The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1866-12-19
CADIZ, OHIO WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 49, 1866

ing like Sir'ram with and the Other One
after hint ats Il non,en>" OIL read to
me the other day, isu' it Eff e?
Not nonsense, dear papa, demonstrated
Fife; and l loved her for saying it, for sure
y that Is not nonsense.
II didn mean it, said my father, turn
ing to my mother added:
1t must be your fault, my dear, that my
children are so serious that they always take
"a joke for earnest. However, it was no joke
with my uncle: If he didn't look like Sin
tram, he looked like t'Other one.
1.-The roads are frozen | mean showed
up, he said. There just one bottle Of
Port left, and what Captain Calker will say.
| dare say | know, but I'd rather not
Damn this weather!-God forgive me! =
that's net right-but it is trying-ain't ii
my hoy!
"'What will you give me for dozen O
Porf, uncle?' was all my answer
Give you? Ill give you Cull erwood,
you rogue
Done" l cried.
THAT is, stammered my uncle, that
Is, and he REDEEMED like the funnel Of one
Of his hated steamers, that is, you know,
always provided you know. 1t wouldn't be
fair to Lady Georgiana. now, would it? |
put it to yoursel-if she took the trouble,
you know. You understand me, my boy?
That $ of course, uncle, said.
"'Ah! | see you re gentleman like your
father. not to trip man when he stumbles,
said my uncle. For such was the dear old
mans sense of honor, that he was actually
uncomtort able about the hasty promise he
lad made. without first specifying the ex-
ception The exception, you krow, has
Culverwnod a; the present hour, and right
welcome he is.
"Of course, uncle, I said. "between
gentlemen, you know. Still | want my
joke out, too. What will you give me for u
dozen of Port 20 tide you over Christmas
day2'
Give " you, my boy? II give YOU
but here he checked himself, as one
that had been burned already.
BAH! he said turning his back, and
going toward tha doori what's the use OF
Joking about serious affairs like this?'
And 20 he left the ROOM And flet him
go. For had heard that the road from
Liverpool Was impaSsablr, the wind and
snow having continued every day since that
night of which told you. Meantime, |
to say one word to your mother, | beg her
pardon, / m, an Miss Thorubury.
Christmas day arrived. My uncle was
awful to behold His friends were evident
" ANXIOUS about him. They thought he
wasiil There was such hesitation about
him, Ike shark with bait and such Il
hurry Ike whaic in his l2s' agonics. He
had horrible secret which he dare not tell,
and which yet would come out OF his grave
at the appointed hOrr
"Down in the kitchen the roast beef and
turkey were meeting their deserts Up in
the store-room-fo for Lady Geo,g'ans was
not above housekeeping any m1le tlian her
daughter--the ladies' of the house We're do
ing their ia /; an was cil!ating between
my uncle aud his niece. making myself
amazingly useful now to one and Low to the
other The turkey and the beef were on
the table, nay, they had been well eaten
before | felt that my nom mt was c5E.e.
Outside the wind was howing, and dii, wing
the snow with soft pats against the w.n1cw
panes. Eagcreycd wa chcd General For
te>cue, who deSpised sherry or AaIiera even
d1ripg dinner, and would 70 moIe touch
rnaans; aGnt tl.u nc w.ui3 cau sucrte, bat
drank Port after fiji or with cheese indis
criminate with eager eyes watched
how the last bottle dwndlcd out its fading
life in the clear dctanter. Glass alter glass
was supplied to Cen FOrtcscue by the fear
less coxSwain who, if he might have had
his choice, w uld rather have boarded a
| Fpenchmnn than waited for what was to
follow. My uncle scarcely ate st all, and
the only thing that stopped his lace from
| Il rF
dish was that nothing but death could ave
made it longer than it was alreadW 1t was
my interest to let matters go asiar as they
might up to c. rtain point, beyond which
! it was not my interest to let them go, If
could help it, At the same time | was Gu
rious to know how my uncle would announce
confess the terrible fact that in this house
on Christmas day, having invited his oldest
friends to share with him the festivities ot
the ,eaSon. 'here was not one more bottle Of
| ro,t lie had.
II waitrd ii the last moment till fan
Il d th4 admiral was opening his mouth
! ike fish in Ge air, to Ii axe his c,niess
on. lie had not even dared to make con.
fidan.e of bis wife in such an awful dilem
Ma. Then pretended to Nave dropped
my napkin behind my chair, and rising tC
seek il: stole round behind my uncle, anC
whispered IN his ear ..
"'N hat will you give me for dozen o.
Port, now, uucle?''
iBah!'' he SAID, "I'm at the gratings
don't torture me.
1 IN in earnest uncle.
He looked round at me with sudder
flash of bewldercd hope in bis eye. In the
last agony he was capable Of believing in {
mna,le. But he nude no reply. lie haC
not stacd.
"'Wnl you give me Kate? wan
Kate, | whispered,
II will, my hoy. That is if she hay,
you. That is, | mean to say ii you produce
the true taHny."
"'Of course. uncle; honor bright-a
Port an a Storn! | answered trembling
in my shoes and every thing else | mad on
for was not more than three parts conf
dent in the result.
''The gentlemen beside Kate happening
OF the moment to be occupied, each will
the lady on his other side, | went behinC
her and Whispered to her as had whisper
ed to my uncle, though not exactly in the
same,einis Perhaps had got little cour
age from the Champagne | had drank; per
haps the presence OF the company gave nj
kind OF mesmeric strength; perhaps tn,
excitement of the whole venture kept III,
up; perhaps Kate ersclf gave me courage
like goddess Of old, in some way did no
understand. AT all events said to her. -
Kate we had got so far even then
my uncle hasn't another bottle OF Port il
his cellar. Consider what a state Genera
Forascue will be in soon. He'll I've tips,
for want of it. VIII yon come and help M
to find bottle or two?'
"Shc rose at once, with whitc-ros
blush-so delicate don't believe any on
saw it but myself. But the shadow Of
stray ringlet coold not fail on her cheel
without my seeing il.
When we got into the hall, the wlnt
was roaring loud and the few lights wer
Pickering and waving gustily with alternate
light and shade across the old portrait
which had known so well ss a child-for