Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-12-10

A joke was something Uncle Chad
said when he wanted you to think he
meant what he didn't mean.
And I?' asked Miss Grace.
"You?" said Uncle Chad, and his
eyes lost the joke look and took their
really truly" look. 81 have known
ever since first met you that you
were an Angel"
Like one who is stunned Fla Eye
relaxed her grasp of Miss Grace's
hand. She slid slowly from her lap
and stood moment gazing at Miss
Grace with horror, trembling; and
then, before Uncle Chad or Miss Grace
realized it, Fla Eye had flown at the
smiling girl and was tearing and pull.
ing the light, fluffy dress, and scratch.
ing the white wrists and hands that
Vainly tried to hold her of.
It did not last a minute. Uncle Chad
grasped the frantic little figure in his
strong arms and bore her across the
street. When he set her in chair
before Aunt Lou she was sobbing.
They agreed that Fla Eye must be
ill-she never acted so-and Uncle
Chad was told to fetch the doctor.
Neither of them said she was a bad
girl, and she glared sullenly at them.
Fla Eye waited until she heard Aunt
Lou moving the dishes in the dining
room and then slid quietly from the
chair and climbed the front stairs
and glided along the upper hall until
she came to the door of Uncle Chad's
own room. On the dresser stood an
oblong box Of cedar wood, around one
end of which was a green paper band.
Now she raised the lid of the box
and listened. Aunt Lou was still get.
ting tea, for the sound Of dishes came
up the back stairs. Fla Eye took from
the box long, black cigar. It seemed
enormously large and she tried to find
a smaller one, but they were all of
size. She bit of the end of the cigar,
as she had seen Uncle Chad bite them,
and lighted the other end.
1t was very, very nasty. Nothing,
she felt sure, could ever induce men to
make a practice of smoking, except
the fear of the Angel.
Fla Eye was very sick little girl
for a while, but when the doctor came
he only laughed his big, shaggy laugh.
Eaten something that did not agree
with her." he said. "She will be her.
self in the morning."
Aunt Lou, however, sat in Fla Eyes
room that evening and, Fla Eye, after
long thought, in which she consid.
cred whether she would have to smoke
a cigar every day, turned to Aunt
Lou.
I'm bad" she said; I'm a bad, bad
girl" she said pleadingly.
mo, Fla Eye" she said, kindly.
"You are a good little girl, and you al
ways will be-"
Fla Eye turned on her face and
wept. Aunt Louis verdict plainly
plainly meant a cigar every day. The
way Of the transgressor is hard. And
Fla Eye fell asleep.
When she awakened-it seemed as
II she had slept for days, but It was
only Is minutes later-Aunt Lou had
gone, and Uncle Chad stood beside the
bed, and Fla Eye smiled and held out
her hand. They were fellow sinners"
Miss Grace has come over to see
how you are getting on, Fla Eye"
he explained. The little figure in the
bed sat up very suddenly and with
one glance at Miss Grace sprang out
upon the floor and chung to Uncle
Chad's leg.
Take her away! Don't let her get
mel" she cried. Take her away"
Uncle Chad gathered Fla Eye into
his strong arms and held her close.
"she won't take you, girl, If you
don't want her to-"
Fla Eye hung tightly around Uncle
Chad's neck, pressing her face into
his shoulder.
"She will! She will" she moaned.
. mo. l won't" Miss Grace declared
positively. 81 promise never to take
you until you want me to. Never!"
And won't you never stand by my
bed at night?" asked Fla Eye, her face
still hidden.
mo, never"
, Not even if I'm good?"
] Not even if you are good"
Fla Eye raised her head little.
Are you going to take Uncle Chat
: away?" she asked.
Miss Grace looked across at Uncle
Chad and smiled.
1 81 wouldn't take your Uncle Chat
}. under any circumstances whatever
she said.
"oh! l say" exclaimed Uncle Chad
J, But Fla Eve did not allow him to ga,
;. more.
Are you going to take Aunt Loug
r she inquired anxiously.
g NO; not even Aunt Lou" said Mis-
r Grace.