and tigers In his dreams.
Just before the day. however. he hit upon
a refinement OF his revenge, which he called
"retributiOn."
He would not tell them what he had
heard. but merely that he had received news
OF the total loss Of his fortune. Then they
would change their attitude towards him,
and convict themselves without fall.
When they had convicted themselves
sufficiently, and insulted him and practically
driven him from the house, he would tell
them the facts: and leave them with the
assurance that they might have had all the
things he had promised. and more, II they
mad behaved uprightly to him.
IL, would be an extra refinement of
retribution to send a couple of dresses to
Marian. She was naturally affectionate. and
she probably did like him n little for him
self. though she did not know It; and she
was not without conscience.
The dresses would be burning Goals Of
fire to her and she deserved burning Goals
for kissing him to get his money. The
kisses would cease after he avowed his ruin,
OF course! That would be one Of the points
f(nDTI1dsd na Aon> %