Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-18

G%sA with me when the mail brought
W M me a letter from Uncle Simon
IL. * Johnes. To my surprise, the
e. letter contained request that
~ should come up and make him
saAD 3D. visit. Uncle Simon is Georges
HnA a. NHN great-uncle as we'll as mine and
4%T1TS$@A for the past two years Georges
SEItfN[TS home has been at Old Farm.
Wli6V Nobody knows why the arrange
ment broken up, but it was,
and George is now earning his living clerk In
the bank at x.
Shall go, George?" asked
please yourself" said George, laughing. Don't
make a permanent engagement, though, for
don't believe you can stand 1t long"
reflected The school in which am teacher
has been broken up by scarlet fever, have been
unable to obtain another engagement, and my
money is fast melting away. Under the circum-
stances | could do nothing better than accept,
especially as George assured me that he should
not feel at all aggreved by my decision So
wrote to Uncle Simon that would come for
visit, and here am.
Uncle Simon is rather fnelookng man, tall,
broad-shouldered, and ruddy, with fine. full
beard of silvery white. On the way home from the
station he startled me once by asking abruptly, Il
forget whether you know my nephew George Max
well?"
Ny heart gave a great thump. Know George?
Well! But only said, "Oh yes; | have known
him all my life"
q was disappointed in George-much disap-
pointed" Uncle Simon went on HE promised
we'll at first, but he had one great fault | hope
elders and betters, young lady?
was little startled at the sharpness of his
manner, but assured him that am always CRATE
full for good advice: not thinking 1t necessary to
add that use my discretion in regard to fol-
lowing 1t.
Old Farm is not much of a farm, after ALL
Since George left Uncle Simon has let most OF the
land. The house is large low, and rambling by
no means imposing, but very quaint and comfort
able browning the topmost swell of the lawn with
its creamy, rough-cast walls. There is but one
servant in the kitchen, middle-aged woman
whose face expression OF constant irrita
ton and vexation 1t cleared a little when she
saw me, but clouded again, as she shook her head
slowly, saying, "Ah you won't stand 1t long; not
long, you won't-worse luck!"
''Why not Amanda?" | asked. But she only
shook her head and groaned in reply.
don't see why should not be very happy
here unless, indeed, Uncle Simon is confirmed
lunatic, as they half lead me to believe. How.
ever, | will wait until see some definite sign OF
lunacy before take fright.
November S.
had visitor yesterday Such pretty girl!
plump brown-eyed dimpled little thing, with a
wonderful peachy-pearl complexion and masses OF
golden brown hair. had begun to wonder whether
Uncle Simon has any neighbors, for not creature
had as yet crossed the threshold. Miss Lulu
Belden seems inclined to be sociable, however
Il am so glad you have comet" she began, before
she was we'll seated Il know Mr.. Johnes has been
dreadfully lonely since Geo-Mr. Maxwell left.
though wild horses would not draw the admission
from him."
That Geo" ranked in my mind, and l am
afraid that | did not respond as cordially as !
might have done. However Miss Belden seems
bright innocent little body and, after all, 1t is
natural enough that she should call him George.
as she did after while without stopping to cor
rect herself
did George tell you why he left?" she asked at
.N,..h.ux doaoita soid ebortIv vevad