The Prescott daily news., 1908-09-02
A fatheT'y Interest.

Mir Joseph Saunders was mayor of a certain town in England. He was also a married man with a wife and three children. He was also fifty five years old and a man Of dignity. He was also president of three or four boards, had character for pr0bity and was looking longingly forward to the time when he should make his appear ance in the house of commons. MT. Saunders had business in London. When that business had been conclud- ed be had business at Dover He was waiting for his train in the London depot when he was approached by two females. One was motherly woman of forty and tue other girl of about twenty. The former looked anxious, and the latter was weeping.
 MT. Saunders asked what was the matter.
 Its this way, sir" began the elder ly woman in businesslike way. 'I am Mrs. Baxter of the Birmingham School For Girls. This is Miss Ladue of Paris. She has been attending my school to secure an English education. She has news that her mother is very ill. Some one should have come for her, but has not. She goes to Dover And takes the boat. If she could go under your charge, sir'- Of course MT. Saunders was only too happy, and so forth On several Occa- sions his mother had been very i'll, and he knew how it was. After the train had moved away and after Miss La due had wept for quarter of an hour he got a surprise. The girl lifted her veil and exhibited laugh ing face and called him Uncle Jim"
 It was an English face, and her words were English. The honorable stared at her for long minute and then said:
 You are up to some sort of game and have rung me into it."
 ''Yes, you are my Uncle Jim until you have seen me safe aboard the boat at Dover. Now don't be impulsive and declare that you won't and all that We selected you because of your age and dignity, my dear uncle You have a fatherly look. You also have an ex- pression of innocence lurking about you. As your niece 1 shall pass un- questioned
 His honor leaned back in his seat and refused to answer. He was in a sweat. He had been forced into a situation that might end in his down. fol hn hot rcf ho handled with care
 ''I will get off at Gravesend," he said after awhile.
 ''I beg your pardon, uncle, but Dover Is your destination" she pleasantly replied. q hope you are not becoming disseminated as you grow old. You are to see me on the boat, you know"
 "No; 1 will not do itv'
 "You'll do 1t like a little lamb, sir, and l shall be very proud of my old uncle. What funny stories can you think of? l know you must have a keen sense of humor. So have l."
 "Woman, do you know who I am?" thundered the honorable, springing up.
 My Uncle Jim, of course" she smil- ~ that the papers will say that you kind ly escorted me on this trip Have aunty and my cousins asked about me latelyY'
 His honor realized his helplessness and leaned back and groaned in de- spair. He had blundered into a fla therly trap and knew that the girl had oiI Ix,a mt
 What is the-the crimeT he asked after awhile.
 "Why, Uncle Jim. How dare you charge your niece with a crime? wouldn't have believed it of you"'
 But you are fleeing out of England and fear arrest
 "Oh. but can't one flee without being a criminal? Suppose l am in love with Frenchman and owing to my fla ther's surveillance I must go to Paris like fugitive to marry the man of my choice
 "Humph." grunted the honorable.
 The girl removed her hat and laid her head back and seemed to sleep. At Rochester a couple of men whom he suspected to be officers of the law looked in. At Canterbury two more repeated the performance. Between Canterbury and Ashford the young lady woke up and said:
 "Good Uncle Jim, the sober second thought is the best. You will see me and my luggage on the boat and then go where you will"
 Hanged if do!' he said to himself, but up rose a vision of his family, of