The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-01-20


had heard Alright the words of his only
niccc-thc girl whom hc had brought up
aud cared for when Others rejected the
Charge of the peunlcss orphan.
Mrs. Amber repeated the lrigid sentence
with that cmpasis which only hcartless
woman of the world can give.
"Ihis is II big house, Tidy" said the old
man. in slightly tremulOus accents, 'hnd
should ha' thought there was a corner in it
big enough for Uncle Obed. wasn't calcu-
lating To stay lOng-not over II week at the
lurthcst; but I'll 80 home Tomorrow the
very first train that leaves, If Fun IN the
way
Mrs Amber made no answer, but tapped
| lightly on her mosaic bracelet with one
slender llngerand Uncle ObCd turned away
with moisture in his eyes that made curious
| rings Of mist around the glaring Jets of
| flame in the chandelier.
Uncle Obed was wishing himself well out
of the heartless scene. when suddenly a
| pair of plump little arms were thrown
around his neck, and cheek frcshcr and
| piukcr chan damask rose was pressed 10
| his brown face. II was Mrs. Ainbcr's
youngest daughter--his own nicce--the
| ncorrigibc romp, who has climbed cherry
| trees and stolen birds nests innumernblc
| IN the meadows of the old homestead, two
or three years ago. And there she was
a young lady in pink silk and cameo brace
| lets
"Dear Uncle Obed, have only lust heard
of your arrival. am glad TO see you if
no one else isl'
And another shower of kisses succeeded,
| greatly 10 the discontinue and envy of the
young man who had escorted Miss Amber
TO the spot and stood surveying the pretty
| little tableau. no
so Hboutyour business, Harry" !" she en-
,1a
say to Uncle Obcdn
| And Harry Latimer obcycd, but rather
| UngraciOusly.
just the same little Fanny as ever l'ex-
claimed the old man. patting the curls with
delighted fOndness. "IOu haven't changed,
though Tidy hasw
NO; and will never change for you
Uncle Obrd' said the girl. ~ haven't for
! gotten how Kind you were to me, up ut the
old homestead, how you shielded my trans
| grcssiOns, concealed my faults, and always
had smile for naughty little Fannyr
And she chattcd on, entirely unhecding
her mothers frown of displeasure Fanny
| had always been the least manageable Of
Mrs. Ambcr's daughters, and the worthy
matron secretly resolved to lecture the
young lady at her leisure.
! Uncle Obcd was by no means deficient in
observation, and even while he related the
changes which three years had wrought in
the vicinity of the old homestead, he per-
ceived the rosy blood mount TO his niCcc's
cheek every time Mr.. Iatlmcr passed.
Nov, little girl said he, ''wh0's that
young fellow there by the window ?"
! Fanny looked up and then down, played
with the middle button of Uncle Obed's
coat, and answered very softly:
I ''Mr. Latimer."
I "lllImph! suppose that isn't all you can
tell me about him r
There WIS II minutes hesitation, and
then Fanny hid her check on the old mans
shoulder, aud told Uncle Obcd all.
4 "Thcn why ON earth don't You marry
himg' calculated the old gentleman, at the
close of the little life rom nee.
"Ilc's only poor lawyer" sighed Fanny,
"and papa will never consent. But one
thing | am resolved on,n she added with
sparkling eyes, II will not marry any one
else, least Of all that odious Colonel Wood
all, not II he were, worth twenty times
twenty thousand dollars. I'll marry the
one | can love--not for money!
The stamp of her fair foot gave emphasis
10 the determined words as she spoke
Fanny was very much in earnest, aud II
Colonel Woodall had happened to be pres
cnt he would have concluded that his
= chances were, TO say the least of 1t, rather
small
Twenty thousand dollars, eh ?" slowly
, repeated Uncle Obed. ''Well, Fanny, it /,
q hard world we live ina hard, gripping
: grinding world. ! never thought 81 afore
but somehow tonight has borne ii in upon
me-"
When Uncle Obed went away next day
! he was comparatively cheerful, Tie kline
words and loving smiles of little Fanny had
; fallen like drops of balm upon the sore spot
In his heart.
/ CONCLUDED MONDAY.