Forgive and Forget . ITTLE Bobbie's eyes were Popping with excitement as he burst into the living room, "here his mother sat reading the vening paper, "See, mother," ne cried, breathless 17, as he pulled a large, brown enve- lope from his blouse, "I met & man down the road, and he told me to ' &ive you this for your business." As Mrs. Merwin tore open the en- velope, she gave a.quick start of sur- prise. A large roll of bills lay be- fore her! "Why, Bobble, boy!" she exclaimed, her pretty face showing her bewil- derment, "tell' mother everything that happened." Bobble had now regained his breath, "I was pickin' daisies over In Jenkins' field, and when I was comin' home, I met Mr. Bob." "Mr. Bob!" echoed his mother, in a startled tone. "Yep. I mean 'ves." He doesn't live "round here, I guess, 'cause he asked me lots of questions--he didnt 'even know you had a store 'till I told him." "What was he like, Bobbie?" Mrs. Merwin was trying hard to be calm. "Well," answered Bobbie, after a little reflection, "he was@Ewiul tall and had nice, twinkly eyes and clean teeth and no mustache." Mrs, Merwin was silent for a few moments. "Did he ask you about your father?" she finally asked - "Yep, and I told him my Dad ain't been 'round here for ever so long--" "And how many times has mcther asked you not to talk to anyone about your father?' There was a re- proachful look in Mrs. Merwin's soft, brown eyes, "I didn't tell him the worst things," replied Bobbie stoutly. "I didn't tell him my Dad left you am' me when I was a baby--I never sald that afore Grandpa died he always pounded his cane on the floor when I asked him 'bout my Daddy, and 1 never sald--" "What did he say when he gave you the money?" interrupted Mrs. Merwin, as she nervously fingered the large roll of bills. "He just told me to give it to you for your business, then--" Bebbie hesitated, as if preparing for a fession-- "he kissed me--just like I was a girl--and told me to bring the envelope right home to you." "Bobbie, 1 want you to promise mother not to tel] anyone about meeting 'Mr. Bob'." Mrs. Merwin hastily thrust the money into a drawer in the table. The little boy solemnly crossed his heart and then demanded: "Did he OWe you the money, mother?" But "his mother did not answer, and Bob- bie, upon starting his supper, soon forgot about his adventure of the afternoon. As his mother tucked him into bed, however, he murmured drowsily, "Funny, mother, my name and Mr. Bob's are "actly alike--" but he fell asleep without asking any questions, After kissing Bobble's freckled little cheek, Letty Merwin returned to the living room and, with a throb- bing heart, took the money from the drawer, She stared at the large roll of bills, as if searching for an answer to the burning questions in her brain. Why had Bob Merwin, for surely it was he, sent- her this money? Memories of her father's anger when he had driven Robert from the house, of her remorse because she had told her father of the quarrel with Robert, and of Robert's wrath 2s he swore never to look again at e wife who was ruled by an un- reasonable father, loomed up with startling clearness, as she meditated. There was a touch of tenderness, nevertheless] in the way she fingered the money. Robert had been hot tempered and neglected, but her stern father, in whose home she and Robert had lived, had, acted too hastily. Yet, these thoughts did not help to answer 'the questions which troubled her. y Suddenly, with an apprehensive shiver, she snatched up the evening Daper and searched for a little item which, earlier in the evening, had re- ceived but a glance. Yes, there fit was--"Whiteton general store robbed of $1,000. Robert Smith, a clerk in the store, very cleverly made away with $1,000" She walted to read no more, but hurriedly counted the bills. Then, with a little shudder, she thrust the money away; $1,000 lay on the table before her! A strange, stern look crept into Letty Merwin's eyes. When last she had heard of Robert he had been working in Whiteton. Now she be- lieved she could easily see why he bad not come to her with the money. Possibly he feared arrest and had tried to dispose--a timid knock on the door' interrupted her thoughts. Before ghe could put the money into the drawer the door opened and a man stepped into the room. "Robert Merwin!" burst from Let- ty's trembling lips, "I couldn't go away, Letty" mur- mured the man brokenly. "I tried to, but, somehow, I couldn't. I dont' ex- pect your forgiveness," he went on, as she didn't speak, "and I know I shouldn't had come; but I met little Bobble and--" he stopped, for his wife bad hastily picked up the mon- ey and was silently offering it to him. "I was afraid you'd feel that way--- yet I hoped--" "You thought I'd take this money?" said Letty, so coldly, so harshly, that she herself hardly "recognized her voice, "I hoped, that is, until--" he paus- ed, for Letty was holding before him the newspaper and was pointing to the robbery item with an accusing finger. "Does that mean anything to you? she asked quietly--too quietly The man read the item without be- traying the slightest emotion. "1 guess I deserve that--perhaps more," he replied-in.a low voice. He took a bank book out of his pocket and opened it to & page which showed that $1,000 had been withdrawn a few days before. The book also showed regular weekly deposits for over two years. He then took a bunch of pay envelopes from anoth- er pocket. "I guess these will tell the story," he sald slowly, "because the en- velopes check up with the bank book deposits." a An ashamed blush reddened Let- ty's cheeks as she read "Ridgeton National Bank" on the book and no- ticed a single dollar in the balance column. i "Why didn't you come to me your- self?" she faltered, after an awk- ward pause, "I had been looking forward to .' for weeks, just walting for my mon- ey to' reach the thousand mark. | Was nearly home when I met Bob- bie and learned from him how things are. Funny--the prattling of a lttle youngster can really mean a great deal sometimes." "What did Bobby tell you?" Letty's voice had a suspicious tremor in it "He just repeated the gossip that is probably around the village. Evi- dently he heard some of them say that his dad, who had been away for a long time, would be 'speaking back,' now that his mother was suc- cessful in business." The man turn- ed toward the door. "The old gossips," cried Letty in- dignantly. "I didn't knowC-Bobbie didn't tell me all. They don't know or understand--" "Understand what?" The man caught his breath sharply. "Understand that I've always been walting for you to come back to Bob- bie--and me," answered Letty softly. "Can you forgive me?" She pointed to the newspaper item. "Forgive?" he repeated, a happy light breaking over his tired face, Together they stole into the room beyond, where Bobbie, with one chiub- by hand tucked under his chin, lay dreaming. 8 a terrible situation," sald Dr. I= "It 1s," admitted his wife, sad< ly. "And I don't know how we can remedy it. If only dear mamma were not quite so dictatorial!" "One would think," ruminated the physician, "that she was the doctor and I the office boy. If she doesn't like a patient's looks, or manners, or expression, she refuses him admit- tange; says I'm out, or sick, or dead; anything to make it certain that he will never call again, And Shepard, across the street, only too anxious as he is, to grab my practice!" "But what can wedo?" wailed the doctor's pretty wife. "We can't deny her a home, can we? Poor mamma!" "Poor me! Poor you! Poor chil- dren. But cheer up, little one, I have something in view." "Something in view?" repeated Mrs, * Pratt, uneasily, " "Don't worry. It's not murder or banishment I'm contemplating for your dear mother. What I' had in mind was matrimony." "Matrimony!" Mrs. Pratt looked as If she rather doubted . her hus- band's sanity, "I sald it. Matrimony. A home of her own, 80 we'll be able to enjoy ours, Your mother will be quite happy, and the person I have in mind is thoroughly able to look after him- selt." Mes. Pratt, who was not wholly without humor, smiled, "Who is ite" "Alwyn Pratt, my uncle. Since his wife died, a year ago, he's been very unhappy for lack of someone to Scrap with. I'm in hopes that your mother--" 2 Mrs, Pratt laughed in spite of her- self. "Edwin, that's not nice of you. Mother will never marry--least of all & member of your family. You know her." "I know her. Therefore I'm bring- ing Uncle Alwyn to dinner tonight. Goodby, dear. Some of the patients your mother couldn't drive away are walting for me to see them." Mrs. Colwell, Dr. Pratt's mother- in-law, dressed for dinner that even- ing with the satisfied alr of one whose time has been well spent, as, indeed, it had been. She had emerg- ed victorious from several skirmishes with the cook, had expressed herself spiritedly to the children's nurse, and had expelled from the house two of her son-in-law's patients for rea- sons best known to herself, She _Wwas, therefore, in very good humor, "Motler, dear," said Mrs, Pratt, timidly breaking in on Mrs, Colwell's pleasing reflections, "I hope you don't mind if we--if we have com- pany tonight?" CI EIR EIR AIRES Ne Matrimony and Mother ela ea 1 oe {el tl "Company?" Mrs. Colwell, started incredulously, "Company, and I not know it? Who is coming?" o "Edwin's uncle, Mr. Alwyn Pratt --4a very nice old gentleman, indeed." Mrs. Pratt's words sounded weak and unconvincing, however, Mrs. Col- well was a difficult lady to please at all times. On general principles she disapproved of almost everybody, and particularly did she disapprove of her son-in-law's relatives. What- ever claims to distinction they had, they were not Colwells, nor did they sufficiently appreciate their good for- tune In being connected with Col- wells, - She looked at her , daughter with angry disdain. "Edith, how could you? One of that family! And with- out asking me!" "Don't be angry, mother," pleaded Mrs. Pratt. "Edwin invited him. Surely Edwin has--has a right to ask his people to the house." "He has not! He--" The door bell rang sharply. The dinner guest had arrived, and Mrs. Colwell's resentment grew as shesaw daughter put on her sweetest smile for a despised Pratt. Mr. Alwyn Pratt was a handsome old gentleman, with white hair, and sharp, black eyes that twinkled mys- teriously as he shook hands with his nephew's mother-in-law. His eyes continued to twinkle, in spite of the glare with which Mrs. Colwell favor. ed him. The dinner was a nervous affair, but a tempest was averted un- til dessert was served. Mrs. Colwell performed that function. She dished out the guest's portion with a look which indicated a desire to flavor it with paris green, carbolic acid, or a delicacy of like nature, Mrs, Pratt looked r¥proachtully at her husband, and talked aimlessly, but fast, in an endeavor to prevent the explosion she knew was forth- coming. It came, however, in spite of hér best efforts, precipitated by Uncle Alwyn himself. "I would like," sald he, to Mrs. Pratt, "a little more of the pudding served by your sweet, gracious moth- 'ative of her daughter. er, in that sweet, gracious manner of hers, so much more delightful than the pudding itself." \ Mrs, Pratt threw an appealing glance at her mother. In vain. Mrs. Colwell's outraged feelings could be repressed no longer. "I am curious," sald she, "as to what a member of the Pratt family knows about manners, gracious or otherwise." "Hm!" sald Mr. Pratt, with a chuckle! "Not much, maybe. Just enough to know when they are miss- ing. Sorry you don't like the Pratts, ma'am. Our people don't show their feelings as plainly, We proved it when my nephew here married your daughter, Not, that we were disap- pointed in the little lady, bless her. She's everything that could be de- sired. But we disapproved of--of- her connections." "Her connections?" Mrs. Colwell gasped. She wag the only living rel- Her connec- tions! Why, I considered it the dis- appointment of my life when my ee -------- 2X0 a SIE By Joella Johnson DNA Bn Ml -- daughter married Dr. Pratt} Don't you boast about your family! One of them is a rascally barber!" "Oh, madame!" protested Uncle Alwyn. "Don't say that! Joey, not a rascally barber. A more painsgak: ing and affectionate man I neversaw. He's shaved me for years, and I know. The soul of honor, Joe is. I'm not ashamed of him. It might be a good deal worse. For example, he might have been a horse thief!" Mrs. Colwell turned a deep purple. Her daughter rose, hastily, but Dr, Pratt restrained her. "Don't worry. Everything is going fine," he whispered. Mrs. Colwell's furious voice filled the room. "It ismt true that my grandfather stole a horse. He had bought the horse, and--" "Dear lady," said old Alwyn, blandly, "did I say your grandfather stole a horse? Far be 't from me to make 80 vulgar a statement, I didn't know your grandfather. I didn't even know the horse. Moreover--" "You--you--at least you can't de- LE 1257) ny that your uncle wrs one of the worst gamblers in the city. He--" Dr. Pratt seized his wife's hand and drew hér from the room, "The courtship is in full swing," 'he said, Old Mr. Pratt spent a delightful evening, and called again the follow- ing week. Nor, to her daughter's Surprise, did Mrs. Colwell object to his coming. In three months they were married. The bride explained, to the satisfaction of all. "He never stays long enough for me to show him where he is wrong. Under ordinary circumstances I wouldn't think of marrying him One of that family! But it's the only way I'll succeed In con¥insing him that his mother's uncle kept a butch- er shop and short weighted his cus- tomers; and there's ther matter about a lady that his grandfather" "God bless them," said the doctor, fervently. "My dear, whon you go to town, buy them a set of good, strong crockery as a wedding gift. They'll need it--strong." A Culina LEA OSA Ne Ties ry Catastrophe wo ECSNRIOES UZ SON HE catastrophe fook T 'yéars after the wedding, previous to which the little bark. of domestic happiness, guided by the tiny god of love, had sailed smoothly and tranquilly over the Sea of matrimony. with never a -glimpse of trouble, The blow came suddenly. Without warning the clouds gathered, the Storm broke, and before the occu- pants knew it, the tight little craft was wedged in a soft, but unyield- ing miass of lemon pie, It was awful! « To have struck a real rock would bave been misfortune enough, but to have one's life's happiness buried in oozy, mess of lemon -meringue was galling. It lacked dignity, The skipper, Lionel So did his little mate, Grace. knew, too, after a while, that predicament place two taking on a well-meaning but boat- from rocking passenger whers 'Passengers have been, are, and always will be, taboo, The passenger was Uncle Ed. The good ship, all unconscious of What lay before it, was sailidg under the fairest of skies, on the smocthest of waters, when Lionel received a let- ter from Uncle Ed, to the effect that he was weary of roaming under for ° eign skies, that he had a hankering for home and kindred, and would like to rest his tired body in the land of his birth. Would it be possible for his dear nephew and niece to put him up for a while? Captain and mate were agreeable to such a proposition. Lionel had pleasant recollections of Uncle Ed. from the good-natured old bachelor. In his.college days many a sorely was the result of needed dollar Jeactnd his pocket by A the same source, And though Grace had never met Uncle Ed, she already had cause to be grateful to him, since the house they lived in was his wedding gift, without which their marriage would have been indefinitely delayed. The Tesponse' was so cordial that Uncle Ed arrived on the first steamer he could get. He was a jovial old uncle, and they enjoyed him immensely--for a while, Though loath to admit it, Lionel and Grace discovered, after Uncle Ed had been with them a few days, that he was more than a trif spoiled. \ sirable acquisition as one might, childishly imagine, Dora's culinary efforts, which had hitherto been stems; the black He is that stood at intervals more than passable, failed to Please. Grace endeavored to do the cooking herself; a courtesy which Uncle Ed failed to appreciate, and which only served to further enrage the alréady belligerent Dora It was of no use, After a couple of weeks Grace be- gan hoisting distress signals. Lionel volunteered to assist her, but his ef- forts were productive only of scorn from Grace and ridicule from Uncle Ed The climax came when Grace, find- ing that Uncle Ed was particularly fond of lemon pie, innocently volun- teered to make one, thereby bringing on the great disaster. Grace studied lemon pie for a week before, with fear and trembling, she undertook the creation of one, Lemon pies danced before her tleepless eyes at night, or filled her dreams when her overwrought nerves succumbed to slumber. She Sathertng in his firewood!' ~ Spent an entire § mastering its intricacies, Nevertheless, the re- sult, she felt, justified her efforts. It Was a wonderful ple, all golden- brown and snowy white. Exhausted but triumphant, she bore it to the table, cut it, and served it Uncle Ed tasted his portion. The taste seemed a spark to his fiery tongue. He made a few pity remarks on cooks in general and one cook in particular, "Whoever made that ple," he fin- ished, "should have been sent to pil for it." ~ Grace rose, her eyes glittering. "You--you--nasty -- old -- glutton!" she said, distinctly, and left the room. Lionel followed, after a suitable interval. He found her packing her trunk, "What's that for, Grace?" with husbandly authority. "I'm leaving you, so you can en- Joy Uncle Ed's society," she retorted. he asked, "It's too choice to divide with any- body." "Grace, that's ridiculous," said Lionel, sternly. "I'm surprised at you! To make such a fuss over a criticism on your cooking!" "It's ridiculous to make a fuss over such a disgusting uncle! A perfect pig of an uncle, whose chief worry is what to put in his stom- ach!" "He's been awfully good to us. He's 'ven us the house we live in." "With him inside of it, I'm afraid 't summon 'up any feeling of gratitude," she flung back. "Well, you'll have to apologize to him." "Lionel Strange," said Grace, her eyes flashing, "don't you talk to: me like that! I'l 'go to some place where the world doesn't center about a lemon ple!" Slowly but surely the ship began to settle into its sticky culinary mess. The captain tore.his hair. It 'Was very well to assert husbandly authority, but if Grace paid no atten- tion to him----One couldn't see one's hi H life wrecked in this foolish manner. Abstractedly he heard a train whistle in the distance. Grace threw a few more things into her trunk. Lionew caught her hands and drew her hm. = "Grace, darling, I'll see what can be done about Uncle Ed. I'll speak to him today. I111--* Grace, with outward reluctance and inward delight, forgave her hus- band, and the two went downstairs to seek Uncle Ed. But Uncle Ed was nowhere to be found, Instead, a note was discov. ered on the library table, which told them that the carried Uncle Bd al his wa; for be ng Lionel looked at Grace, and Grace looked at Lionel, who kissed her rapturously. "Poor Uncle Ed!" said Grace. "I'm sorry!" : And the little ship now clear of . trouble, sailed on, with fair weather and a smooth sea TE s