Uncle William

there. The artist turned to it as he

nd blinking a little. "I cal'ate to stay quite a spell yet." He stretched

tist's eyes. "You've n

p' a good deal comin' down in the boat. There wa'n't a great deal goin'

firm hand held him back. "Now, stay right

left. "You won't find it in

e doorway. "It won't bother me a mite." His voice came bac

the sounds that came through the half-op

suthin' bigger'n a teacup to wash in," he said. "I like the hull

, looking at the youn

all rig

a f

ttle-

all a

by and by. He'll clean u

broad hand under the thin back. "Feel sore there? Kind o' hurts, don't it? I thought so-There."

young man was watching h

ing it up to the light, squinting through it. "But I had a fever once, myself-kep' a-

is head. "He will com

t kind." He held out the bottle. "I'd

are

p mine." He had poured one into the palm of his hand and held it out. It

an eyed it

he man that made it never had a stitch of clothes on

he thing slid down, leaving a si

the bed, drawing the spread down to hid them. The cups and glasses and scattered spoons and knives he bore away to the bath-room, and the artist heard them descending into the tub with a sound of rushing water. Uncle William returned triumphant. "I've put 'em a-soak," he explained. The table-spread, with its stumps of cigar

rtist, a little uneasily. "But

ooked in. He came back beaming. "The' 's quite a nice lot of room,

ew and there were garments here and there, but Uncle William's path was a success. The sun wa

n around," he said. "I

u come?" aske

about him. "Where's my spectacles? Must 'a'

ened his eyes, Uncle William was standing by the bed with a cup of something

surprised sips. "It's good!" he

"I've been overhaulin'

t in it." The artist

g it down. "A drop o' suthin' hot'll make 'most anything

artist's face. He turned it awa

I can't live on bird-seed myself. I reckon I'll lay in sut

hed out. "I feel b

t time for another." He pulled out his great watch. "

at the bottle. "You

more fever for me afore I die-I don't cal'ate to have but one more." He looked ab

young man stretched out his hand. "H

slowly. "Why, that was nateral enough," he sa

d turned away his eyes. "She should

the bed. There was something keen in the glance of h

illow turned unea

y n

be able to ta

William. "Let her tak

ness came into th

e been foolish," he said-"turrible foolish. I d

o it." He spoke

fuss about it. Nobody's goin' to marry you 'thout you want 'em to. You