Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1911-06-16
Uncle Johns Sense Of Hu1nor
By RUBY BAUGHMAN
lc0pyright. 1911. BY As.Oeia.sa Literary pre.s.l

'sociated Literary Press.)
mids of oranges. opened before
Mr.. Livingston might listen , t,
nightfall or hoarseness silencad ~ Ill
John; she escaped and found lie
from the situation, if not from bersas5s
IN her quiet hotel room.
Refreshed by bath and for+4e.,,
a fresh gown she awaited the arr,
OF her uncle and aunt. Uncle La
came into the parlor excitedly disc
ing the probability of finding her Us
as he opened the door.
Margaret murmured sometbing oh.,..
having stepped into a side aisIo -
look at some very beautiful nr,,ros
and thus losing her way. Uncle Tobn
assured her of his regret. Aunt Elizs
was silent. The stranger looked nm
comfortable, almost embarrassed
Mr.. Livingston is stoppinp ba,.
too. so he'll take dinner with rs ~
planned Uncle John, as they departed
to make ready for that meal.
Wondering how it would all end che
made her way with her cha+tarino
relatives to the table in the small d;n
ing-room. She was grateful for the
chilling presence of black and white
automaton of waiter. He seemed IN
some way, means of postponement
of the moment of judgment.
And what time do you put the corn
crop usually?" she heard Uncle Jobn
say. With unbelieving ears she heard
the answer:
"Oh. at the end of the rainy season
in February or March, as a rule"
lowa's rainy season, in Marcbr
Margaret gasped in anticipation o,
Uncle Johns scathing remarks. Uncle
John had spent his boyhood on an
Iowa farm. But he only inquired fur.
Their:
i didn't suppose the ground would
be ready to work so early in the
spring"
"Oh, yes, it's muddy sometimes. and
disagreeable to handle-too soft in
fact"
Margaret closed her eyes and caught
glimpse of an Iowa corn field in
March-the grayish-yellow stalks
sticking up through four or five feet Of
snow drift. Maliciously, it seemed to
Margaret, did Uncle John lead the con.
fused young informant through tortu.
Gus ways of misinformation.
From cocktail to demi tasse the in.
QUESTION lasted. With an almost over
whelming desire to scream, Margaret
finally led the procession of four from
the dining room along endless, red.
carpeted corridors to the little sitting
room. A change, even a scene Of the
torture, was welcome rest.
Il thought your nephew, Mr.. Jenk.
ms, was coming to take dinner with us
tonight" she said by way of converse.
ton to Aunt Eliza, to whom she sup
posed the amply-proportioned shadow
beside her on the window curtain be
longed.
He did," slowly answered the voice
of the blunderer about corn crops and
Iowa harvests.
In wild-eyed amazement Margaret
faced him.
He-and-you are she gaspeu.
Eyes, he did and l am"
"And the fruit ranch and the"
Words failed her in the recollection Of
Uncle Johns minute description Of the
Jenkins homestead.
YES" very carefully, as one on IN
safe treading, "but I'm not the mis-
ogamist, Uncle John"
And Uncle John made Aunt Eliza
keep still. Those two old geese are
up in their room laughing their old
eyes out. He loves joke better than
good meal of Aunt Eliza's own cook
ing"
Uncle John loves joke! Why
thought Uncle John had no-and now
he'll think-you'll all think"
Uncle John has asked me to 60 for
visit with them and you to their
ranch in order that 1 may tell yoV
think Shall II"