Evening star., 1912-11-18

vorite nephew-I mean to say his only
nepheW-which comes to the same thing.
doesn't it? At all events he's my favorite
uncle. and he's bound to leave me his
money some time, as that's the only way
| could ever have enough to pay him
back
isn't he the aeroplane uncle?" asked
Kate. Her voice sounded listless, and
her eyes were fixed on the farther shore
of the little lake.
That's the one. He goes in for BIZ
planes. 1 had rather hoped he'd get a
monoplane-not that I bear the dear old
chap any ill-will, don't you know" He
paused and then went on more cheer
fully: But. after all, an uncle is an
uncle, isn't he. kate?"
Lionel had way of stating great
truths that carried his hearers off their
feet.
Il believe he is, now that you speak of
1t. Kate agreed, quietly. Then she asked
with twinkle in her eye. but she looked
away before Lionel caught it, What will
You do on farm?''
"Oh. I'm going in for vegetables. pota-
toes. you know. and all that sort of thing.
You get the names out Of a catalogue.
I'm told the catalogues are free-that $
they contain photographs of all the vege-
tables-regular family album. don't you
know Lionel laughed for the first. time
since his downfall All you have to do is
to compare the photographs with the
things. as soon as they come up. and
that's how you know which is which. 1t
sounds hard. but really It's perfectly sim
pie when you get the hang Of it,
What if you failed to recognize vege-
table from its photograph questioned
are sometimes very fiattering. you know.
especially in catalogues. Suppose YOU
mistook a lettuce for a cabbage?'
"Ah. there You have me. I believe it's
almost impossible to tell them apart, that
is until they are ripe. but there's no use
burning your bridge-I mean spelling your
cabbage until you come to it's there,
Kate? OF course. he continued. Il shall
begin with potatoes. I shall feel perfect
ly at home with a potato"
Kate turned her head away quickly.
Did you see that SWAMI she cried.
He turned a perfect somersault in the
water
Lionel adjusted his monocle and stared
at the unruffied surface of the lake. He
must have dived and come up on the
other side Of the island he suggested.
please go on she said. What will
be your attitude toward a--toward apo
po-' She was afraid to trust her voice.
A potato? My dear girl, it's the SIM
plest thing in the world. Once plant the
seeds and put the sticks in
THE sticks?" interrupted Kate.
Lionel permitted himself the smile OF
superior knowledge. "Of course. for the
IltiO DtSSdIS 10 CllIiD Sdy, Mate,
didn't you know that the potato is a
creeper? Some of the catalogues call it a
vine but that's confusing, because a vine.
don't you know, bears grapes, and a pO-
tato only bears potatoes. A chap might
easily go wrong on that. mightn't he?
Gardening is full of pitfalls, but so is
every other profession when it comes to
that, and / fancy I'll muddle through
somehow, and If l don't, well. there YOU
are,'
=
and blew out triumphant cloud of
smoke. Kate watched him in silence.
Presently, in response TO pair OF lifted
eyebrows and an outstretched palm.
Lionel fumbled for his cigarette case.
Kate selected one. and, posing it deli
cately between her lips. tipped her face
toward his for a light. Lionel hastily re-
moved his cigarette and handed it to her.
She took it silently. with a look that
missed its mark as Lionel turned away.
After lighting her cigarette the countess
tossed Lionels into the lake with an ex-
clamation that caused him to look round.
"How stupid of me- she said. Take
mime
dered if he had heard. She watched him
with a curious expression as he took a
fresh one; then. he was feeling for a
match she quickly leaned her face to-
ward his. steadying her cigarette with her
slender fingers. There was no evading it
this time To complicate matters, her
hand shook ever so slightly. but enough
to necessitate LioneIs holding it close
against his.
Thanks, awfully." said Lionel. putting
vigorously as he withdrew from the dam
ger zone.
Kate watched the struggling spark with
a look Of half f-amused suspense.
Thanks, / have it, he added. a mo-
ment later. as he leaned back and ex-
hailed an immense cloud of smoke.
Suddenly he iumDeQ to his feet
must be getting back to my chores, - as
old Baxter calls them.
Kate remained seated. How soon do
you goo'' she asked, in a tone of elaborate
patton Of busting an imaginary cigarette
ash from her knee.
Coz queried Lionel.
"To the farm"
write to Uncle Cyril tonight. BY Jove,
won't he be surprised to hear I'm going
in for farming and all that sort of thingo
I'm afraid the old boy'll think I'm pulling
his leg, but I'm not. Kate, upon my word,
I'm in dead earnest. This working game
has made another man of me- 1 never
felt filter in my life. l feel better every
way, physically and he hesitated, yes.
by Jove, morally" He paused, breath
less. ON this pinnacle of thought.
"And how about me?" She had turned
away and was looking out over the lake,
her chin resting on her hand. II sup
pose you think 1t has made no difference
to me. You don't think I'm worth MAX
ing over. If I get up every morning at 6
and go to bed at 8. after working all day
in the kitchen, it's just joke. And as
for my morals-whatever You mean by
morals
Lionel had tried several times to get in
a word, but Kate. never once taking her
eyes off the lake. had kept on In a low
voice. as il no one were there 1t sounded
to Lionel like some one talking in sleep.
Now. as she paused and turned toward
him, he broke in