The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1916-07-15


and Loren Tompklns would spend the
day investigating the matter aud would
telephone Belle as soon AZ they heard
anything"
ats mighty queer" commented
Laura Bamwell as she threaded her
needle.
Mrs, Smith went out to the kitchen
and began preparations for dinner.
The dressmaker sewed and shipped
and ripped and stitched busily.
Several hours passed uneventfully.
1t was 8 o'clock when Belle Wickham
staIked up the path, her gaunt frame
clothed in black mourning garments.
II guess it's all over. Annie" she
said sadly. II just got telephone
message from Gideon. He said they
had found Uncle Henry and would
bring the body back with 'em tonight
I'VE better so over to the house to be
there. 1t needs fixing up-sOme f1res
made and SO FORTH said Mrs. Smith
gravely. SO after awhile the two cous-
ms departed. leaving the dressmaker
with her hands full of mourning gar
ments You'll have to come tOmor-
row, Laura" said Mrs. Smith as she
went out
~ wouldn't miss it for farm" NUT
tered Laura to herself II expect
there'll lie the greatest kind of jealousy
over Henry's will. Each one Of those
three women will expect the lions
share They've been watching ench
other for years. afraid one might get
the inside track with Uncle Henry and
his money"
In the Popham homestead, on the
Hollow road. there was a scene of
great activity. although the three cous
lns found the house remarkably neat
and clean for a bachelor abode. Black
Hannah, who came once fortnight to
clean and wash and Iron. declared that
Uncle Henry must have cleaned 1t
himself since her last visit, and the
grief stricken nieces admitted that
Uncle Henry's suicide had been pre-
meditated.
Fires were made In the seldom used
front parlor and In empty bedrooms.
and the beds were aired and remade.
| Perhaps the nieces found comfort In
hard work. for they drudged uncOm
plainingly.
At dusk they prepared from the sup
plies In the pantry. and then. gowned
In deep black dresses. they sat down in
the best parlor to await Uncle Henry's
homecoming.
In .her mind each woman was plan
ming how she would refurnIsh the room
when she came to live there.
If their grief was soothed by a GER
thin complacency In the recollection OF
Uncle Henry's comfortable thousands
they made no utterance to one another
At q O'Clock there was the sound Of
wheels along the Hollow road.
The three cousins turned pale and
shivered little. A sudden pity for
Uncle Hcnry's last Homecoming swept
over them. and they advanced to the
front hail and threw wide the door.
They stood there blinking out into
the darkness of the winter night Be
fore the gate was Mason Winship's
best hack. the one with silver lamps
and alighting from 1t were several
people.
| 1t was not until they had crowded
into the hall and parior that the three
cousins received sudden. stunning
surprise.
Uncle Henryr' they screamed in
unison.
And 1t was not Uncle Henry's corpse
that confronted them. bur a rejuvenat-
ed Uncle Henry, with crisp. gray curis
combed over his ears and a sparkle in
his eyes and smile on his rudy face.
He was dressed in brand new pepper
and salt suit and fur lined overcoat,
and he carried a new sealskin cap In
his gloved hand.
On Cncle Henry's arm leaned very
small lady. his Junior by a dozen years
perhaps. brown haired. sweet faced.
with quick. birdlike movements and
appealing brown eyes. She wore gray.
too, with a scarlet wing in her grny
velvet hat
Uncle Henry" repeated the nieces
more family.
My dear nieces," replied Henry
Popham soothingly. don't be frighten-
ed II vague rumors of my death by
drowning have reached you. Many
people have spoken of the matrimonial
sea. you know. and er-weil. I've been
getting married today. that's all Let
me introduce you to my wife. Mrs.
Hester Popham, formerly Miss Hester
Weed of Redbridge. Now. Annie.
Belle. Sarah. kiss your Aunt Hester!''
And they did with the best grace
they could muster. and when their
three husbands. who had entered with
the bride and groom. had fetched in
large wedding cake the relatives
spread a wedding feast In the dining
room. while Uncle Henry took his
wife on tour OF the house. And ir
Uncle Henry's eyes twinkied at sight
of the many preparations which had
been made for different homecoming
he did not breathe a word OF the Joke
/ tn his ,rifa and she nrn iSod thu