The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-02-12

<s A4'N01Ar~AAs - Nne lldlteT anu would
telephone Belle as soon as they heard
anything"
Its 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 3 O'Clock when Belle wickham
stalked up the path. her ga,St frame
clothed in black mourning garments.
Il guess it's all over, Annie" she
said sadly. Il 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 go over TO the house TO be
there. Ii needs fixing up-some fires
made and SO forth" said Mrs. Smith
grayely. So after awhile the two cous
ins departed. leaving the dre>smaker
with her hands full of moursng gar
ments. You'll have TO come tomor.
row. Laura" said Mrs. Smith as She
went out.
Il wouldn't miss II for farm NUT
j tered Laura TO herself Il expect
there'll be the greatest kind of jealousy
over Henry's will Each one of those
three women will expect the lions
share. They've been watching each
/ 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 n scene Of
great activity, although the three couS
ins found the house remarkably neat
and clean for bachelor abode Black
Hannah. who came once n fortnight Ia
clean and wash and iron, declared that
Uncle Henry must have cleaned Il
himself since her last visit. and the
grief stricken nieces admitted that
Uncle Henry's suicide had been pre-
meditated,
Fires We're made In the seldom used
front parlor and in empty bedrooms
and the beds were aired and remade
Perhaps the nieces found comfort il
hard work. for they drudged uncom
plainingly.
AT dusk they prepared from the sup
{ plies in the pantry, and then. gowne,
, in deep black dresses. they sat down il
the best parlor 10 await Uncle Henry
: homecoming.
' In her mind each woman was plan
e ming how she would rcfurnish the rooI
4 when she came to live there
0 If their grief was soothed by a Gel
> tain complaccncy in the recollection q
I Uncle Tenry's comfortable thousand
o they made no utterance TO one anothc
- At q O'Clock there was the sound 4
n wheels along the Hollow road
, The three cousins turned pale an
"a shivered II little \ sudden pity tt
Uncle Henry's last Homecoming sweI
n over them, and they advanced TO I'll
) front han and threw wide the door.
A., They stood there blinking out inl
.. the darkness OF the winter night. Is
70 fore the gate was Mason Winship
~ best hack. the one with silver lamp
n and alighting from it were sever
10 people.
n. II was not until they had crowdt
into the hall and rarlor that the thr'
ii cousins received sudden, stunnil
IL surprise.
III Uncle Henry they screamed
IS unison.
And 1t was not Uncle lienry's corp
IN that confronted them but reJnNehi
rs ed Cncle Henry, with crisp, gray cuI
k combed over his ears and sparkle
his eyes and a smile on his ruddy ta'
n He was dressed IN IA brand new pepp
lr- and salt suit and "A fur lined overcoi
pt and he carried new sealskin cap
as his glovcd hand.
up ON Uncle IIenry's arm leaned We
IF small lady, his Junior 10y dozen yea
perhaps. brown haired, sweet face
m with quick. brdlikc movements a
T. appealing brown eyes. She wore gri
at too with a scarlet wing In her gr
'er velvet hat
gh "Uncle Henry" repeated the nic'
ne more family.
ad "Ny dear nicces,' replied Her
re. Popham soothingly, don't be fright
ir ed IL vague rumors OF my death
I'm drowning have reached you. Ma
nd people have spoken Of the matrimon
e. sea. you know. and er-weil, ! We p'
mt getting married today. that's all
ar me introduce you to my wife. NJ
ny Hester Popham, formerly Miss lies
S. Weed OF Redbridge Now. Am
Belle. Sarah. kiss your Aunt Hester
'm' And they did with the best sr'
got they could muster, and when u
an three husbands. who had entered "
the bride and groom. had fetched
ino a large wedding cake the relatl
out spread a wedding feast In the ui'l
IVY room. while Uncle Henry TOOK
the wife on a tour Of the house And
tne Uncle Henrys eyes twinkled at -
lek Of the many preparations when
leu haan made for different homecon