The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-04-25
Uncle Robert and
The PrediCament

"Chatter, chatter, chatter! grumOle1
Uncle Robert, stumping into the sitting
room on a we'll leg, rheumatic leg ano
heavy cane. "Where's Amer
"In a predicament," answered Hilia
Uncle Robert sank with groan into
one chair, lifted his rheumatic leg to
another, and laid his cane across the
sewing table beside him.
| "Predicament, heyY he rumbied
"Well, now, let me tell you that no one
free from rheumatism knows what q
predicament Isl"
perhaps not" returned Hilda, with
decision, "but If you had to wear Aunt
| Margaret's Christmas presents, you'd
| think differently" Mrs. Greenleaf was
warm friend and near neighbor OF
the 'Tuppers. To Hilda and Anne she
was "Aunt" Margaret. Mother" con
tinued Hilda, turning to Mrs. Upper
II do think you ought to interfere. The
very idea of Anne's going up there
| with an evening dress that's old enough
for you to wear, to say nothing OF
being shoddy-and among strangers
too! It's preposterous
| Uncle Robert made wry face and
moved his rheumatic leg, looking about
for a cushion to place under the knee
but Hilda did not notice. Neither did
Mrs. Upper, whose face wore an ex-
preston in which perplexity and sat,
,sfaction were mingled.
mo, Hilda," she returned, "Anne
must act for herself in this matter"
Uncle Robert twisted his face into
knot, emitted a sigh, to which no at
tention was paid, and asked, testify,
whats all this fuss about, anyway
| "Anne has an Invitation to a house
party" began Mrs. Upper.
"And Aunt Margaret's last Christ
mas present is going to spoil it all, y
Hilda interrupted just as Anne herself
appeared on the scene, bearing over her
arm a dress, voluminous In quantity,
cheap in quality, and in color a deep
lavender.
| Uncle Robert frowned forbiddingly.
IF you had rheumatism, such tr.fles
rs dress wouldn't trouble you. What's
thatY
"Its the predicament !" announced
IIilda, succinctly.
Anne laid the dress gently over a
chair-back. ut was lovely Of Aunt
Margaret to give it." 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!"
"If 1 didn't, Aunt Margaret would
be-"
"Now, Anne" interrupted Hilda, i'm
patiently, you've said the same thing
for two days. or course she would be
hurt, but she'd be brought, neverthe-
less, to her senses. II I hadn't hurt
her two years ago, I'd be going round
now In a fire-red cheap silk trimmed
with black braid!"
Anne looked down silently at the OBJ
noxious lavender. Only she knew how
hurt Aunt Margaret had been. Her
lips frightened. Mrs. Upper rocked
speechlessly and looked at her young
'er daughter with smile, while Uncle
Robert groaned, readjusted his rheu-
matte 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 cushion, and placed it under
the rheumatic knee, asking:
us your rheumatism worse to-day.
uncle?"
The knots In Uncle Roberts face in
! stantly united themselves. His eyes
lighted up, and he Strengthened him
self quickly, despite his lameness.
"Worse!" he vociferated. Worse |!
Well, guess it is! Thought I'd never
get through last night. 1 went to bed
at ten, and lay awake until two. Then
dozed of for an hour-not a deep
sleep, you understand, only a ftful
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, 'ff I'm
going to alter this dress, want to be
about it."
Anne pushed the cushion a tribe
farther under Uncle Roberts knee. II
think, Hilda, I'll not have 1t touched.
] Any alteration would hurt