The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-03-31

NstA wi AACuAuHl the more III treat
ed the worse I get"
I'm sorry, responded Anne, sym
pathetically.
Now tomorrow Ill try WEIGH,
and il he doesn't do me any good, /
shall give up and stay at home and
suffer in silence | shall know that
doctoring is no good. !"
Uncle Robert reached out absent
mindedly with the crook of his cane
and drew to his side the chair on
which lay the lavender Putting the
dress on the seat of the chair, he
rested his elbow on the back, all the
time talking.
"Doctoring is no good, anyway.
Look at Mrs. Greenleaf She's al
ways doctoring and always ailing. |
don't see how she can stop taking
patent medicines long enough to
make dresses" scornfully poking the
lavender gown. She thinks she's
worse off than any one else, but she
isn't, and won't be until she gets
the rheumatism
1T must be very painful" MUIR
INJURED Anne
Hilda returned with white skirt
and sat down at the sewing machine.
What must be painful" she asked
in bored tone.
THE rheumatism! groaned Uncle
Robert. Wait until you have all
the kinds at once articular, mnscu-
lar and touch of infiammatory-
you'll think SO, too. Doctor Brown, .
he added, looking about with an in
quiring eye, advises me to drink
water-drink it by the quart and gal
Ion. Now T."
Anne rose with alacrity and left
the room. Hilda ran the machine
at the top Of it's speed and wished
that Uncle Robert would find some
thing else to talk about. Mrs. Tup-
per turned tucks placidly and ran
them neatly
Presently Anne reappeared with
a pitcher and glass. Uncle Robert
relieved her Of both, and poured a
glassful of water, setting the pitcher
on the edge of the sewing-table.
Then he slipped water and detailed
his symptoms to Anna, going again
over his sleeplessness of the night be-
fore and the reasons which induced
him to consult city physician.
Anne listened patiently as she
basted the sleeves of her waist, en-
deavoring conscientiously to confine
her thoughts to rheumatism and keep
them away from the lavender dress.
Presently Uncle Robert began to
take his leave. 1t was tedious
process. He groaned and lifted his
rheumatic leg down from the chair.
Anne at once FASTENED to hold his
cane while he lifted himself up slowly
with hand on each chair-arm
Once on his feet, he groaned again,
and reached for the cane.
Then something unexpected hap
pened-that is, it was unexpected to
the Tuppers. No one ever was told
whether or not it was unexpected to
Uncle Robert. But somehow. as he
turned. his cane became mixed up
with the pitcher, which instantly dis
charged its contents over the laven-
der dress.
Now see what I've done!" cried
Uncle Robert, in tone intended to
be rueful.
Promptly dropping his cane, with
movements surprisingly quick for one
afflicted with three varieties of rheu-
matism, he seized the lavender and
bundled it together, muttering some
thing about water ON the carpet"
Hilda flew away from the sewing
machine, and Selling the limp bundle
from Uncle Robots arm, shook it out,
crying in a tone ringing with triumph,
Anne, you can never put it on again!
It's ruined!"
"Oh!" cried Anne obi" Invol-
unfairly her face lighted with joy
Uncle Robert picked up the pitcher.
Its broken" he grumbled, "and I
wager it's your best onen
Hilda made no reply. She was
gloating over the ruined dress; but
Anne took the china fragments from
Uncle Roberts hand, saying earnest
ly, Never mind, uncle-accidents
will happen.
Over Anne's head Uncle Roberts
eyes met Mrs. Tuppers in a sly
twinkle, but he only cleared his
throat grufHy and thumped the floor
with his cane.
Il hope" Anne began, a shade of
anxiety creeping into her voice, that
Aunt Margaret won't be hurt"
You leave Aunt Margaret to met"
rumbled Uncle Robert. 'IH go over
now and explain what I've done,
Hope she won't expect me to listen
to an account of her neuralgia,
though. Once get her started on that
subject and she never knows when
to stop. I'll look out for that and
head her Off"
Still speaking and frowning deeply,
Uncle Robert opened the front door.
But as he slammed the door behind
him he chuckled.
A few moments later Hilda and
Anne, watching from the window,
saw him emerge from Aunt Margar-
cts side door, followed by Aunt Mar
garet's voice, Yes, 1 knew water
would spot it, Poor child! How dis
appointed she will be; but perhaps 1
can manage"
Uncle Robert struck the porch floor
with his cane, and interrupted brisk
ly. mo, you will manage nothing of
the kind! AS long as / spoiled the
dress I'll make it good. In fact, I'm
going to take Anne UP to the city to-