Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-02-03
Gales ann skettbes.
THE RE CUE;
OR, UNCLE GEORGES STORY.
By DICKENS.

BY DICKENS.
We had devoted the morning before my we'd
ding day to the arrangement of those trouble
some delightful, endless little affairs, which the
world says must be set in order on such occa-
sions and late in the afternoon we walked down,
Charlott and myself, to take last bachelor and
maiden peep at the home which next day, was
to be ours in partnership. Goody Barnes, al
ready installed as our cook and housekeeper
stood at the door, ready to receive us as we eros
sed the market-place to inspect our cottage for
the twentieth time.-cottage by courtesy next
door to my fathers mansion, by far the best and
handsomest in the place. 1t was some distance
from Charlott's house, where she and her widow
ed mother lived all the way down the lime
tree avenue, then over the breezy common, be-
sides traversing the principal and only street
which terminated in the village market place.
The front of our house was quakerlike, in point
of neatness and humility. But enter 1t is not
hard to display good taste when the bankers
book puts no veto on the choice gems of furni-
ture, which give the finishing touch to the whole
Then pass through, and bestow a glance upon
our living rooms looking down upon that greatest
of luxuries, a terraoed garden, commanding the
country-and not little of that country mine
already-the farm which my father had given
me, to keep me quiet and contented at home. For
the closing perspective of our view, there was
the sea, like bright blue rampant rising before
White-saed vessels, or self-willed steam
ers, fitted to and fro for our amusement
We tripped down the terrace steps, and of
course looked in upon the artificial grotto to the
right, which had caused to be lined through
out with foreign shells and ghttering spars,-
more gifts from my ever-bountiful father. Char
lotte and L went laughingiy along the straight
gravel walk, hanked each side with regi-
ment of daklias that led us to the little gate,
opening to give US admission to my fathers own
pleasure ground and orchard.
The dear old man was reoiced to receive u.s.
A daughter was what he so long had wished for.
We hardly knew whether to smile, or weep for
JOY, as We all sat together on the rustic
bench, overshadowed by the tulp-tree, which
some said my father had himself brought
from North America. But Of the means by
which he become possessed of many of his choic-
est treasures, he never breathed syllable to me.
His father, very well knew, nothing more
than a homely farmer, cultivating no great extent
of not too productive sea- side land but Char
lofts lace dress which she was to wear to-mor-
row-agan another present from him-was, her
mother proudly pronounced, valuable and hand
some enough for princess.
Charlotte had whispered, half said aloud, that
she had no fear now that Richard Leroy, her
boisterous admIrer, would dare to attempt his re-
ported threat to carry her off to the continent in
his cutter Richards name made my father
frown, so we said no more; we lapsed again into
that dreamy state of silent enjoyment which was
the best expression of our happiness.
Leroy's father was called farmer but ON our
portion of the English coast there are many things
that well understood rather tiIa. cleurly and
distinctly expressed; and one had ever en-
lightened my ignorance. My father was on speak
ing terms with him, that was all corteous, but
distant half timid, half mysterious. He dis
couraged my childish intimacy with Richard );
yet he did not 30 so far as to forbid it. Once,
when urged him to allow to accompany
young Leroy in his boat, to fish ia the Channel
one calm and bright summer morning, he per-
emptorily answered, "No! do not wish you
to learn to be smuggler." But then, he instant
ly checked himself, and afterwards was more
anxious and kind to me than ever. Still Richard
and continued playfellows until we grew up,
and both admired Charlotte. He would have
made formal proposal for her hand, if the mar
ked discouragement of her family had not shut
out every opportunity. This touched his pride,
and once made him declare, in an off-hand way,
that it would cost him but very little trouble to
land such a light cargo as that, some pleasant
evening, in France, or even on one of the Azore
Islands, if orange groves and orange blossoms
Were what my lady cared about. tits wonderful
how far and how swiftly, needless words do fly
when once they are uttered. Such speeches did
not close the breach, but instead, laid the first
foundation for one of these confirmed estrange-
ments which village neighborhoods only know.
The repugnAnce manifested by Charlott's friends
was partly caused by the mystery which hung
to Richards ample means. The choice was un-