The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-08-14

Jara-that 1t doesn't seem as IL we're
strangers at all. And" she hesitated,
threw him a swift scrutiny, then pro-
ceeded, at may be that can help you
out little.'
The old man was silent, thinking In
tently. Maybe you cam" he exclaimed
suddenly, "and them wouldn't have
to bother her at ALL"
The girl bent forward abruptly and
broke a spray of clematis from near
| by trellis. She buried her nose in the
blossoms for a moment, keeping her
eyes steadily down. Presently she
said: 81 don't mind telling you Mr..
Barker that Barbara, too, has seemed
to me good deal troubled about some
thing of late. And-why, might just
as we'll tell you the truth at once;
they're crazy about each other, her
parents admire young Fielding i'm
mensely and are perfectly willing for
her to marry him. But Dick Is OBJ
stinate; he refused to allow her to do
it until, in his own words, he makes
good"
The anxious expression on Uncle
Billy's face all at once gave place to
one of satisfaction. 'If that is all, then
knew 1t already. But / was afraid
there might be something deeper.
was thinking perhaps she'd said some
thing-done something-maybe hurt
the boys feeling in some way. II
even went so far as to wonder Tiff 1t
might be-me."
A tender little smile played about
the girls lips. You should hear your
nephew talk about you, Mr.. Barker
and you should know too, how Barbara
has already taken Uncle Billy into
her heart"
The old man mopped his eyes. "I'm
mighty glad to hear you say 80, miss.
Now I'm going to tell you something
queer. You've been so good as to take
me into your confidence. I'm not Dicks
real uncle at all. Once when he was
very little boy, oh, ten or eleven,
guess, was knocked down in the
street by big express wagon and in
iured about the head. Dick and his
father were close by and Mr.. Fielding
giving in to the boys persuasions, had
me carried to his own home instead
of to the village Jail. That was the
only place in Brooklawn; they didn't
have any hospital then. After a few
weeks 1 got on my feet but 1t was
months before could work. Dick and
had grown to be great friends and
Mr.. Fielding kept me on at the place
as his overseer. A few years later he
died, then, his wife-and there was
just Dick and me left. We've been to-
yether ever since 1t would break my
heart to go out of that boys life, but
If | thought l was hindering him in
the world"
Indeed, you mustn't say such
things. I'm convinced II isn't that,
but just silly, false pride that's got
possession Of your nephew"
II guess it's silly all right. But
but just can't help admiring Dick for
sort of feeling that way. And, if the
truth was known, l bet Miss Barbara
thinks lot more of him for it,"
The girl flushed softly at some sud-
den recollection, I'm certain of it, too,
Mr.. Barker; it only goes to show what
what Dick Fielding is made of. But
she's only human, you know, and she
isn't willing for him to go to breaking
her heart forever!"
The old man rose suddenly to his
feet. The girl glanced up, bewildered
at the swift change of expression that
mad come over his mild little face with
The faded eyes and withered cheeks.
The former were suddenly afiash with
purpose and the latter streaked with
dark red And he shan't either!" he
cried. I'm going home and tell him
something tonight that will make
whole lot of difference. I'll tell it to
you now, though you must promise to
ct him be first to his sweetheart with
he news. week ago, distant cou-
sin of mine died out in Colorado and
eft me fortune of a half million
iollars. It's all going to Dick-the lit
lie boy with the great big heart.
)nly wanted to find out the truth about
The girl, that's all. I wanted to know
f she'd been fair. IL love him too
much to give him up toto somebody
,hatll-care less-can't you see?"
The trembling old voice trailed al
most to whisper. The young girl had
risen too and was standing beside him.
She laid an affectionate row of soft
ingertips on his rusty coat sleeve;
he eyes she lifted to his were brim-
ming with the tenderness of unshed
.ears.
"You-won't have to give him up,
Uncle Billy" she revealed herself in
little Joyous undertone, fort
wouldn't be home at all-without-
you.'
(Copyrisht, 1918, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)