The Yale expositor., 1920-10-21
UNCLE HENRI
BY JACK LAYTON.

DeatrlN ana Dora were learning loi
the first time what 1t meant to he
strangers. They never had been
strangers in the home city where hos
pitable doors were opened In welcome
at their coming. This renting a tiny
cottage in WelstOwn village was on
of Beatrix's ideas. Both girls were
studying ambitiously for their future
chosen careers.
1t was Beatrix who heard the re-
mark which first ranked and later
brought amusement. The two girls
wondered vaguely, after time Of resi-
dence elapsed, why their village neigh
bors failed 70 return their overture
Of friendliness.
IL was leaving rhe post office" Ben-
trix said, land Miss Callie, the post
mistress. thought | was out Of hear
ing.
"Those queer girls In BartOn's cot
tage were at the lawn fete last night
she told caller, but | guess they
found out that WellstOwn doesn't take
notice OF strangers who belong TO no
body"
Dora looked up from her French.
$50 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
81 am going to astonish this exact
ing village with my commendable re-
lations," Beatrix precisely answered.
"adopt-say an uncle and aunt Of re-
nown and send TO them lovely init
mate post cards-v1a Miss Callie. Who
shall the receiver be? I'll add line
to the effect that uncle need not re-
ply TO my postal messages"
"Stop raving," Dora interrupted,
1--WE thought out your man-yOur
uncle, l 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 millionaire, owned most Of the
town. Smiths good universal name
How would you like an Uncle Henri?"
"Fine!" agreed BeatriX.
Merrily she ran for some village
view cards, and with a giggling OBJ
| server, inscribed her first postal.
Dear Uncle Henri" It read, Dora
and are having quiet time in Wells
town, hope to go over to see. you soon.
| Your loving niece -"
Beatrix hesitated.
"Just sign Trix," Dora suggested.
"NO one has ever called you TriX."
The card was not returned. Neither
was second which told Uncle HonSl
how the girls had enjoyed his short
visit with them at Rose Lodge" Love
| to Aunt Elna was added to this COM
munication. The girls congratulated
themselves over the naming Of the
| imaginary aunt.
might be her family pet name"
Beatrix said.
Miss Callle 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 cultivatlng.
Reckon" Miss Caliie said sound
| ingly, as she handed over 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 q 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, tOungish
kindlyfaced man with quizzical
| smile.
| Miss FairfaxT he inquired.
Beatrlx wonderingiy nodded.
II am Henri Smith of Gaston," the
man appallingly announced II have
received several communications from
certain Miss 'Trix' of Wellstown. AS
! spell my name Henri, TO distinguish
1t from the other Henry Smiths, I
could not think the address mistaken.
Yet l have no niece. So upon driving
through your village today l 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 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. contemptut
ously Of 1t all than do myself" she
ended. But Mr.. Henri Smith was real
| ly great man. Great enough to I'M
derstand the humor Of the circum-
/ Stance md IN svmDathizQ I'm ira hu-