Evening star., 1912-09-08

neart S relatives.
"Go on, Mother"
"Well, said the voice, from which all ran
cor had disappeared, leaving it resignedy
and tremulously tender, ito go back to
where you left off, my child,-and I'm sure
| don't know what ails your Uncle Harry
| can only say, in behalf of your father and
myself, that we hope you will be very
"Mother darling! Why don't you kiss
her, Stephen?"
The Major blew his nose, and fell into line
And then, at respectful distance, and
with becoming diffidence, the professor smil-
ingly approached the throne.
"Might also he timidly proposed.
But Eileen drew back. "Well, don't
know whether you can or not!"
eileen dear, her mother protested, "you
forget
Uncle Harry thinks am too young even to
dream of marrying, don't see what congrat-
ulations or good wishes he's got to offer
"The good wishes of a-of a scientist, her
uncle suggested humbly.
"But what kind of wishes are they? I'd like
to know! Upon my engagement to "a
She bit her lip.
"The good wishes" the professor ex-
planned, "of one phenomenon to another, my
dear, concerning a-er-concomitant.'
YOU'RE not concomitant, are you,
Stephen!"
@Well, should hope not!'
"Don't tell me you are not!" thundered
the professor in voice of horror.
"Stephen,' Eileen warned him quickly.
perhaps you are, Dear, after all-and don't
know it. But don't see what science has
to do with this she added in defiant voice
"You must remember, Uncle, that we're on
higher plane
"True!' murmured the professor unblush-
ingly. Il had not forgotten. We are, my
dear-all four of us"
"All five of us. You're leaving out one of
"All four of us, he insisted gently. @You
and Stephen, Madeline and l."
@Oh," said Eileen, her voice softening, Il
had forgotten Madeline"
"But | had not!' he answered. II have
never forgotten her And now, after nine
teen years
Nineteen years.
"Yes, nineteen years. said the professor.
"But what a coincidence all round!' cried
his niece. "Three nineteens!"
"Well, l wondered what was the matter
with you, Harry" his sister said, in tone
of relief and absolution. @Has it been SO
long? 1t doesn't seem possible"
he professor SlSleQ. IL 5 a long l1llle,
he acknowledged "but-" His happy voice
caught. Then he laughed it free again.
"All's we'll that ends well, you know! And
in our case, you see, there isn't any question
of our being old enough
Henry"
@Uncle Harry
Il saw
"Professor!'
Il say, Harry!' the Major broke in when
he got a chance-which wasn't right away.
"Hope you don't hold anything against me
for what | said back there about-ancient
history?'
4Don't mention it," the professor an
swered, wringing his hand "You couldn't
know that history would repeat itself
"But, Uncle Harry cried Eileen, backing
him off into corner by themselves, and
looking him reproachfully in the eyes, "why
didn't you tell me?'
"Not IL answered the professor wickedly.
Il didn't dare. You see, didn't know how
you would take it. You are SO emotional
SO religously emotional, Eileen.
am not!"
"You are This very moment you are har-
boring heartless and utterly unscientific
grudge against your Uncle Harry, when all
he said, every word of it, my dear, the pro-
fessor assured her, with an emphasis that
made her eyes open and open, till they were
e