The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-07-29
For the Ninnesotian.



BY MRS. N. c. P.
In the drawing room ola large, old fashion
ed house, which stood somewhere near some
sea shore, sat hale, hearty, rotund, old bache-
lor: by name, Mr. Richard jenkins. Save a
slight sarcastic smile on his lips this old bache-
lor was very. good looking--but zoe, ladies,
shall stand a little in awe of him, knowing very
we'll that an old bacholer's wit is always Law
ished on us + minines. This Mr.. Jenkins had
great disrelish for all ultra-refinemcnt, or af.
fectaon; and some way he had con-
tracted the opinion that young lady educat-
ed at boarding school, must be the embodi-
ment of both. Mr.. jenkins was, just now, in
trouble. Five years ago, his brother had died
leaving in his charge an orphan daughter of
fourteen summers. Save now and then a short
visit during vacations, Miss Kate jenkins had
seen but little of her Uncle since he had placed
her in charge Of Madam Dubois, the celebrated
teacher Of "limited number" of young la
dies. But now that her education was COM
pleted, Miss Kate was momentarily expected
at Mr.. Jenkins hitherto quiet house. The
house keeper had prepared the rooms for her
reception, and the uncle had invited his kind
and cheerful neighbor, the widow Blooming
ton, to assist in entertaining the niece for
whose society he was sure he had such dis
taste. She came at last-a slight, delicate
looking creature, whom Mr. Jenkins felt sure
was just the girl to faint at spiders, and 60 in
to Mysteries over a novel.
He led her into the parlor by the tips of her
fingers and with cold fomality introduced her
to Mrs. Bloomington then taking seat by
the window, he seemed intently gazing on the
landscape, when he was in reality, sezing upon
every word of his lovely niece and weighing
it with the precision an apothecary would his
drugs.
Kate felt wounded by his naughty manner.
and grew alarmed lest she was an unwecome
intruder in that home for which her heart had SO
anXiously yearned. This was not the welcome
she had expected from her fathers only brother
Mrs. Bloomington made incredible exertions
to sustain the tagging conversation. She I'M
derstood at glance the cold reserve of the
uncle and the calm selfreliance and precision
of the disappointed, almost indignant niece
Slowly passed the hours until they separated
for the night. and when Kate was alone in the
apartment allotted to her she made no effort to
gentle rap on the door, and Mrs. Bloomington
softly speaks her name.
"Miss Kate, may 1 come ins'' She opens
the door, and is EMBODIED in arms whose loving
pressure bcspeak the sympathy her evident
suffering had excited. A few moments. and
the mutual misunderstanding of herself and
uncle is all explained, and a merry laugh rings
through the room. How gratefully Kate grasp
ed the hands of the smiling widow, as she i'm
printed kiss upon her matronly brow, when
she left the apartment.
30 Mrs. Bloomington! rIlpay him for this
evenings unhappiness! Trust me for that!'
Morning came and the uncle and niece were
alone in the library, she busy with her sewing,
he, reading book which by some strange
freak OF fancy he chose to perusc with its pages
reversed, and occasionally Kate would raise
her eyes and detect his truant orbs peering
above the volume. At last laying aside his
literary avocation, he arose aud crossing the
room took a seat near his niece.
"Well, Miss Jenkins! How do you like
my friend Mrs. Bloomington" Kate could
scarcely restrain her laughter, but she answer
ed very gravely.
''Uncle Jenkins, cannot say am very much
pleased with her. She is not lady-like in her
demeanor.'
"Not lady-like! Good Heavens! What do
you mean?' Uncle Richard seized chair and
placed his hands upon the back of it as it stood
before him, with firmness of grasp quite I'M
necessary, as no one wished to deprive him OF
that article of furniture.
"Well, uncle" said Kate calmly, Gas have
made the assertion, suppose must prove it
correct. In the first place she laughs! and no
real lady ever more than smilcs.'
eyes" growled uncle Richard, she must
shipper just enough to show her teeth. That's
the rule, 1 suppose
"And then she is too impulsive! She speaks
outright everything she happens to think. II
she admires anything, all the world must know
it, and her thoughts are all betrayed in every
look and action. She has no aristocratic re-
serve in manner nor conversation.
"Aristocratc nonsense! !" interrupted uncle
Richard. giving the chair an emphatic thump.
~ tell you hate this speaking. and thinking.
and moving and living. by aristocratic rule''
Kate raised her eyes to her uncles with we'll
dissembled establishment.
"Why surely, uncle, you cannot but admire
that polished delicacy which so reminds one Of
the angels. Madam Dubois was always"
"Delicacy be -! Kate, won't swear
But you will drive me mad!" Uncle Richard
famed himself violently with magazine which
he caught from table near him. and commenc.
cd walking the room very rapidly. Kate held
her head very low, and her slender frame shook
violently. Uncle Richard cast one look at her
from beneath his lowering brows. "The poor
child is weeping from my harshness," thought
the halfrelenting man. perhaps, after all
she is not so much to blame MS am II was