The Monte Vista journal., 1912-10-12

IL JACK, Aunuo. doWS thlnG1
down homer"
We'll, fair to middlin', fair to mid.
din. brought you up some Hub
bard squashes. and good Peck's Pleas.
ants. and nuts, and ginger cookies.
l amt forgot when l was young. I
knew the children would enjoy things
right from the old place where their
father was born"
80 kind Of you. Polly" acknowl-
edged Mrs. Potter. sweetly. Betty.
you may remove them to the kitch-
en-"
Wait a minute; I Amt got a good
look at you yet. This II Miles girl,
amt III She favors Mile, too"
Geraldine smiled shyly.
Call me Gerry, auntie. Jack does"
She don't handsome q bit, does
she. Masgie7" Polly said. Anybody
sitting Study with you. yet, child7"
I'm to be married Easter week"
my. backward. amt YET" laughed
Polly. Run along and take your
walk. Who's she going to marry.
Maggie7"
"A gentleman in \ Wall street Of
fee"
you don't tell me. Amt that too
bad! But love goes where 1t will.
Jackie. help your old aunt of with
these pesky tight shoes and get my
old slippers out Of that bag on top.
l pretty near lost all my religion
wearing them down here"
Jack knelt on the floor, putting on
the slippers.
Mother worries too much"
"Hurries too much?"
Worries. She has . good many
social engagements-"
Il didn't know they'd let Potter's
Pure Pellets into New York society,""
chuckled Polly. Land, Jackie. re.
member when your father used to put
ter around home over his little dough
and sugar pills, and a little pepsin.
And he put on the labels they'd cure
everything on earth excepting chill
blains and boils. Seems queer to
think he made a fortune out Of them
before he died."
IT'S about all gone now" said
Jack cheerfully. We're putting on
lot Of dog. Auntie. that we can't
back up with the real goods. It's in
the afr down here"
Better come home with me. You're
Potter through and through,
Jackie. Sitting stiddy with any girl3"
Jack grinned, and shook his head.
Out in the hall they could hear Bet
tvs voice singing.
II want Betty" he said simply.
she sings like an angel"
Have you asked Betty to have
yer"
She's only seventeen, Auntie."
Don't you waste time, Sonny. I
was in love at sixteen, and we kept
a'waitin' and a'wsitin' for his folks
to die and my old bedridden father to
stop needin' me. and by the time
they'd all passed over the shining
strand. my lad died too, and we'd
missed our way somehow along loves
post road. Sometimes you can't put
much faith in the sign posts along
that road. Now. you brace right up
to the occasion and ask Betty while
shes sweet as a rosebud"
How long can you stay, Auntief"
We'll. 1t depends. A day or 30.
come up on a little business besides"
said Polly placidly gathering her bon
net and knit muller. and coat and
shawl together. "Mebbe I'll take you
home with me. Jackie"
Jack stood where she left him. and
Betty came in. Somehow the old
lady's simple philosophy Of life had
put new courage into him.
Betty" he said. slowly, Betty. lis
ten. Aunt Polly's offered to put mo
to work on her woodpile II I marry
you"
Betty dropped the broom and dust.
pan with bang and looked. at him
Jack had always been her hero. ever
since the day when somebody had
brought her there to live, q little pen.
sioner on her godmothers bounty.
Shes just making fun, guess"
said Betty, with a sigh. You couldn't
cut wood"
Il could learn. dear" Jacks arms
folded around her somehow a. II thew
belonged there. Wed chuck all this
city life. and 90 back home. There's
about a hundred and sixty acres there
OF land waiting for somebody to wake
IT up. remember dad telling about
1t. Would you go with me. Bettyf"
Betty turned her head to answer.
and met his lips. And 80 Mrs. Potter
found them as she came in the dining
room. followed by Aunt Polly.
Jack. I'm amazed at you." she be-
gan, In a repressed. sorrowful tone.