Aunt Jane's Nieces Out West

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He leaned back in his chair

with a sigh of content and said:

"Bless the hen that laid that egg! No dainty was ever more delicious. And

now," he added, rising, "let us go and inquire the address of a good

undertaker. I have made my will, and I'd like to be cremated--it's so

much nicer than the old-fashioned burial, don't you think?"

"I'll attend to all that, if you wish," she replied, trying to repress a

shudder as she followed him from the room. "Do you smoke?"

"I used to, but the doctor forbade it; so I gave it up entirely."

"Go over to that stand and buy a cigar. Then you may sit beside Beth and

me and smoke it."

The girl did not wholly approve of smoking and had often chided Uncle

John and her father and Arthur Weldon for indulging in the habit; but

this advice to young Jones was given in desperation, because all the men

of her family stoutly affirmed that a cigar after a meal assisted

digestion. She resumed her former seat beside Beth, and her cousin

quickly read the anxiety on her face.

"What did you do, Patricia?"

"I fed him."

"Did he really eat?"

"Like a starved cat."

"Hm-m-m," said Beth. "What next, I wonder?"

Patsy wondered, too, the cold shivers chasing one another up and down her

back. The boy was coming toward them, coolly puffing a cigar. He did not

seem to totter quite so much as before, but he was glad to sink into an

easy chair.

"How do you feel?" asked Beth, regarding him curiously.

"Like one of those criminals who are pampered with all the good things

of life before being led to the scaffold."

"Any pains?"

He shook his head.

"Not yet. I've asked the clerk, whenever I signal him, to send someone to

carry me to my room. If I'm not able to say good-bye to you, please

accept now my thanks for all your kindness to a stranger. You see, I'm

not sure whether I'll have a sudden seizure or the pains will come on

gradually."

"What pains?" demanded Patsy.

"I can't explain them. Don't you believe something is bound to happen?"

he inquired, nervously removing the ash from his cigar.

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