The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-06-13
UNCLE ROBERTS PRRDICAMENT.


bled Uncle Robert stumping into th'
sitting-room on a we'll leg, rheu
maticle and heavy cane. Where
Amer"
I'm predicament," answered Hill
da. Uncle Robert sank with groar
into one chair, lifted his rheumati,
leg to another, and laid his cane acros.
the sewing-table close beside him.
''Predicament, hey?" he grumbled
"Well, now, let me tell you that nc
one free from rheumatism knows what
a predicamenti is r.
Perhaps not" returned Hilda,
with decision, "but if you had to veal
Aunt Margaret's Christmas presents,
you'd think differently" Mrs. Green.
leaf was warm friend and neal
neighbor of the Tuppers. To Hilds
and Anne she was Aunt Margaret. y
Mother" continued Hilda, turning
to Mrs. Tupper, "I do think you
ought to interfere. The very idea oi
Anne's going up there with an even.
ing dress that's old enough for you to
wear, to say nothing of being shoddy
and among strangers, too! It's pre-
posterous r.
Uncle Robert made a wry face and
moved his rheumatic leg, looking
about for cushion to place under the
knee; but Hilda did not notice.
Neither did Mrs. Tupper, whose face
wore an expression in which per-
plexity and satisfaction were min
gled.
mo, Hilda," she returned, "Anne
must act for herself in this NATTER
Uncle Robert twisted his face into
a knot, emitted a sigh, to which no
attention was paid, and asked, has
tily, whats all this fuss about,
anyway"
''Anna has an invitation to house
party" began Mrs. Tupper.
"And Aunt Margaret's last Christ
mas present is going to spoil it all. :"
self appeared on the scene, bearing
over her arm dress, volrminous in
quantity, cheap in quality, and in
color deep lavender.
Uncle Robert frowned forbiddingly.
eff you had rheumatism, such trifes
as dress wcuidn't t trouble you. What S
that ~
"It's the predicament r. announced
Hilda, succinctly.
Anne laid the dress gently over a
chairback. "It was lovely of Aunt
Margaret to give," she said, simply.
Huh /" CALCULATED Hilda. ITS
the worst present she could have
given you, and 1 should be awfully
ashamed to have you wear it at that
house party p
eff I don't, Aunt Margaret would
be -"
"Now, Anue," interrupted Hilda,
impatiently, you've said the same
thing for two days. Of course she
would be hurt, but she'd be brought,
nevertheless to her senses. If I
hadn't hurt her two years ago, I'd
be going round now in a fire-red
cheap silk trimmed with black braid r.
Anne looked down silently at the
obnoxious lavender. Only she knew
how hurt Aunt Margaret had been.
Her lips frightened. Mrs. Upper
rocked speechlessly and looked at her
younger daughter with smile. while
Uncle Robert groaned, readjusted his
rheumatic leg, and began drumming
on the arms of his chair, a process
which set Hilda's nerves on edge.
Anne glanced up quickly, then
brought a cushion, and placed it un-
der the rheumatic knee, asking:
"Is your rheumatism worse today,
unclel"
The knots In Uncle Roberts face
instantly united themselves. His
eyes lightened up, and he straight
ened himself quickly, despite his
lameneSS.
"Worse p he vociferated. "Worse
Well, I guess it is Thought I'd
never get through last night. went
to bed at ten and lay awake until
two. Then I dozed off for an hour
not a deep sleep, you understand,
only 6tful nap-and after that ]
never shut my eyes until six" Uncle
Robert looked actually cheerful. "At
six must have dropped off again,
because"
Anne" interrupted Hilda, "ii
I'm going to alter this dress, I want
to be about it."
Anne pushed the cushion a trifle
further under Uncle Roberts knee.
II think, Hilda, I'll not have il
touched. Any alteration would hurt. u
"Aune Tuppet I" cried Hilda, sit
ting up with jerk. "Do you mean
that you are going up there with this
awful yoke just as it is p
Anne nodded. IT can't bear tc
wear it, Hilda, but I don't want tc
hurt"
Uncle Robert leaned forward anG
fixed Anne with pair of shrewd bu'
not unkind eyes. eff you don't wan
to hurt Mrs. Greenleaf, why dom
you take that rigging with you, but
wear something elsel'
Anne hesitated and shook her head
"I couldn't do that way" she began
and would have gone further had no
Hilda spoken more rapidly.
''Aunt Margaret will ask her jus
when and where she wore it. Nov
I could manage all right to evade he
II have done it a score of times
but Anne won't"
"Anne can't, corrected her mother