The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-07
UNCLE PETER ARRAN6ES
BY MARTHA M'CULlOCh-Wll-
;llAMS.

piazza, which had q look of spick-
span new-fashionedness to match
the affections of its lord and
master, who was coming home
that day, bringing a new wife and a
newer young brother.
Jenny. raging against the change,
had been too sensible, withal too
thoroughbred, to be otherwise than
passively disagreeable.
She had done her very best with
everything-even the whiting. fretful
August roses. Her thought was. The
new Mrs. Gray will find out it's none
SO easy to live up to my blue china"
But when she saw a small, wispy
creature half lifted from the car, in
sensibly her antagonism lessened. The
wispy one was clearly very tired, rath-
of nervous, wholly insure of herself
and her position. She blushed pref
tily when her husband led forward his
capable daughter. saying: You're al
ways petting things-here's the best
ever" forcibly joined their two hands,
and introduced Uncle Peter, who was
his sister over again, only twenty
years younger. and healthy as she was
frail
Jenny also looked at him; long,
measuring gaze. She turned to her
father, saying amiably: Please, sir.
Id rather have the other one; it
looks somehow more thriving. Uncle
Peter, how will you like to be my
little"
jenny" Thunder does not begin
to express the paternal voice. Mrs.
Gray gasped. turned white, trembled
SO she could barely stand, seeing
CULTS of black unhappiness ahead.
Jenny looked steadfastly at the floor.
Across the tense moment came a
gay, boyish voice crying: Fine!
Bully. The very thing! I've moped
so since he" nodding at Mr.. Gray
-''overshadowed me with Sarah.
Now, all's right with the world; there's
Jenny in my heaven, a Jenny who
will find me troublesome"
Him. Two words are necessary to
some bargains" Jenny retorted, recov-
ering herself little. Her father shook
his head at her. Il hope you have
met your match" he said. Then to
Peter: Young man, If you'll tame her
properly it'll be worth the best horse
in my stable to YOU"
"Please-she ought not to be tanned
l like her best just sc" Peter Everett,
honor man of his college, athlete de-
spite his slightness and stature. said
pleadingly. Then with a swift change
he touched his new brothers arm say.
ing: Better let our Sarah rest a
bit she is ever so tired"
Jenny liked the tone, but she would
have died rather than admit it-beine
far from model young person. Peter
had in a way turned the tables on
first cause of his being there, just sc
much more.
She set out to pay 1t, girl fashion
by doing her best, in way skillfully
yelled, to capture Peter.
She grew to like him. Still, hel
|
laid a miniature In her hand one aft
ernoon, saying: Hope you like hel
looks! Girl I'm going to marry--somt
day-if l make anything of myself
Him! What does she say to that ?
Jenny asked, her head swimming TIT
least bit. Peter looked down.
Il had rather not tell YOU" he said
Butt can't venture unless I'm sure
partly deserve her love. It's tn,
Sarah sort"
Il don't understand" Jenny inter
rupted.
He smiled at her. 81 was sure 20,
did not" he said. If you had, beini
the good sort you are, you'd never
Don't speak of that was horri
bly, impertinent to-both Of you, Jenn!
confessed. Peter smiled again 9TH,
Sarah sort is this" he went on, "lov,
that lives hopeless in the face OF in
justice. My sister and your father wer
betrothed in early youth. Chanc
brought him in the way Of his oil
sweetheart, and the two of them wer
, young again. Fact! saw it-and 70
q minute at least hated him. Saral
had been everything to me since GU
mother died. Twenty years between
us-yet she isn't old. Haven't they ,
right to this autumnal happiness?"
1T seems they have-yet l can
agree-when / think of-mother.
Jenny broke out, hiding her face Il
her hands with dry SOD. I'VE seen
to be-so superfluous," she went o.
bitterly. Il mean to insist that q
Their shall send me away"
He will never do it. Never in tn
world" Peter said with confident az
cent.
She gave him q hard, reproachfu
look, SO he added merrily: He sure
} ly will not send you-because he
going to take you himself-with So
rah to make home for you both. 70,
shall stay as long as you like-stud,
or play at your pleasure"
This is your DOING" Jenny brok
In. He nodded roguishly, saying witt
sly smile. We'll, you mustn't min,
owing things TO Uncle Peter"
Copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate)
Mo Chicken