Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1910 — THE UNCLE’S CHOICE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE UNCLE’S CHOICE

Do you know you are distractingly pretty in temper?" “And you are excessively impertinent!" Miss Lynde drew her siisp figure to its height and flashed iniUgpant eyes upon the gentleman oppose “And so/' said Roger Wisdom, his manner assuming sudden warmth, “you consider me Impertinent because to my eyes, you are the loveliest woman in the world, and, therefore, I have asked you to marry me, whether my uncle likes it or not?" The young man was thoroughly in earnest now, and poured out his words without reference to rhetoric or effect. “It is precisely that to which I object,” interrupted Miss Lynde, imperiously. "Listen to me. You come here where I am employed as governess, ostensibly to visit the lady of the houke —in reality to see me. You waylay me on the street when I go out to walk; you annoy me. and astonish Mias Burdett by asking for a private interview; and then you tell me, with your usual assurance, that you would like to marry me, although your uncle, upon whom you are entirely dependent, has emphatically refused his consent You leave my possible feelings altogether out of your consideration, Mr. Windom. You should remember that I,have my own dignity to uphold and that I am not a scheming Adventuress, trying to thrust myself upon an unwilling family." Miss Lynde stopped, breathless, though in her excitement her gray eyes still flashed dangerously. “At least, you -have been very plain spoken," said Roger Windom, bitterly, standing as he had listened, with his black brows contracted and arms folded upon his breast. “And now, perhaps, Miss Lynde, you will permit me to answer you. I have very little to offer in defence, except that I have been foolish enough to love you madly from the moment that I saw you smile and heard you speak. I have no excuse ready for my reprehensible conduct in waylaying you on the street — none for asking you to accept the devotion of my life. Pardon me that in dwelling on my own selfish hopes I have failed to consider the delicacy of your position. But I will not trouble you farther. Miss Lynde; I will bid you good-by.” ' “Stay a momerit,” interrupted the lady, with a gesture. “Mr. Windom, you have shamed me into an apology for my ungracious words,” with a smile void of coquetry in its perfect frankness. “You do not know what my life has been,” she added gently. “Even as a child I knew what unhappiness meant, for my poor mother married, even as you wish me to do. again the wishes of her husband's family. In a year he was tired of her —accused her of having spoiled his career; finally, he deserted her. Before my poor mother died she told me the sad story. I promised her then I would never marry as she had done; and, so help me Heaven! I never will.” The beautiful eyes were full of unshed tears as they were raised to Roger Windom’s face, and the girl's voice trembled as she went on. “I thank you, indeed, for the honor you have done me; I will even acknowledge that under different circumstances I might have learned to love you. But, as it is, It Js better we should never meet. Do not come here any more—do not. see me again, and you will soon forget that such an insignificant person exists as Janet Lynde.” As she ceased speaking, Miss Lynde’s pale face was lit up with an April smile, and the hand extended in token of farewell was firmly clasped between two larger palms. “I shall not forget you.” said the young man, passionately, his brown eyes looking with a triumphant glad mss into hers. “And I shall love you until tfcf hour of my death. This I shall fell my uncle, and If he still persists in refusing to give his consent, without knowing you, or even so much as hearing your name, then henceforth he and I are strangers. For. Janet, what you are not allowed to share neither will I possess nor 'enjoy; and •o, darling, for a long time, good-by.” Before Miss Lynde had quite recovered herself Roger Wyndom had kissed the so closely lmprison--HjkHaribls own, and was giwu» — ,":-r ~ y*pr a tong time she stood as he had left her, with hands hanging h*i piesely at her side and head-downcast "She" was not irbeauttfut wornan. scarcelyApoticeable one among a number, and

yet there was something noble In the poise of the proud head, In the resolute curves of lip and chin. It was a face whose beauty and Intelligence grew upon you as you gazed—a face that inspired Involuntary confidence and a belief In truth and goodness. “Pray, Mrs. Burdett, who Is the young lady across the way from us?” Mr. Shmuel Windom was addresses himself to his hostess, a well-pre-served matron intent upon being agreeable to her rich guest. “That is Miss Lynde, my governess; really a superior young person, and the children are quite devoted to her,” explained the lady, with much graciousness. Janet, in. a blue lawn dress and broad-brimmed garden hat, was seated upon a rustic bench, ostensibly reading, but in reality gazing out over the fair green meadow that stretched before her, while she pondered absently upon the inscrutable ways that had brought Roger Windom’s uncle under the same roof with her. The winter was gone, and summer had come again since she and Roger had parted. In a despairing letter of farewell she had learned that he had parted from his uncle in anger—had gone out into the wide world to work out his fortune, but not without the hope, he added, that some day he should come back to seek and claim her. Janet’s reverie was Interrupted by

voices close by her, and, rising hastily In her confusion, Miss Lynde was introduced to Mr. Windom. The sunlight and faint blushes met upon her cheek and made her positively beautiful for the time, as she stood talking to the stately and ceremonious old gentleman who had once held her happiness- in his hand, and had refused to give it to her. Long ago Janet had confessed to herself that Roger Windopi’s love would have crowned her life with happiness indeed. For life had been a colorless affair to Janet until the advent of this handsome and ardent lover, and now that he was gone Miss Lynde had discovered that, after all, she had not been impervious to the influence of an absorbing love. There was a sincere mixture of reverence and repugnance in the girl's mind toward this proud and self-opin-ionated old man, and Miss Lynde’s eyes and lips were grayer as she answered Mr. Windom’s courtier-like speeches and walked beside him down the trim garden path. Evidently he was not aware that this was the woman who had taken his nephew away from him. Roger had withheld the name, and the other had not had the curiosity to Inquire after It The fact was sulflclent to the inflexible old man. His nephew wished to form a connection beneath his’ position in life. The woman had sufficient shrewdness to see that this consent was necessary to make her marriage to his adopted heir a desirable one. Mr. Windom congratulated himself on his own astuteness when he absolutely declined this compliance with his hotheaded nephew’s impassioned and very impatient demands. So the two equally fiery and obstinate natures had met in wordy combat, and both had been worsted, though each refused to yield. They had parted in anger, and Mr. Samuel Windom was trying to effect of change and variety in fals-new lonely life; for, all unacknowledged to Himß6tff ]WHglt his nephew's defection keenly, and but for hia pride would have begged him to come back again. I n-the- meantime himself becoming greatly interested in

this serious-eyed Mis* Lynde. Quite unaware, Janet haa touched the vulnerable spot in Samuel Windom'* nature. He fancied he saw in her a fair resemblance to his dead wife; and sue had not dispelled the illusion by the fashionable air* and affectation that the young ladies generally display. So Mr. Windom’s visit at Mrs. Burdett’s elegant country mansion was .prolonged from week to week, until that lady confidently asserted to her husband her belief that Mr. Windom intended marrying their governess; and certainly the lady's theory was not without sufficient basis, for the gentleman’s old-fashioned and courtly attention were impressive enough to even unobservlng eyes. One morning as Miss Lynde was leaving her room she was rather startled by Mr. Windom’s servant handing her a letter, with that gentleman’s compliments.

"Could It be vposslble that ho was really about to propose to her, as Mrs. Burdett had vaguely Intimated?” thought Janet, as she broke the seal in some perturbation; and this was what she read: “My Dear Young Lady—l have considered whether I should speak to you upon this subject that lies very near or trust it to the more dispassionate medium of a letter. For J desire that you should weigh carefully the proposition I have to make you. I am an old man, without a tie that is not mercenary. The only relative I had living has forsaken me in my old age for some scheming adventuress, who doubtless expected to secure my money, too. Will you come to ine in his stead to brighten and cheer the remainder of my days? I have not asked you without due reflection and a thorough study of your character; and to remove you from any sense of or from future cohtingencles, I would convey in your name certain bonds and household property, of which we will speak more explicitly if you consent to regard favorably my proposition. In this, event I should also desire to adopt you legally as my daughter—that you should assume my name, with all its privileges, and the assurance again repeated tha? I am acting upon matured reflection and a sincere motive of mutual benefit. “Truly yours, Samuel Wlndom." -Miss Lynde felt extremely perplexed as she folded her letter. What should she do? Would she be hurting Roger Windom’s interest in accepting his uncle’s proposals, or, rather, would she not be rendering him a service in securing him against others who might be nvßtre self-interested than she? Altogether it was irresistible. The thought of reigning in the house Roger had lived—perhaps to have him come back some day to find her there awaiting, him. A little later, then, and Janet Lynde beheld herself transformed into an important personage, with all the luxurious surroundings and costly accessories that befitted a rich man’s daughter. Mr. Windom was kindness itself in his stately old-fashioned manner, and yet Janet was not altogether content. The coming home to which she had looked forward so hopefully had not come to pass, and upon the subject of his truant nephew Samuel Windom spoke never a word. • • * * * /- “And so, Uncle Samuel, you have brought me back all this way to tell me you have found me a wife? But it is out of the question. There is only one woman in the world you could induce me to marry, and bhe will not marry me." “Wait until you have seen my daughter,” said his uncle, with a benign smile. “It is scarcely worth while to quarrel at our first thought Roger, as he came slowly down stairs as the dinner bell sounded. Then he opened the door and entered the room. Standing before the fire, with her back to him, he saw a slender female figure, with soft brown hair braided smoothly into a crown upon a well shaped head, and her trailing silk robe of pale hue hanging in statuesque folds about her. She turned slowly and brought him face to face with Janet Lynde. “Janet! you here?” he cried, eagerly, his whole handsome face lighting up with a delighted smile. “I suppose.” slowly, as the smile faded, but with her hand still tightly clasped in his, “that you are married?’ ' Mo, n °t married,” Janet answered. “At least,” he said, drinking in the beauty of her face with hungry eyes--at least you are more prosperous," with a quick glance at her heavilyjeweled hands and the richness of her ivory-tinted gown. “Yes, I have been greatly blessed,” she answered quietly. "And I suppose that you are here visiting this paragon my uncle raves About? Janet, do you know my uncle sent me a beautiful letter full of the idea of mutual forgiveness and reconciliation, and when I arrive, full of penitence for my own 'shortcomings, behold*it was to marry me to his new daughter that hn wanted me!” And Roger Windom looked infinitely disgusted at'the bare idea. » “It would be a most desirable marriage for you.” said Janet, demurely looking down. “Do not be unkind,” said the young man, with a beseeching' accent of entreaty, “For your sake I went willingly I have been fortunate enough to lay the foundation of a future independence. Once I have gamed a secure foothold, promise me, my Janet, that I may come hoipe to claim you for my very' own. Will yoa promise, my darlingT”

The eager voice had assumed a dangerous tenderness as the words poured forth, but the girl only answered: "You have forgotten, Mr. Windom, that the obstacles that existed still remain, do they not? Believe me, the marriage your uncle kas planned Is in every way suitable, and from the bottom of my heart I hope that you wiij marry your uncle’s choice." Ahd Janet was evidently In earnest. "Then I am sorry I must disappoint you -both," said the young man, passionately. “Unfortunately, I was born" with a heart—An organ with which, it appears, you have dispensed. Oh, Janet!” with a despairing cadence 1* his tones, “why can you not love ihe?* Why are you so lovely and so cold?" "Roger"—the voice had grown sud-' denly sweet and low—" 1 will confess it now. From the bottom of my heart I do love you. Nevertheless,” an arch smile breaking over her face, “I am quite convinced that when you have once seen Mr. Windom’s adopted daughters you will change your opinion about marrying her.” And while Roger, with both her hands In his, was trying to assure her of the impossibility of such a result, the door opened and Mr. SamUel Windom’s amazed eyes dwelt upon £he pretty picture before him. “Upon my soul, Roger, you seem to be progressing very well,” said his uncle, as he elevated his eyeglasses. “”And this,” said his nephew, triumphantly leading her forward, “is the only woman you can Induce me to marry.” And so It was time that Janet should offer an explanation, the result If which was that in another month there was a magnificent wedding In the Windom family, and the bride, so charming in her creamy satin and priceless pearls, was given away by Samuel Windom.—Pennsylvania Grit.

HE SAW A SLENDER FIGURE BEFORE THE FIRE.