The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-09-14
Sflistellalleous.
THE TWO NEPHEWS.

At the parlor window ofa pretty villa neai
Walton-on-Thamcs, sat, one evening ut dusk
an old man and young woman. Tho agc
Of the man might be some seventy whilst hi'
com mpanion had hardly reached nineteen. Her
beautiful blooming face, and active, light,
and upright figure, werc in strong contrast
with the worn countenance and bent frame
of the old man: but in his eye, and in the
corners of his mouth, were indications OF q
gay spirit and s,lf.confdence, which age and
suffering had dampend, but not cxtinguish'
cd.
NO uso looking any more, Mary, said he,
.ncithcr John Meade nor Peter Finch will be
here before dark. Very hard, that, when a
sick uncle asks his two ncphcws to come and
sec him, they can't come ut once. The duty
Is simple In the extrcme-only to help me 70
die, and take what choose to leave them iu
my will. Pooh! when was young man
I'd have done it for nv uncle with the utmost
celebrity. But the worlds getting quite heart
less
.Oh, SIR said Mary.
.And what docs Oh, sir, mean !'said he. Do
YOU think | shan't die? know better. a
little more, and thero'll be and end of old
Billy Collctt. He'll have left this dirty
world for q cleancr-to tho great sorrow land
adyantagc) of his ailectionatc relatives. Ugh!
Give me glass of the doctors stuff
Tho girl poured some medicine intoa glass,
and Collct, after having contemplated 1t for
a moment with Infinite disgust, managed to
get il down. =.
o Il tell you what. Miss Mary sutton said
she, Il don't my any means approve OF your
.oh, sir = and dear sir y and tho rest of it,
when I've told you how ! hated to DO called
sir at all. Why, you couldn't be more re-
spcctful II you were charity.girl, and
bcadle in gold.laced hat. None Of your
nonsense, Mary Sutton, if you please. I've
been your lawful guardian now Tor mere than
six months, and you ought to know my lik'
ings and dislikings.'
MY poor father often told mo how you
dislikcd ceremony said Mary.
your poor father told you quito right,
said Mr.. Collctt. Fred Sutton was man ol
talcnt-a capital fellow. Ills only fault was
natural inability to keep u farthing in his
pocket. Poor Fred he loved mc-l'm sure
he did. He bequcathed me his only child
and It lent every friend would do that
'And kind and generous protector you
have becnn
.well, | don't know: I've tried not to be a
brute, but dare say have been. Don't
speak roughly to you sometimes? Haven't
I given you good, prudent, worldly advice
about John Meade, and made myself quite
disagreeable, and like guardian9 Come,
confess you love this pcnnilcss nephew oil
mine
.Pcnnilcss, indecd!'
,Ah, there il isl said Collett. 'And what
bvsiness has poor devil Of an artist to fall
in love with my ward? And what business
has my ward to fall in love with apoor devil
of an artist? But that's Fred Sutton'r
daughter all over Haven't l two nephewr!
Why couldn't you fall in love with the dis
erect one-tho thriving one? Peter Finch
considering he's an attorncy-is o worthy
young man. lie is Industrious in the extreme,
and attends to other peoples business when
he is paid forit. He dcspiscs sentiment, and
always looks to the main chance. But John
Meade, my dear Mary, may spoil canvas for.
ever, and not grow rich. He's oil for art,
and truth, and social reform, and spiritual
elevation and the Lord knows what. Peter
Finch will ride in his carriage, and splash
moor John Meade as he trudges on foot.
The haranguo was here interrupted by a
ring at the gate, aud Mr.. Peter Finch was
announcer. ne nau ~, ~ ,ha ~, ~as heard and
when ,h.' another Ma,ha tlns sas a.aS anuounc~S.
~. 49,. ~ N
MIR. Colet. sIS eyea rhi,,t IN I tScr ndc ,rccebes