El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-01
CBy Mrs. H H Penrose.)

4 end of his tether. and that by no
- fault of his own. Only a few
months ago his father had left him a
LeaviIy- mortgaged property and de-
parted to the region where it is popu-
Iarly supposed that creditors cease
troubling and debtors are at rest
The elder LasceHes had left a wife
and two particularly helpless daugh-
tiers. whose support devolved upon
George, and none of these ladies had
the least idea Of doing anything to
lessen the burden. They were not
selfish. nor Intentionally idle; they
were merely helpless. In theory they
were quite ready TO devote themselves
TO dear George: in practice they were
absolutely incapable of doing anything
more useful than making themselves
look nice.
George was in the English army and
loved his profession, and his neart was
heavy with the thought Of being
obliged to give II up. The girls Wept
over the prospect but II did not occur
TO them that they might obviate the
necessity. Mrs. LaScelles was IN oe-
spair, and wished all sorts Of things
but she could no more strive towards
the fulnlment Of her wishes than she
stick The decisive step had not yet
been taken, and George had got a
week S leave, TO spend at home, lor the
purpose OF advising his mother with
regard TO the choice Of a small mouse.
1t was the day after his arrival and
q wonderful letter had just been read
aloud at the breakfast table
Mrs. Lascelles's only sister had mar
ried a rich American named JaDeZ l.
Shorter, and died childless. The Las
celles children had been instructed to
call this gentleman Uncle shorter to
Keep him supplied with photographs OF
hon sol vas q OF q ri G =
growth, to make him little presents on
his birthday, and to send him cards at
Christmas and Easter. His disposition
towards them appeared to DE very
friendly, and results were taken Tor
granted; but five years before this
time he had returned to America and
married one Of his own country women
he was an elderly man then, and
disinclined to mingle old interests with
new. so the old were dropped, the new
reigned paramount and the LaScelles
heard from him no more They were
notified Of his death in due time. and
Mrs. LaScelles wrote as kindly as she
could in the circumstances to cOndOle
with his widow. but that had happened
a year ago, and until today no news Of
the widow had been received Now Mrs
Jabez Shorter had written, and MIS-
Lascelles was purring over the letter.
The widow held out hopes.
Il should like to see your boy. Poor
Jabez took a great interest in him, and
I have no children Of my own Please
send him to me quite alone If I don't
like him I shall return him safely
She gave the address Of a small pri
Nate hotel at BOurnemOuth. and filled
up the remainder Of her sheet OF note
paper with few polite remarks about
England
Your troubles are over. George
said Marian, the younger sister. What
a providential aunt
She will take you in and do for
you. ~ said Gladys, the elder facetiOus-
". The young women, although unable
to do for themselves or anyone else.
lad a very fair understanding CT the
chance Things don't often happen so
appropriately" she added. Marian has
provided Mrs. Jabez Shorter with a
II ally well chosen name We shall al
ways call her The Providential
As a matter Of fact. she isn't our aunt
at ALL George objected
Don't adopt that attitude, whatever
you do entreated Mrs L1scelles. Call
her aunt continually. I never heard
her Christian name, out If you can
lind II out quickly, call her Aunt De-
borah,' on Aunt Martha as the case
may be It will sound more friendly
than Aunt shorter"
Yes" said Gladys, adhering 10 the
main issue; "be sure to make her feel
that you regard her as a real relation.
One doesn't know how many thousands
may depend on it."
Il wonder what she is Nike" babIed
Mrs. LaScelles. "Old. of course, as there
were no children. and she speaks OF
George as a mere bOy-COmpared with
herself naturally. Jabez was nearly 20
when he died. Allow that she was 10
years younger than he.that would make
her at least so nOW-Older than I am,
George, you see, so il is no wonder she
calls you a boy"
Il suppose she wears caps and a
gray side curl like-whO is the woman
Some American celebrity Marian
vaguely. George. YOU are a very lucky
man Make the most Of your pros
pects.'
You forget" said George. that l
may be returned with thanks" But,
notwithstanding this possibility, nc
looked remarkably cheerful as he drove
TO the railway station later in the day.
and stlll more cheerful when he
reached BournemOUth.
There was large garden surround
ing the boarding. house to which Mrs
JaDez shorter had directed him to come,
ana a woman was walking about among
the Macs and syringas, followed by a
little dog Of forbidding appearance.
Ny lady was very slight and girlish-
looking, dressed in a soft. white gown
carrying dainty sunshade TO supply
the place of the hat which she haC evil
IDENTIFY left indoors. Her fair hair rippled
and curled entrancingly about her
bI Dad forehead, and she had the most
mtschievOus blue eyes in the world. The
dog was not one meriting a particular
description. His strong point was the
uncomprOmising attitude which he gen
q ally assumed on first acquaintance.
Directly George opened the gate the
animal rushed towards him with a
great show of ferOcity. making a very
noisy pretence that he meant to de
YOUR the stranger on the spot He real
" had no such intention, merely de
string to inspire proper respect. but he
had seldom found himself understood
as this man appeared to understand
him.
Don't imagine that I'm afraid Of
you said George. 'and please keep
away from my feet, or you may get
trodden on
The confident tone acted like magic.
and the dog was wagging his tail be-
eff Nevertheless she came forward and
aPologlzed with infinite graciousness.
and George found himself wondering