Aunt Jane's Nieces at Millville

n, interrupting his soup long enough to fix an in

t of my duty, in attending to those affairs you won't look afther yourself, to lend

Patricia Doyle, who sat between her uncle

ys," answered Un

business in the last year, to my certain knowledge, by lending them sums ranging from one to

splendid way to do good-to help young men to get a start in life. Without capital, yo

th a shake of his grizzled head. "More than half the rascals that John

ung men," remarked Uncle John, w

ecome a sleuth, or engage detectives to track the objects of your erroneous philanthropy? I just have to f

ucceed," ventured Patsy,

rrick; "and that repays

my throuble-well, and your money. And a heap of throuble th

ionaire, leaning back in his chair and staring fix

tly. "I'll have no business conversation a

siness," asser

mildly. "No one has any business own

im. He had been so busily occupied in industry that he never noticed how his wealth was piling up until he discovered it by accident. Then he promptly retired, "to give the other fellows a chance," and he now devoted his life to simple acts of charity and the welfare and entertainment of his three nieces. He had rescued Major Doyle and his daughter from

shrewd and experienced in the affairs of the world, the little man found his greatest enjoyment in the family circle that he had been instrumental in founding. Being no longer absorbed in business, he had come to detest its every detail, and s

plain muslin gown, a stranger would be tempted to wonder why. She was red-haired, freckled as a robin's egg, pug-nosed and wide-mouthed. But her blue e

eyes than upon many a more handsome but less attractive face. She was nearly seventeen

to me who had invented a new sort of pump to inflate rubber tires. He wanted capital to patent the pum

returned Uncl

lot of money to fight back-three thousand, at least. But he was decent about it, after all. His father had left him a little farm at Millville. He couldn't sa

e farm and gave

He was clean-cut and frank, and believed in his pump. I did more. At the c

el

other fellows were too clever for my young fr

" said Patsy,

jor co

dear; especially when John a

the young man?

ur, and so he went to wor

e?" inquired Uncle

e north of the S

estigated the

wrote him about the Wegg farm. He said if any one wanted th

um

n was to the effect that

y la

le John!"

a time he ate with great deliberation and

I love the smell of the meadows and the hum of the b

know,

Uncle John, "it's going

d we'll have

e," remarked the Maj

scott

ome from Europe. We've had enough sea to last us all this season, at least.

le?" sai

, you know, and they must find the city deadly dull, just now. The farm's the thing. And the Major can

he cooking," suggested Patsy, enter

leeves!" said Uncle Joh

and some pigs!

talk as if it were a real farm, instead

looked so

the place, Maj

gone to ruin and deca

ld be put i

expense that will

mind

don't you rent a respectab

e fellow at Millville tomorrow and tell him to have the place fixed up and put into ship-shape order as quickly as possible. Te

low wrote like a blacksmith. If you want horses and rigs, let Hutchinson send you down the right so

g city fixin's. The cow and the chickens are all right, but let's cut out the horses until we get there. Don't you know, dear, that a big estab

echanic to milk a cow

. "We don't want any frills at all. Just tell your ma

iring glance at his small daughter, "has more sinse

le John, with a grin, "I'd put a candle ins