Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-10-13
UNCLE oBRD's VISIT.

light and fragrance Of some tropc isle on that
festal night The stately balustrades we're
wreathed with deeply-tinted blossoms. the
air was freighted with the perfume Of hello
trope and tube roses, and the chandeliers
that hung from the frescoed ceiling, like CO.
ronals of quivering FIRE, threw a MONDAY
brilliance over the rustling crowd.
At the further end of the superb drawing
room stood Mrs. Amber herself--a stately
matron in sapphire velvet, illuminated BY
the pale glimmer of pearls. No one would
ever have imagined from the smiling self
possession Of her manner, that this night was
the crisis Of her false existence-the turning
point Of her life.
Through all the hum and murmur of the
aristocratio assemblage = through all the
crash Of arriving carriages, and the stormy
melody OF the band beyond. Mrs. Amber
quick ear caught one low hesitating step on
the threshold. 1t was her hus stands. She
beckoned to him with her jewelled fan, and
whispered in scarcely audible accents;
Well !
Just as expected. We are ruined, can't
keep above water a week. Norris has failed,
and we shall follow suit =
Aweek ! murmered Mrs. Amber thought
lNA1f n Mtth Out Cdu dCCOUlplleu u HOeu
deal in week. Have you observed how at
tentiye Young Gould is to Cecilia ? she added
musingly.
He won't be after
Hush Mrs. Amber exclaimed, with q
quick glance around. as if spprehensive that
the very walls would hear the whispered
colloeuy. II she wins a rich husband be.
fore tue world learns Of your distress, We
shall De tolerably safe. For your own sake
keep cheerful face mingle with our guests
throw off that perturbed frosn. l tell you
all will yet be right.
Mr. Amber shrugged his shoulders and
whisted half bar OF some popular strain
then turned away to obey his wife's behests
to the best of his ability, while Mrs. Amber
her smooth lips all wreathed in dulcet smiles
resumed the task of receiving her gay
/ friends.
Suddenly there was a sort of thrill and tit
| ter through the apartment-the crowd open.
ed, as il to make way for some body, and Mrs
Amber came forward, expecting to greet
some distinguished arrival.
Good evening, Tidy. l kilkilated you'd
all be gone to bed, at this time o. night, but
/ zee you don't keep New Hampshire habits
Hain't forgotten me, have yous Why I'm
your uncle Obed Jenkins.
Mrs. Amber turned pale through all hei
artificial bloom, at the unexpected addition
to her company that stood before her, mis-
honest features beaming with genuine de-
light. 1t was ruddy faced old man, in a
suit of butternut colored cloth, carrying in
one hand neatly tied handkerchief, contain
ing his wardrobe, and in the other a crooked
atiok f.II af nd
stick as grows only 10 dense swamps, where
the young saplings have to twist their little
arms in every possible direction to get a bit
Of sunshine, and grow up 10 the most unheard
of shapes.
| declare, pursued Uncle Obed, you're
fine as fiddle Tildy-and where's them lit
tie gals you sent up summer before last, to
get red cheeks at their uncle's, Growed up
to young ladies-well, if amt beaten
And Uncle Obed extended a bony hand TO
Miss Cecilia, who drew back, and put up a
gold mounted eye glas with an air Of we'll
bred astonishment.
never heard that anything allied Cicil-
ly's eyesight, Tidy. said Uncle Obed, in ex-
treme perplexity. And that young fellow
in the yellar wa.stcoat is her beau, supposed
Wall, young folks will be young folks, and
we old ones hadn't ought to interfere. That's
what | always said when you and Jim Amber
used to talk in the old side hill orcharcd after
you'd done the milking
THIS unlucky allusion brimmed the already
overfOwing yials OF Mrs. Ambers wrath
she drew her gloved had from the man $
cordial grasp, with an energy which puzzled
him, and spoke with compressed lips.
am really sorry, sir, that we we're not
previously made aware that you proposed
honorlDg us with visit. In that case we
could have prepared ourselves for the plea
sure now, | regret to say, it will be incou-
venient 10 receive you
What ! CALCULATED the astonished old
man, who was really uncertain whether or not
he had heard Alright the words of his only
neice--the girl whom he had brought up and
the penniless orphan.
Mrs. Amber repeated the ffigid sentence
with that emphasis which only a heartless
woman Of the world can give.
This is big house, Tidy said the old
man, in slightly remuloas accents, and
should ha' thought there was a corner in it
big enough for Uncle Obed. / wasn't calcu-
latlng to stay long-not over a week at fur
thest but Ill 60 hum tomorrow the very
first train that leaves, il I'm in the way
Mrs. Amber made no answer, but tapped
lightly on her mosaic bracelet one slender
finger, and Uncle Obed turned away with
moisture in his eyes that made curious rings
of mist around the glazing Jets of fame in
the chandelier.
Uncle Obed was wishing himself well out
OF the heartless scene, when suddenly a pair
OF plump little arms we're tArown around his
neck, aud cheek fresher and pinkier than
damssk rose was pressed to his brown face.
1t was Mrs. Amber's youngest daughter--his
own pet niece-the ncorrigible romp, who
had climbed cherry trees and stolen bird
nests innumsrable in the meadows OF the old
homestead two or three years ago. And tn ere
she WAS young lady in pink silk and cameo
bracelets
Dear Uncle Obed, | have only Just heard
Of your arrival, | am glad to see you, If no
one else is
And another shower OF kisses succeeded,
greatly TO the discontinue and envy OF the
young man who had escorted Miss Amber to
the spot, and stood surveying the pretty lit
tie tabeau.
Go about your business Harry 7 she ex-