The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-06

of doing harm to MT. Harper's features. l You are lucky to get rid of him easily. Young man, please leave my 1 housei"
 MT. Harter escaped quietly and willing 1 ly, with parting seowl and ludicrous shake of his fist at the extremely small I boy. leaving fortunate Katie to her fit of mysteries, in which she had the full sympathy of Nora and Mrs. Pearson. Those two good women, made sisters for the moment by a common emotion, finally achieved the triumph of their sex by get ting Katie settled down to a good cry. She could not weep comfortably, how ever. without Skeezioks in her arms Even when she left the house she insisted on carrying him, followed. far as their own gate, by the small witness and her sister who, merely general principles, were excited to the highest pitch. though they had not the slightest conception of what it was all about.
 Now Skeezicks was a young gentleman who had a brightly glowing reputation throughout that suburb as one who never cried, but this situation was too much for him. For one thing, Kates depth of woe was in itself calculated to arouse his ready sympathy, and, for another, the mere fact that she cried at all was terrible catastrophe. Why plump, jolly Katie-but what was the use As he realized the thing in it's full enormity his breast began to heave and suddenly he buried his head on her shoulder and him self gave way to loud grief, so astounding to Katie that she mmedia tey forgot her own troubles in trying to soothe him. Comfort was of no avail, nor was the suggestion of cold chicken or even of the much-beloved special custard when they got back to the house. In fact, neither Katie nor the chicken could hold him: he had great calamity to avert at the earliest possible moment Rushing through the house with but one fixed idea, he finally found the objects of his solfcitude in the sewing room, where his uncle was most exasperatingy pretending to ignore a pile of fluffy garments upon which Miss Elzner had been engaged.
 XIII.
 Under most circumstances Skeezicks would have paid his first respects to Uncle Joe. but in this stress he threw him self into Miss Elzner's arms, where, his overwrought emotions mastering him, he sobbed hysterically
 Why you poor little. dear little Skee- zicks chapi" she cried, and the new, sweet tone of her voice, trembling with the sacred maternity that lay nascent within her. thrilled one listener through and through.
 With instinctive tact she held the boy closely for some moments before she ven- tured to question her. Even when she did so, he could not answer her for time, but at last he reached out a groping hand and Uncle Joe understandingly clasped 1t. Skeezicks drew him closer still, though by no means nearer than Uncle Joe liked to be; in fact, his free arm circled most contentedly around both.
 Please. oh. please, don't elopei" vail ed the lad who had just tried it.
 Uncle Joe looked at Miss Elzner with a silent confession of guilt In which there fingered a trace of amusement for which she instantly reproached him by an an- swering glance. Uncle Joe was immed- lately and properly humbled.
 ''I repent bitterly he informed her. "Skeezicks, in spite of the great tempta- ton, don't think we shall eope. In fact. you have my solemn promise to that ef- feet, and l will put it in writing if you like. Your Aunt Elizabeth-to-be will also sign the paper"
 It is very difficult to be amused and to look stern both at the same time, but Aunt Elizabeth-to-be achieved 1t. Indeed, we would not elope, dear" she assured Skeezcks. T would not think of such a thing. Neither would your Uncle Joe.
 Well" observed MT. Joseph Freeman. after making careful self-analysis, T might think of it now and then, say abut the time that Lohengrin music strikes up and hundred or so of eyes focus in my direction, but of course, I would not dare suggest such thing. I am a brave man. I hope. But I hastily pass to another subject. Skeezicks. how would you like to go to the matinee to- morrow?"
 Thank you.' was the absent minded reply.
 When we are young a very little com- fort goes long way. Skeezicks present. ly growing restless as the kernel of group which was welded together much too tightly for ease. slipped out from It's midst. And 1t really did not miss him much.
 After a while, when they again became conscious of him, the boy was sitting on a chair in a corner of the room, his fin gers crossed and touching wood," si- lently moving his lips with great earnest ness. He was repeating the Invocation to Trouble.