Aunt Jane's Nieces at Millville

It appeared that the company in which he was so largely

interested had found the tract very valuable, and had been seeking for

the owners in order to purchase it or lease the right to cut the timber.

But although they had traced it through the hands of several successive

owners the present holders were all unknown to them until Mr. Merrick's

information had furnished them with a clue. A year ago the company had

paid up the back taxes--two years overdue--in order to establish a claim

to the property, and now they easily succeeded in finding the record of

the deed from a certain Charles Walton to Jonas Wegg and William

Thompson. The deed itself could not be found, but Uncle John considered

the county record a sufficient claim to entitle the young folks to the

property unless the ownership should be contested by others, which was

not likely.

Uncle John invited Ethel and Joe to dine with him that evening, and Mary

was told the occasion merited the best menu she could provide. The young

folks arrived without any idea of receiving more than a good dinner and

the pleasure of mingling with the cordial, kindly household at the farm;

but the general air of hilarity and good fellowship pervading the family

circle this evening inspired the guests with like enthusiasm, and no

party could be merrier than the one that did full justice to Mary's

superior cookery.

One of the last courses consisted of iced watermelon, and when it

appeared the three girls eyed one another guiltily and then made frantic

attempts to suppress their laughter, which was unseemly because no one

but themselves understood the joke. But all else was speedily forgotten

in the interest of the coming ceremony, which Mr. Merrick had carefully

planned and prepared.

The company was invited to assemble in the room comprising the spacious

right wing, and when all were seated the little gentleman coughed to

clear his throat and straightway began his preamble.

He recited the manner in which Captain Wegg and Will Thompson, having

money to invest, were led into an enterprise which Bob West had

proposed, but finally preferred another venture and so withdrew their

money altogether from the Almaquo tract.