Aunt Jane's Nieces at Millville

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Old Hucks came slowly down the steps to greet the company. Never in his

memory had his dress been so immaculate. The queer old fellow seemed to

appreciate this as he raised his smiling face from the stooped shoulders

and poised it on one side like a sparrow.

"Welcome home, sir," he said to Uncle John. "I'm Hucks, sir; Thomas

Hucks," and without more words he proceeded to remove the satchels from

the wagon.

"Ah, yes," returned Mr. Merrick, cheered by the welcome and the smile of

the old man. "I'd forgotten about you, but I'm glad you're here."

"And that is my wife Nora, on the porch. She's the housekeeper, sir."

And then, lowering his voice so that only the girls and Uncle John could

hear, he added simply: "She's blind."

Patsy walked straight up to the eager, pathetic figure of the woman and

took her hand in a warm clasp.

"I'm Patricia, Nora," she said, "and I'm sure we shall be friends."

Beth followed her cousin's lead.

"And I am Beth, Nora. Will you remember me?"

"Surely, miss; by your voice," returned the old woman, beaming

delightedly at these evidences of kindliness.

"Here is another, Nora," said their cousin, in gentle tones. "I am

Louise."

"Three young and pretty girls, Nora; and as good as they are pretty,"

announced Uncle John, proudly. "Will you show us in, Thomas, or will

your wife?"

"Nora will take the young ladies to their rooms, sir."

"Not now, Uncle!" they all protested, in nearly identical words; and

Louise added: "Let us drink in the delights of this pretty picture

before we shut ourselves up in the stuffy rooms. I hope they've

been aired."

Patsy ran to a chicken-coop on the side lawn, where a fussy hen was

calling to her children that strangers had arrived. Beth exclaimed at

the honeysuckle vines and Louise sank into a rustic chair with a sigh

of content.

"I'm so glad you brought us here. Uncle," she said. "What a surprise it

is to find the place so pretty!"

They could hear the rush of the Little Bill in the wood behind them and

a soft breeze stirred the pines and wafted their fragrance to the

nostrils of the new arrivals.

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