The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1920-09-22
UNCLE HENRI
BY JACK LAYTON.

strangers in the home city where hos
pltable doors were opened in welcome
at their coming. This renting a tiny
cottage in WellstoWn village was one
of ReatriN's ideas. Both girls were
Studying ambitiously for their future
chosen careers.
It was Bentrix who heard the re-
' mark which first ranked and later
7 brought amusement. The two girls
I wondered vagtlcly, after a time of resi-
' dence elapsed, why their village neigh
bors failed to return their OvertureS
:, of friendliness.
81 was leaving the post Office" Bea-
mistress, thought l was out of hear
! ing.
"'Those queer girls in Barton's cot"
! tage We're at the lawn fete last night
! she told a caller, but l guess they
found out that WcllstOwn doesn't take
notice of strangers who belong to no.
| body"
Dora looked up from her French
$50 we are strangers" she sa!t.
"Shall we send foe the mayor of orr
city to present us, or settle down re-
| signed in our ignored state?'
II am going to astonish this exact
ing village with my commensurate re-
lations," Beatriy precisely answered.
"adopt-say an uncle and aunt of re-
own and send to them loTely init
,,~to ,-., ,,.I, Il A.. T.sI.1 WI
shall the receiver be? I'll add a line
to the effect that uncle need not re-
ply TO my postal messages
stop raving," Dora interrupted,
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 a good universal nalnc
How world YOU like an Uncle Hcnri?'
Zine agreed Beatrix.
Merrily she ran for some village
view cards, and with Il giggling OBJ
Z WIZ IIN'' lhNh 4 INST lONlhisI
'Dear Uncle Henri" it read, Dora
and | are having n quiet time in Wells
town, hope to 20 over to see you soon.
Your loving niece -"
Beatrix hesitated.
Just sign Trix," Dora suggested.
NO n has ever called you TriX."
The card was not returned. Neither
was a second, which told Uncle II0nri
how the girls had enjoyed his short
visit with them at Rose Lodge" Love
to Aunt Elna was added to this COM
%municatinn. The girls congratulated
themselves over the naming of the
imaginary aunt.
Might be her family pet nane,"
BcatriX said.
Miss Callie was certainly interested.
Moreover, certain heretofore distant
young Wcllstown women smiled and
bowed to the strangers in passing.
The postals had done the work. a
niece If the great lumber manutfac-
turer was worth %cultivating.
"Reckon." Miss Callie said sound
ingly. as she handed over Il square
white envelope, that's a 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 Bcatrix was possessed
Of an intentionally 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 n little too far. 1t was weighing
heavily on the girls conscience. She
wished desperately that the prank had
never started. 1t must stop now aud
with some explanation. But what
could the honest explanation he? \
man was waiting on the steps Of Rose
Lodge when she returned, q youngiSh
kindly-faccd man with a Quizzical
smile.
Miss FairfaX?" he inquired.
BeatriX wonderinEiy nodded.
81 am Henri Smith of Gaston." tho
man appallingly announced. II have
received several communications from
a certain Miss 'TriX' of Welistown. AS
I spell my name Henri, to distinguish
1t 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 eXperimcntally, If
ishe 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 o%verburdencd con-
science of Bcatrix found its relief.
Honestly she made confession.
You cannot think more contcmptut
ously of it all than | do myself" she
ended. But Mr.. Henri Smith was real
iy II great man. Great enough to I'M
derstand the humor of the circum-
stance and to sympathize in its hui
initiating outcome. 80 he sank back
in the rocker on the flower bordercd
porch. waiting to meet. he smilinaly
said, Ibis niece's friend" 1t was after
he had returned to CASTOR that a seq
Ond square envelope came with a
genuine invitation TO the two girls for