Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1920-10-21
UNCLE HENRI
BY JACK LAWToN.

BcatrIx and Dora were learning for
the first time what It meant to be
strangers. They never had been
strangers In the home city where hos
ptable doors were opened In welcome
at their coming. This renting tiny
cottage In Wcllstown village was one
Of RentrlS's Ideas. Both girls were
studying ambItIousIy for their future
chosen careers.
1t was Beutrlx who heard the re-
mark which first ranked and later
brought amusement. The two girls
wondered vaguely, after II time OF resi-.
dencc elapsed, why their village neigh
bors failed TO return their ovcrtures
Of frlendllneSs.
81 was leaving the post Office" Ben
trlN said, land Miss Callle, the post
mistress. thought | was out Of hear
ing.
"Thosc queer girls In Bartons cot
tage were ut the lawn fete last night
she told caller, but guess they
notice OF strangers who belong to no,
body"
Dora looked up from her French
80 we are strangers" she said.
"Shall we send for the mayor Of our
city to present us, or settle down re-
signed in our Ignored staten
II am going to astOnlsh this eXnct.
Ing village with my commendablc re-
lations," Beatrlx precisely answered,
"adopt-sny an uncle and nunt Of re-
nown and send to them lovely Init
mate post cards-vln Miss Caliie. Who
shall the receiver be? I'll add n line
to the effect that uncle need not re-
ply to my postal messages"
stop ravlng," Dorm interrupted,
1--WE thought out your man--your
uncle, mean. AS we are not sisters
he can't be my uncle, too" Don't you
remember the name Henri Smith on
that big lumber factory over in Gas
ton? Some one said that Henri Smith
was n millionaire, owned most of the
town. Smiths good universal name.
How would you like an Uncle Hcnrl?"
"Flnew agreed Beatrix.
Merriiy she ran for some Village
view cards, and with giggling OBJ
server, inscribed her first postal.
Dear Uncle Henri" 1t read, "Dorn
and are having quiet time in Wells
town, hope to 20 over to see you soon.
Your loving niece -"
BeatriX hesitatcd
'Iust sign rrlx," Dora suggested
mo one has ever called you TriX."
The card was not returned. Neither
was second, which told Uncle Honri
how the girls had enjoyed his short
visit with them at Rose Lodge" Love
to Aunt Elna was added to this com
munlcatiou. The girls congratulated
themselves over the naming of the
imaginary aunt.
Might be her family pet nume,"
BeatriX said.
Miss Callie was certainly Interested.
Moreover, certain heretofore distant
young Wellstown women smiled and
bowed to the strangers In passing.
The postals had done the work. A
niece of the great lumber manufac-
turer was worth cultivatIng.
Reckon" Miss Caliie said sound
lngly, rs she handed over a square
white envelope, that's an Invitation
for you to the usual midsummer cele-
bration at Green Acres, your Uncle
Henri Smiths place. We always read
in the paper of the famous garden
party he gives each year"
All at once Beatrix was possessed
of an uncomfortably guilty feeling.
The letter that Dora had merrily
mailed from CASTOR during her shop
ping trip of the day before. might
seem opportune, but the Joke was 60
ing little too far. 1t was weighing
heavily on the girls conscience. She
wished desperately that the prank had
never started 1t must stop now and
with some explanation. But what
could the honest explanation be? A
man was waiting on the steps Of Rose
Lodge when she returned, n younglsh
kindly-faced man with quzzlcal
smile.
Miss Fairfax" he inquired.
BeatriX wonderingiy nodded.
~ am Henri Smith of CASTOR" the
man appalllngly announced. AZ have
received several communications from
certain Miss 'Trix' of Wellstown. AS
| spell my name Henri to distinguish
It from the other Henry Smiths, I
could not think the address mistaken.
Yet | have no niece. So upon driving
through your village today | asked
your postmistress experimentally, II
she could direct me to the niece of a
certain Henri Smith. Directly she
sent me here. I'll confess" the man
added frankly, that I was curious
concerning the solution of the small
mystery"
And then-,the overburdened con-
science Of BeatrIx found Its relief
Honestly she made confession.
"You cannot think more contemptuL
ously Of 1t all than | do myself" she
ended. But Mr.. Henri Smith was real
ly great man. Great enough to un.
derstond the humor OF the clrcum.