The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-20
BY RIBQ BOJGHMAN.

Copyright 1871. by Associated
Literary Press)
Margaret was toiling along through
the Los Angeles chamber of com
merce behind her two prosaic kin
folks, Like the humming drone OF
his own threshtng machine, Uncle
John prosed over silly statistics and
poky processes. She was half-gig
giingly commenting to herself as she
tagged doggedly along after Aunt
ELIAS amply reconstructed. black
broad-cloth form, that Uncle John
ought to be prosecuted for bigamy,
on the ground that he had two times
as much wife as he had when he first
married. when she discovered two
grey" eyes, under q broad hat brim,
answering. her chuckles with wrinkly
twinkles.
The naughty disdain which she du-
tifuliy tried to spread over her
amusement fell before the good ma
tured appreciation Of her need of 1t
relief expedition. She bowed, tenta-
lively and reservedly. The hat lifted
in a most dignihed acknowledged nt
and its owner advanced, holding OUT
his right hand. Margaret placed
her brown glove within his reach,
with the affirmation:
Il am very glad TO meet you here.
very glad To see you again" in an
swer to Aunt Eliza backward look
of inquiry. The aunt's exclama ton
attracted the attention of Unels
John
Margaret led her newfound friend
up TO her guardians.
Il am glad to introduce to you a
very old friend from Iowa. This is
my uncle and aunt, with whom / am
spending my summer vacation. Mr..
Livingston.
Aunt Eliza only exclaimed again,
aloud. and started to say that which
Uncle John Interrupted by an en-
phatic wave of his big capablelook-
ing arm.
Il am delighted to know you. Mr..
Livingston. delighted to know you.
Then taking an observation of the
young mans evident intention to fail
back in step with the niece. he reach
ed forward firmly for the young
man E arm, pulling him into step.
"If you are from the middle West
most of our agricultural processes
and products will be new and inter
esting To you. Now. here is and
beginning with a peroratton about
prunes. based on the huge elephant
constructed out of dried specimens OF
that much derided boarding house
favorite--a frightful. wobbly- kneed
example IF what Industry. coupled
with violence OF imagination. ener-
geticaliy misdirected. can perpetrate
Uncle John led him by dried-fruit-
bound paths into the mysteries OF
California farming.
Silently. not to say patiently or re-
sentfuliy, Margaret walked along with
Aunt Eliza, What profit from hei
transgression IL it not only furnished
no escape for her, but even afforded
new sacrifice upon the altar oi
Uncle Johns zeal for acquiring anc
importing Information. Plotted d,
Uncle John. the humorless. the quar-
tet stopped before a model fruit farm
worked out In papier mache.
This ranch. Margaret. which Il
here reproduced. belongs TO your
aunt's nephew. Jack Jenkins. hav,
asked him to take dinner with II!
at the hotel tonight and you vii
meet him there He's good chap
l never caught him in a false posi-
ton but once. and then ] think ths
fault was not altogether his"
The young man with longing look
toward Margaret showed signs Of
breaking away from her uncle's re
straining grasp.
"All he needs is housekeeper-
a wife, I mean, home maker, like voul
Aunt Eliza's been TO me- droneC
Uncle John. stating that romantic sit
uation as one might speak OF th'
number of seeds in prune elephant
But he is not much for women folks
He says It takes him six days to fig
ure out what woman means b,
/ ha M nv he
forgotten what It was she said
The man with the sombrero flushed
with shame over this account Of st
unappreciative a member of his sex
Perhaps he never met the one wo
man." he hesitatingly offered in ex
tenuation.
Maybe" answered the guide o
this personally conducted party
i He has sense enough about otne'
/ things. Now that rajsin plant is mod
eled after one of his"
Margaret tagged Farther and far
ther behind out of hearing.
| An alley. lined with golden pyra
mids Of oranges, opened before her
Mr.. Livingston might listen until
! nightfall or hoarseness silenced Tn
| fuge from the situation. II not from
| herself. In her quiet hotel room.
Refreshed by a bath and fortifie,
| by a fresh gown, she awaited tn
/ arrival of her uncle and aunt. Uncl
| John came into the parior excitedl
| discussing the probability of findin,
| her here as he opened the door.
| Margaret murmured somethinI
about having stepped into a side ais
to look at some very beautiful prune
and thus losing her way. Uncle Johl