The San Francisco call., 1910-10-23

A UNIT MARTHA waited until Uncle
"A Ezra had finished his pie and his
Il n second cup of coffee, and then laid
beside his plate a dainty, pale gray en-
velope bearing a city postmark. There's
q letter that come from jamie this
morning she announced; and then,
unable to await his slow absorption OF
the written words. she added excitedly.
Her husbands going to England to
stay month. Had to go to look after
the branch of the business over there"
That so?" queried Uncle Ezra. look
ing up with interest "Wen. guess
she and the girls will be pretty lone
some" He unfolded the letter and
frOwned a bit over the task OF decipher-
ing it. Beats all how she ever learned
70 make them polnty. all-alike letters"
he complained. When she was going
to school here In Branchvilie she used
TO write just as pretty and plain as any
little girl in the county" He read on
iaboriously, with occasional help from
Young loving niece, Janet" he replaced
the letter carefully in It's envelope and
rubbed his glasses thoughtfully..
she always wants to know when you
an I are coming to see her." he re-
marked in a pleasant tone. JAMES
nice woman; she don't never act stuck
up nor forget her country relations. J.,
dIWdyS eilJOY 1cr NlS1l1LS mere, just do
IL she hadn't married rich and lived in
town SO many years. I say, Marthy,
he went on, somewhat trenulous with
excitement over the idea. why wouldn't
Seems like they'd ought to have a man
about the house, with Henry away so
hong, and I'm sure they'd like having
one OF their own folks as a sort of pro-
lection, aside from the pleasant time
we'd both be sure to have What say,
Marthy?v
His wife meditated as she began TO
know but it might be first-rate time
for You to go; that Is. If you didn't mind
going alone. "Twould give me chance
to go and stay with Jim and Marietta a
lately, since Marietta and the baby have
both been SO poorly and I've been try
Ing. to think how it could be managed
without taking you down to the shore.
when 1t never agrees with you. this time
of year. But IL you could be helping
jamie out at the same time by being a
sort OF protection. as you say. seems
as II 1t would bring things round all
satisfactory know you'll be comfort
able and happy at Janie's, and I don't
believe | could be. knowing my own
daughter was needing me for things no
Yes. that's so,'' assented Uncle Ezra
There isn't much I could do at Jim s,
anyhow; and at JAMES, you see. I'd be
a real help. Well, then, let's call 1t set
tled.N You write to both of 'en on Sun
day. and fix IT all UP straight Lucky
I've lust got new suit. isn't it?''
The letters were duly sent, and replies
from niece Janet and daughter Ma
rietta expressed entire satisfaction with
the plan. SO it happened that one bright
day In early autumn Uncle Ezra, serene
In the consciousness of his new clothes
and modern suitcase purchased for the
occasion, left the little town for his first
visit to the big city. However, he had
taken enough little journeys in the
rors. and he was buoyed up by a. sense
of his protective duty toward "Janie's''
defenseiess family. He had neglected to
mention to Aunt Martha that in his
build. a relic of his dashing youth. He
felt that she would have protested with
frank and cutting comments on elderly