Mexico Missouri message., 1915-07-22

OuCl6 ecu WduIS you 10 COIue uOWu
to Borlands this afternoon--oh, you
can easily make the 2:O2 train. Some
thing about changing his will, be-
lieve! l suppose so-thanks-good-
by"
Think you're mighty clever to have
him down here, don't your" quavered
Uncle Zeb.
Il thought you wanted him down,
Uncle zeb," returned Ted with a
straight look from his brown eyes.
Il didn't believe you were such a
fool" grumbled the old man. How
are you going to support that Farday
girl?"
"Lue," corrected Ted quietly. "Why,
we thought we'd live on the old place
with Miss Henrietta, and I'm going
to raise chickens. You know I've had
considerable luck experimenting on
the farm here"
The telephone bell jingled from it's
corner.
Answer it, Ted"
Ted's handsome head inclined to
the instrument.
''Yes?-Oh, you, darling? I'm COM
ing over presently. Something impor-
tant? Aunt Henrietta?-Jove, Lue,
but that's a blow. Good-by, sweet
heart. Don't grieve, it will come out
all right-o."
He hung up the receiver and
crossed the room to look down at the
little dried-up old man with quizzical
eyes.
Il suppose Henrietta Farday objects
to having anything as practical as a
chicken farm on her estate" sneereC
| Uncle Zeb.
Ted shook his head.
1T isn't that, Uncle Zeb. Miss Hem
rietta objects out and out to my mar
rying Lue-says she'll be hanged If
her niece marries a bullying Borland.
So there you are!"
"And your girl won't chance mar
rying on your salary?"
YES" said Ted proudly; only she
thinks it's her duty to Miss Henrietta
to remain with her. Henrietta is not
very well, and there is no other rela-
tive"
As soon as he was alone Uncle zeb
peered from the window until he saw
that Teds figure had disappeared
through the gate. Then the old man
hobbled across the room to the tele-
phone and called for local number.
The deeply masculine voice of Miss
Henrietta Farday came in answer.
"This is Zeb Borland," began Uncle
Zeb, doubtfully.
"Humph! Bullying Borland!" COM
mented Aunt Henrietta in her most
forbidding accents. I've put my foot
down on your nephew's love-making, :
Put your foot DOWN."
"Yes-both feet! There won't be
any bullying Borlands in my family, "a
declared the old lady.
You can't know Ted very well.
He's good enough for any girl in AL
mos county-or the world, for that
matter"
HE isn't good enough for my
Luella! / don't know how you can
say he isn't Borland. Why, he's the
living image Of what you were, Zeb
Borland, forty years ago."
Textbooks like mel did? Pshaw,
Henrietta, never was half as good
looking as Teddy" Uncle zeb's voice
bore pleased note.
'You were better looking" contra
dicted the lady sharply. Il can prove
it by that miniature"
Silence for moment. A-
| TT,o1z HnA ep,sIad into fhn mouth.
piece of the instrument.
Henrietta Farday-have you kept
that picture of me?"
81 keep lots of trash!" came in a
stifled tone.
1--WE got your picture, Henry, but
l don't call it trash" said Uncle
Zeb in an oddly gentle tone. You
want to trade pictures with me?"
A hush-then:
"You better keep the one you GOT
and I'll keep mine"
Il should be lonesome without II. p
whispered Uncle Zeb. I've kept 1t
in my pocket so many years. Henry
I'd miss It. But l suppose you've
kept mine in some trash box-along
with other trash"
4 "zeb Borland, I'm liar" blazed
Henrietta with all the fire of her
youth. i've worn your miniature
next to my heart all these years be-
cause it's all there was left of--love!
Laugh, If you want to-"
'Henrietta!" How, eager was the
old voice now. 1T isn't too late to
have a little happiness-just US two
and the young folks-why, there's
enough room in these two houses for
ali Of us-and for another generation,
What say, Henny?"
Eyes" came Henrietta's answer
along the line. There isn't any use
contradictirg a bullying Borland."
Cartwright, 1915, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per syndicate)