Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-02-27

at the depot. Wayne was dubious
Vera anxious over the probable greet
ing Of Uncle Hiram, for his impulses
and mysterious ways were likely to
take any whimsical turn. Their minds
were set completely at.rest, however,
when they were ushered into the par
lor Of the Lee palatal home.
The best room in the house was
awarded them, regal mesl, smiles,
even iollity from Uncle Hiram. Then,
seated in thescapacious drawing room,
he opened the ball.
swell nephew" he observed bright
ly, Tets get to business. 1 offered to
buy your crop"
ayes, sir" promptly answered
Wayne, sand 1 have brought it with
me-"
you've what3" demanded Mr.. Lee
In a startled tone.
'Tve brought the crop along with
me. It's in that big carpet bag In
the hall. I'll go and fetch It"
Uncle Hlram's eyes dilated as Wayne
opened the carpetbag. From it he pro-
duced. a shrunken, cracked, diminu-
tive squash.
"What's that" snapped Mr.. Lee.
'The crop. All there Is to 1t, alb
solutely. I'd better explain, I guess"
smiled Wayne. "You see, we planted
lots Of stuff. With the exception Of
some quick-growing vegetables, the sun
and the alkali burned up everything.
When the season was over, all that
was spared was this, our crop"
"But how did you manage to live"
natory way.
"Well, worked evenings shaving
the miners down at their camp" ex-
planned Wayne.
my nephew a barberw grOwled the
shocked Mr.. Lee.
"And / washed their clothes" added
Vera, and she showed her pretty
brown hands with pride.
"a relative of mine a washerwom-
anw groaned Uncle Hiram. "YOu
dear" and he kissed the pretty brown
hands in question in turn. I'm going
to confess" he added. young lady, 1
have misjudged you, but, as it has
turned out, that wasn't bad start. Just
after you became engaged to Wayne 1
heard conversation you held with a
girl friend, who repeated 1t. The lay
out you had for your high social life
after marriage was dazzling. II con-
WINGED me that you were a thought
less, extrayagant-"
"Herel Here" challenged Wayne
uproariously.
"Wait till the last installment, young
man, and see how it all worked out.
When you two eloped, L saw that if
you didn't start out right you'd run
into a switch. Now, then, you showed
sense, you made good. I'm proud Of
my beautiful and dutifM niece-in-law,
and-I say, my dear, it was a bunga-
low you planned out so gayly, wasn't
it,"
"Oh, Uncle Hiram, that was just a
foolish girls fond dreami"
"Visions come true" pronounced
Mr.. Lee oracuarly. "There was
white pergola, and a screened porch,
and-Oh, you opulcnt dreamer AN au-
tomObile."
"You'fl make her cry if you keep
on" warned Wayne.
"She'Il laugh afterwards" predicted
Uncle Hiram gayly. "Yery well, look
ut that"
He extended a photograph. Ii was
that of an exquisite little home, Il
bungalow. And there was pergOla,
and an automobile stood in the gar
den roadway.
"We'll go and see 1t tomorrow" an
nounced Uncle Hiram. 81 had my law
yer purchase it last week. Yours" he
added to Vera.
Miner she uttered breathlessly.
sand you can have your washing
done, and my nephew may discontinue
his barbarous prOcllvities, and"
But Vera's arms were about his
neck, and her kisses silenced the fur
Their explanation Of the good old fell
low, who had given them their hearts
desire.