The Argosy — page 176: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

164 Fack’s Neece. ‘My sister Mary’s daughter !” repeated Jack, still feeling very much at sea. ‘‘‘Yes ; mamma said she would write to you, but I suppose she has not done so yet. She is always putting off things!” ‘¢ J have not heard from my sister for years,” said Jack, still look- ing bewildered. ‘No. I call it quite shameful the way mamma has dropped out of sight of ali her people! But, you see, papa has been such a rolling stone ever since we went to America——” ‘America! Why it was to Australia Mary went.” ‘Oh, Uncle Jack, we’ve been in America for years, and I certainly thought mamma had written to you since then. I see I shall have to give you all the family history. Papa found he could not get on well in Australia, and, hearing of an opening in California, we—that is he, mamma, the boys and me—all migrated there. After that we stayed'in several places ; and now papa has at last found a very good berth in New York.” *‘ And where have you come from now, and how did you find me ?” ‘Well, you see, I had never been in England ; and last year a great friend of mine, Alice Lee, married an Englishman, Mr. Dene, and came over. A short time ago she wrote and begged me to come and pay her a visit, and after a great deal of persuasion, papa and mamma let me do so. Mr.and Mrs. Carter were coming in the Ocean Queen, and took charge of me on the voyage. Alice was to meet me at Liverpool. But when we got there, I found a letter from her saying Mr. Dene’s father was dying and they had been telegraphed for. So as they could not meet me, I was to go straight to Feltham Park and stay till they returned. I just hated the idea of that, and thought I wouldn’t go if I could help it. While thinking what to do, I happened to see in a newspaper that the soth Regiment was at Overbridge, and, as I knew mamma’s brother was in that regiment, I said to myself, ‘I'll go and look up Uncle Jack.’ At first the Carters rather objected and said I ought to go to Feltham and write to you from there ; but I felt it would be sucha waste of time and so dreary in a strange place alone, so I came straight here. The Carters had to pass Overbridge on their way to London, and I came with them so far. And here I am, andI hope you're glad to see me, Uncle Jack?” Poor Jack’s puzzled countenance certainly did not express much joy. It ss rather trying to have a niece, whose existence has hitherto been unknown to one, suddenly come up and plant herself on one’s hands in such a summary fashion. Very embarrassing to a bachelor officer living in quarters ; and this Jack felt most decidedly. Daisy watched his face anxiously and then exclaimed: ‘ Don’t say you're not pleased to see me, Uncle Jack. Do you know you're ever so much younger and nicer-looking than I expected, and I felt as soon as I saw you that I should have a happy time with you.” ECOMiCcOOolkKS —_— (CO