The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1908-03-29

front of the CRATE and pulled
4 a at his pipe. "A Christmas
house party at The Pines" Then after
pause. who are invited?'
His nephew leaned against the man
teIpiece and stuffed his hands into his
pockets as he enumerated the guests,
the uncle keeping up a running and
caustic comment:
Engaged to be-introduced
for matrimonial purposes ngag ed-
the same" The Enumeration ceased.
Yes, / see myself helping to chap
eron your house party. l stroll into
the reception room and stumble over
an engaged couple. 1 sneak into the
library and am frowned out again by
q newly introduced couple l bang in
10 the music room and overhear pro-
posaI No thank you. Roy; L shall
spend Christmas in peace and my own
ROOM
Roy picked up his hat and moved to-
ward the door Modern house parties
are not conducted along the lines
you've laid down, uncle Change your
mind and judge for Yourself" He
turned the knob. by the way, l
didn't mention the otter chaperon, did
1? It's Mrs Angel, Bertha's widowed
aunt, YOU know" With this parting
shot. which he knew was effective, Roy
Gisereetly retreated.
After he had gone Merriwether sat
an hour staring al the fire and pulling
away at smokeless pipe. Then he
arose and looked earnestly at himself
I'm the mautel mirror. We're apt to
run down" he apostrophized his re
fecticn; APT TO run to seed, we bache-
lors. Now. this tie--let's see. it's six
months out OF style. and Gertrude used
to be-hum." He stepped to the phone
and called mp his tailor, realizing that
his mind had already undergone the
change Roy hoped for.
Ten days later he arrived at The
Pines just in time TO dress for dinner
He was accompanied by a man and a
smart lot OF luggage, accessories which
made so marked a change in his APP
pearance that when at o'clock he de
scended to the lower hall Bertha Mon
roe, awaiting her aunt at the foot of
the stairs, surveyed him in delighted
amazement
"Why, Uncle Bruce" she exclaimed,
you look so fine / scarcely knew your"
Bertha was his nephew's f1ancee and
already claimed relationship in private
to the uncle I'D make Roy wear
evening clothes in the morning If he
had such a splendid fgure-so filled
out, you know"
Merriwether, following her into the
living room, laughed grimly at the
doubtful compliment. "0h. he'll tip the
scales at 220 soon enough, don't wor-
ry!'
you surely don't look that stout. "
began Bertha and, turning abruptly
toward the entrance, finished with,
Does he, auntie?"
Gertrude Angel swept past her niece
and met Merriwethers outStretched
hand cordially. Look? Why, he looks
surprisingly like the Bruce Merriwetll-
er | used to know so we'll"
Fifteen years ago." was on the end
of Merriwether's tongue, but he check
ed himself just in time. Gertrude prob
ably ignored lapses in time as women
have n habit of doing he thought. But
surely hers was a fac, form, bear
ing, which had so successfully with
stood time as to entitle her to the ap
peIlation OF youth. Her brown hail
had not lost its luster. nor had her blue
eyes lost aught OF their sparkling in
terest in life, while she carried herseli
with her old time spring and vivacity.
Merriwether noted all these things a:
he sat opposite her at dinner. Hi:
memory flashed picture after pictur,
before him-the primary days in thei
old home school, their grammar room
betrothal, the warm friendship of late
years, which had meant somethin;
more to him; then her marriage ant
life abroad. AS he looked at her b.
had the uncomfortable feeling that. al
though her birth had antedated his b.
one year, she was many years hi
Junior
He was just characterizing himsel
as "old" when his aephew's voic,
aroused him and added point to hi
reflection. Tomorrow morning w
skate" announced Roy joyfully "Iv
had the pond back here cleared 70
action, and the ice is o. Kr' Then h
added carelessly, "By the way, incl
Bruce, / forgot to tell you to brin
skates along, but ! can easily proyid
you with pair
Merrfwether quaked inwardly, bu
made no reply until after dinner, whe
he backed his nephew into a corne
and addressed him privately and force
fully, I've not been on skates for tie
years, and / don't intend to make
spectacle of myself now by an
means"
why, uncfe-er-you know. tia
makes things rather awkward, for Mr.
Angel does all those things SO wei
and-er-we don't want her to fe,
bored here
"Ohr groaned Merriwether. TN Thu
case I'll try, but watch out for rel
etition of chapter in the 'Pickwie
Papers, and he turned abruptly in,
the ballroom
Are you looking over the scene
former triumphs 7" asked gay voie
beside him. And Mrs. Angel move
across the room to straighten a cand
IN one of the candelabra.
Merriwether noted with admiratio
her free. light step. She was super
specimen Of womanhood, but he Re
veutIy wished she had appeared olde
Why Is it be asked impulsively, 4
noring her question that women 1
thin their voa1ff, 50 sna1rA 1nnoor fF,s