The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-04-14

pany with, and was at last engaged to
VIII Armstrong, Mr. Henderson had
not put his foot down in time He
was a merchant and the idea that his
daughter should take up with" a
clerk III another store and working
on salary OF $40 per week, angered
and humiliated him.
Things were at skies and seyens
when Uncle Ben arrived He was sew
enty years old and worth a thousand
dollars for every year of hisiage. Ey-
eryone looked up to Uncle Ben He
was great hand to advise He made
specially Of advising whenever op-
portunity offered. If a man had a
COW which only gave five quarts Of
milk per day Uncle Pen Nc1ld ad-
wise him THAT it was just as easy to
have one which gave double the
amount He advised his neighbors
how to live in peace and unity--young
men what sort of girls to pick out
girls what sort Of fellows. and he
lived his life knowing that the great
world would sadly miss him when his
time came to go.
The old gentleman didn't wait two
days before tackling his job He
didn't 60 to see the young man. as he
might have done. All young men
were alike. He first led of on the
duty Of children to their parents
They must obey What did a gil Of
twenty, who had never churned or
made soft soap, know Of human CHAR
acier2 Right in his youthful breast
Wal Armstrong might have the seeds
Of mu.der and piracy. After marriage
they would grow and thrive like d lot
Of burdocks. and it would eventually
be the gallows for him. Yes, the gal
lows, and the wife would stand at
tile foot Of Il with streaming eyes and
wish she had never been born Then
the good Uncle Ben took up the com
mercial side Of the case. Let it go
that they loved Admit, for the sake.
OF argument that no murderous seeds
We're waiting to blossom in Williams
breast. He was getting a salary of
$40 a week--only $40. How far would
that go towards making home? II
was easy to figure. So much house
rent--so much sugar, coffee, tea, flour
and butter There might be SO cents
week over. but that would have TO
80 for rheumatic liniments and corn
cures.
After talk lasting for hours, in
which the girl had very little to say,
Uncle Ben patted her on the shoulder
and observed:
4 am glad you see things my way,
dear You are going to drop this
young man and be sensible"
But am not" she replied. @Un-
less he dies or backs out we shall
be married"
Then you can't think know
much,
Not about girls. When they love
and wed they are willing to do with
very little ten and coffee. win and
shall get along. You are a dear old
uncle, but when It comes to choosing
a husband let a girl alone"
Look here, Lena, replied the old
man after some thought, you are my
favorite niece. ! don't want to see
you 60 to the poorhouse, nor weeping
at the foot Of the gallows. Send this
young man about his business. II you
will do this I'll agree to put $4,000 In
The bank for you against marriage
with somebody in your station"
Not for sale. Uncle Benz"
Uncle Ben had no more to say to
her She refused to follow his advice
and was therefore to be considered a
lost soul His advice to the parents
was:
Say no more. Let her make her
bed and lie in IT,"
And his anger and outraged dignity
would not permit him to say more at
the time. It was known to the fam
lily three days later, however, that he
to hunt up the homeliest
girl in the county and make her
present Of the money he had offered
to his niece,
Ten days passed. and then the
weeping Mrs Henderson announced
that Lena was not In her room. She
had not gone to bed for the night.
She had fed by way Of the window
and the roof Of the woodshed. That
she and Win Armstrong had eloped
there was little doubt
On the fifth day Uncle Ben took
stroll around the village and stepped
into a grocery to get two cents worth
Of bark cinnamon to chew on. He
was waited upon BY a smart-looking
young man He asked questions and
they were answered SO courteously
and intelllgently and the young man
seemed so very much alive to things
that the adviser patted him on the
shoulder and said
0YoYng man, you are just what
was at your age, and ] am now worth
over $40, 1000 Keep right on
Uncle hen, this is my husband,
Mr. VIII Armstrong" said a voice at
bis elbow, and he turned to confront
his smiling niece.
There was a long minute to emhar-
rassing silence, and then the old man
replied
4You come across to the bank with !