North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-02-07


Youngest Ganghter-his own niece--the
incorrigible romp, who had climbed cherry
trees and stolen birds nests innumerable
in the meadows Of the old homestead, two
or three years ago. Aud there she was
young lady in pink silk and cameo brace
lets! .... ..f...
"Dear Uncle Obed, | have only just
heard of your arrival. l am glad to see
YOU if no one else is p .s. ...
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
taSlcau.
go about your business, Harry" she
exclaimed gaily, "I've got ever SO much to
say to Uncle Obed!"
And Harry Latimer obeyed, but rather
ungraciously ....
"Just the same little Fanny as ever"
exclaimed the old man, patting the curls
with delighted fon lness, You haven.
changed, though. Tidy has"
"No,.; and | will never change for yon,
Uncle Obed said the girl. Il haven't for
gotten how kind you were TO me, up at the
old homestead, how you shielced my trans
gres ions, concealed my faults, and always
had smile for naughty little Fanny"
And she chatteI on, entirely unheeding
her mothers frown of dispcasure Fanny
had always been the least manageable of
Mrs. Amber's daughters, and the worthy
matron seer, tely resolved to lecture the
Young lady at her leisure.
Uncle Obed was by no means deficient
in observat on, and willie he related the
changes which three years had wrought in
the vicinity of the old homrst' ad, he per-
crived the rosy blood mount t" his nj CT S
check every time Mr.. Latimer passed.
"Now little girl, said he, who's that
yonng fellow there by the window p
Fanny looked up and then down, played
with the middle button of Uncle Obed>
ceat and answered very softly:
"Mr. Latilner."
"Hunpl! l suppose that isn't all you
can tel me about him ?"
There was minutes hesitation and
then Fanny hid her cheek on the old mans
sh, mIder and told Uncle Obcd all.
Then why on earth don't you marry
him" calculated the old gentleman, al
the close of the little romance.
Hes only poor lawyer" sighed Fan
ny, land papa will never consent. But
one thing | am resolved on" she added
~ith spa king eyes, Il will not marry any
one else, ;east of all that edious Col Wood
all, not if he were worth twenty times TWEEN
ty thousand doIlprs. I'll marry the one
can love not for money"
The stamp of her fair foot gave empha-
sis to the determined words a< she spoke
Fanny was very much in earnest. and if
Colonel Woodall had happened to be pres
ent, he would have concluded that his chan
res were to say the least OF it rather small
Twenty thousand dollars. eh 2" slowly re-
peated Uncle Obed. "WeIl, Fanny, it is
a hard world we live ina hard gripping,
grinding world. never thought So afore,
hut somehow tonight has borne it upon
me-"
When Uncle Obed went away next day
h4 was comparatively cheerful. The kind
words and loving smiles of little Fanny
had fallen like drops of balm upon the sore
spot in his heart.
There it was nesting in the hillside the
gray old farm house, with giant sycamores
tossing their silvery branches above it and
the lilac bushes nodding before the narrow
windows. Uncle Obei thought it never
looked so pleasant rs now, in the level gold
en- sunset with the purple woods rising ag'nst
the bright far-of horizon.
But he did not stop in the coy room
where the eight-day clock, ticked n way as
peacefully as if its master had rot been alb
sent two whole days-a thing which had
not occurred before in half century; he
went straight up stairs, to tiny nook un-
der the caves, where he kept an old sort
of trunk, curiously scented with camphor,
and bound together with strong clasps and
sivets of brass From this receptacle he
took bit of paper, and held it so the light
fell on its contents.
Twenty thousand he muttered. swell
am an old man, and that gal is just the
light O my eyes 1t shall buy her happi-
ness, The blue-eyed bird, instead of lying
useless in the gArret! She deserved it
alp
Uncle Obed pocketed the document,
locked his precious trunk, and went down
stairs wiplng the glasses Of his speetacles.
The financial crash came, and the house
of Amber & Co., was among the fl st on
the list. 1t was true that Mrs. Amber
had been expecting the failure, but the
blow fell none the less heavy for the an
ticipation. Somehow her plans all proved
futile. Young Gold had in some unac-
conntable manner discovered the state of
the Amber exchequcr, and wisely conclu-
dcd that it was not. bast to waste his per
sonal charms and elegant stock of small
talk on 81 ineligible fair one as Miss Ce-
ciIlla. Colonial Woodal had also shown
unequivocal signs of Withdrawing his suit,
not at all to Miss Fanny's displeasure In
short, everything seemed tt. be going
wronir and the ONLY satisfied members of