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mently. "Oh! I know your choice
Miss Edith Warner. Well, where will
you find a better match? She is
30, and handsome, intelligent, indus
trious, and I really think she likes
you."
"Don't don't raise any false
hopes, boy," pleaded Uncle Peter fal
teringly. "I'm not Have you ever indicated
your feelings former?"
"Ned," answered her uncle desper
ately, "whenever I have got ready to
say something, she fixes those won
derful eyes attentatively on me, and
I get all flustered. If I could only
blindfold her, or catch her in the dark
' for five minutes, I could speak out
my mind and get it all over with."
"Oh, pshaw, you dear, modest old
fellow," railed Ned affectionately
"brace up 111 wager you won't be
refused."
"Ned, do you really think so? Why,
if Miss Warner should accept me, I'd
be the happiest man in the world!"
"Then prepare for that rare good
fortune," predicted Ned. "Forty,
ejood looking, rich, the most genial
and considerate of men why, you
could marry a princess, if you want
ed to!"
And Ned went his way to see pret
ty Bella Martin, his own special
flame, and have her condole with him
over his failure to become a great in
ventor. As to Uncle Peter, he was quite en
couraged by Ned's talk. He did some
thinking, mustered up his courage,
and finally went to the telephone.
It was to call up Miss "Warner
would she be at home that evening?
Would she honor him by allowing a
friendly call? -A silvery tone at the
other end of the wire -responded af
firmatively to both inquiries.
Dismally, however, Uncle Peter
looked out of the window of his su
perb bachelor quarters, as eight
o'clock arrived. It had begun to driz
zle outside. Now Uncle Peter was a
pink of perfection as to neatness and
dress. He abhorred a crease or wrin
kle in his immaculate attire, and
damp clothes horrors!
"Ah, Ned's umbrella!" suddenly ju
bilated the old fellow. "It's water
proof," he said, "it's big and broad.
Yes, I'll go."
Glad was he that he did. He met
a warm welcome. Never had Miss
Warner seemed so charming, so en
couraging. The bright lamplight, the
cheery grate fire, the luxurious best
easy chair he fitted, the exquisite cup
of tea her own fair hands brewed
ah! this was worth living for, true,
homelike happiness.
Twice Uncle Peter "Ha-humed!"
The speech of speeches upon his lips,
he faltered. Those radiant eyes
abashed him. He fancied he detected
a whimsical smile on those charming
lips, and too a pleased glow in the
magnetic eyes, but he only blushed,
embarrassed, and with a sigh arose
at length to say good night.
"It is still raining, I fear," spoke
Miss Warner, as they stood in the
halL
"I have brought an umbrella,". ex
plained Uncle Peter. "And, oh! by
the way," and, glad of an excuse to
remain by the side of his -lady love as
long as possible, he took it from the
rack to begin to explain that it was
Ned's own invention, and how it op
erated. "Oh, dear! see what I have done!"
she cried in dismay, as, after it was
opened, and she, standing danger
ously near to Uncle Peter, chanced
to touch the button.
For at once the ribbed folds of the
umbrella embraced them, squeezed
them in a close prison, and there, in
a truly ludicrous position, they stood.
"I I can't reach the button," be
gan Uncle Peter.
"How awkward!" murmured Miss
Warner, but she did not make any
great effort at release, and then Un
cle Peter grasped the grand oppor
tunity of his life.
"Miss Warner," he uttered rapidly,
"one moment, please. I can break
the umbrella and free ourselves, but.
