Evening star., 1912-07-21
SPEEDING UP UNCLE ANDY
BY SEWELL FORD

color on his face and most of his hair still left
here wa n any time to plot out campaign SO |
pixies straight for him, squas close alongside and goes
to sizin up the picture he's gain at slt1shv
It's OF sweet young thing all in white bendin over
rosebush
@Some queen, eh?' says I, like thinkin' aloud
@Beg pardon?" says he
"Nothn' worth mentionin'" says 1; aonly the young
party there in the garden strikes real classy"
"Ah You like it. do you?' SAYS he kind of warrnin
up. at reminds me of someone who was very dear to
me; someone, might say who is still very dear
"Yes,' says he, "1ny dear wife,
3Gone eh?n says l.
@These five years says he, diggin out handker-
chief and proceedin to swab his eyes.
"Well, WE'LL" says l. "That's rough. Looked some
like that when she younger, did sheo'
"The eyes strangely like hers says he; "only
my Alicia had much genter, sweeter expression. 1t
was in rose garden that first met her. too"
think of that!7 says l, with the sympathy stop
pulled clear out Can you beat it3 Cute name Alicia
Got plain Alice skinned mile, amt it? Sometime
back, that garden episode was, | expect?"
Does he get the cue? Say inside of three minutes
hearin the story of Alicia from the time he first
saw her home from meetn', down through the sleigh
ridn and sngin school period, to the big event when
she ny sponged all the other entries off the board and
let Andy fit on the ring. And me? Say, I'll bet he
never run across any small but select audience that had
anything me in the listenin line, who could
back for more with sraighter face. For he
windy when it to THROWN in the mushy details.
"Hers was the kind of oveliness he goes on (which
never faded. As girl she beautiful; but as
woman she was charming. You should see portrait
had painted of her when she was twenty five
"Gee' says |, DRAWN in my breath "Wish could!'
: Then you must, says he, pattn the shoulder
"You must, indeed"
Can you see me disputn' himo let him plan it all
out how the very next day was to up and have
Sunday afternoon tea with him and inspect all the pic
lures of Alicia he had in stock.
at is unusual presume, says he, "but I've taken
great fancy to you my boy; and if you don't mind lis
tenng to prosy old man.
al can stand it if you can, says l. @Whats the adj
dress?"
@Thomas is my name, says he, @Andrew V. Thomas,
and live at Pelham on the Sound
"You do!' says l. workin up business of surprise.
next door to you-Nliss Vee"
dyes. yes" says he. "And SO you are young friend
of Verona's? Why, my boy, she and her aunt
with me only moment ago. Come we will find them
"Sorry, but I'll have to renig this time,' says l.
"Maybe you could fix it up have her drop in tomor-
row, though that is, leavin' Aunty out. l amt
strong for Aunty' and with that tips him the wink.
"He, he!" chuckes Uncle Andy. II understand. But
we'll arrange that. You up tomorrow"
"You can gamble on that" says |. dts as sure as
Fourth of July"
SOt me for Pelham all doled up in my new checked
~ spring suit and babybue tie and the silk socks got
for Easter. And I'd doped out how Wee and l would
stand for Uncle Andys fond recollectons for about
minutes stretch and then throw the switch him.
But what do you guess? Why, he'd bugged the scheme
entirely and instead of just Wee on the side veranda
there Aunty too And when Uncle Andy appears
to greet me at the front door he has his hanky out and
his eyelids is all red.
Don't mind me, my boy says he. ave were just
talking of dear Alicia. Come right out and join us.
it's all the same to you, says |, "maybe I'd better
sldestep. Aunty here for the afternoon, is she?"
"Oh, had forgotten, says he mo, she will be 60
ing back for her nap soon.'
aThen suppose just slide inside easy and wait until
she does her fit?" says |.
He agrees that, pilots in where can get view