The Huttig news., 1910-11-19
CARING FOR
 EDNA

I've given up all thoughts of ever getting married" declared Edna, hold. ing up the Irish lace rose she was cro- cheting. "I did think at one time that my chances were a little better than the average girls, but now have re signed myself to the inevitable" Well, the right man hasn't come along yet, my dear" graciously sug gested Edna's married friend Just as soon as he does you'll know 1t and he'll know it, and then there will go the marriage bells"
 T wish 1t really was as simple as that sighed Edna, but you are not ta king my bachelor uncle into account.
 Why. what has your uncle got to do with your not getting married?"
 Everything" declared Edna, rue fully. That is, nearly everything am not the only star In my own eve hing horizon. In fact, am either com. pletely obscured or l shine only with reflected glory. You've heard me speak of my bachelor Uncle Bob. He lives over on the next street in a boarding house and he thinks that his one absolute duty Is to drop in on me every evening of his life immediately after dinner and act as master of cere. monies for the rest of the evening. The few times he has failed to appear he has called me up by telephone bright and early the very next morn ing to express his apologies and re. grets."
 But he doesn't interfere with your callers. does he?" queried the married friend. with dawning comprehension Surely he goes upstairs with the oth CTS and plays cards or something of the sort?"
 That's just what he doesn't do," re- sponded Edna, eompressing her lips. He says he enjoys knowing and meeting my friends. and he usually remains all evening when they come. and on some occasions has even es corted to the door some young man whom he particularly favored He thinks it Is his duty as a man with no responsibilities to look after my matri monial prospects. nearly expire with modification when he asks some new man who is calling for the first time to have lunch with him the next day really know of two cases where he absolutely frightened away very eli gible young men by his overassiduous attentions
 Couldn't you delicately hint to him that he is too much of an evening de light?" suggested the married friend. sympathetically.
 T shouldn't dare" affirmed Edna, prodding her chochet needle viciously into the lace rose. He is the kind who would spend the rest of his life nursing such cruel sting of ingrati- tude.
 Still. Tom says he Is about desper ate to have few moments alone with me. The other evening when he came he asked me If 1 couldn't put few grains of some harmless slumber pow der into uncle's coffee.
 Just as he finished speaking uncle came bustling down from fathers room, where I was hoping that he was safely slowed away He started at once to give Tom some good advice on the subject of young mans hay ing bank account Then he drifted into few words of warning about ma king hay while the sun shines and striking while the iron is hot. Al. though I had fearful cold l started to sing furiously."
 You poor grill" exclaimed the mar ried friend. T wonder you don't have nervous prostration. Why don't you get your family to move?"
 Uncle Bob would move, too, he loves us so. I thought that when summer came things would be better In fact, 1 hit on what seemed to me a clever plan. I fixed up the back yard with swinging davenport and wicker chairs. Tom was delighted with the plan. The first evening tho yard was ready Tom came over early and immediately we tore out through the kitchen to the peace and quiet oi the Arcadia we had secured
 
 heard the chains creaking Then we saw the lighted end of a cigar.
 T was just going in to get you. announced Uncle Bob from the cozy seat of the davenport swing It is fine out here l was strolling by and came in at the side gate. Sit down, sit down I like young people around me It never bothers me a bit"
 Couldn't you marry him off to some lnsuspecting spinster?" suggested Ednas married friend with sympathy in her voice. "I'd take almost any measures to get rid of such a clinging and pertinacious relative"
 No" said Edna. listlessly. He says he will never marry and that he is waiting for me to get married so he can come and live with me-"