The southerner., 1866-06-23

brought up and cared for when others
rejected the frigid 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 tremulous accents,
/" and l should ha' thought there was a
corner in it big enough for Uncle Obed.
| was MT calculating to stay long-not
over week at the furthest; but I'll gol
home tomorrow by the very first train
that leaves, if Tm in Che way" 4
Mrs. Amber made no answer, but
tapped lightly on her MOSAIC bracelet
with one slender finger and Uncle Obed
turned away with moisture in his eyes
that made curious rings of mist around
the glaring jets of fame in the chande-
lier.
Uncle Obed was wishing himself we'll
out of the heartless scene, when sud-
dely pair of plump little arms were
thrown around his neck, and cheek
f1esher and pinker than damask rose
was pressed to his brown face. 1t was
Mrs Ambers youngest daug ghter--his
own neice-the incorrigible romp, who
had climbed cherry trees and stolen
birds nests iDnumerable in the meadows
of the old homestead, two or three years
ago. And there she was-a young la
dy in pink silk and cameo bracelets!
"Dear Uncle Obed, l have only just
heard of your arrival I am glad to
see you if no one else is!'
And another shower of kisses sue
ceeded, greatly to the discontinue and
envy of the young man who had escort
ed Miss Am Ger to the spot, and stood
surveying the pretty little tableau.
"Go about your business, Harry -
she exclaimed gayly, "Tve 6ot 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 fondness. "You haven't
changed though Tidy has!'
"No; and | will never change for
you, Uncle Obed," said the girl. "l
haven't forgotten how kind you were to
me, up at the old homestead, how you
shielded my transgressions. concealed
my faults, and always had smile for
naughty little Fanny
And she chatted on, entirely unhecd-
ing her mothers frown of displeasure.
Fanny had always been the least mana
geable of Mrs. Amber's daughters, and
the worthy matrou secretly resolved to
lecture the young lady at her leisure.
| Uncle Obcd was by no means def
cient in observation, and even while be
related the changes which three years
had wrought in the vicinity of the old
homestead, he perceived the rosy blood
mount to his niece's cheek every time
Mr.. Harry Latimer passed.
"Now little girl" said he, "who'.
that young fellow there by the window?'
Fanny looked up then down, played
with the middle button of Uncle Obed's
coat and answered very softly;
{" Mr. Latimer."
Humph! l suppose that isn't al
you can tell me about him Z"
There was a minutes hesitation, ant
then Fanny hid her check on the ole
mans shoulder and told Uncle Obet
all.
"Then why on earth don't you mar
ry him?" calculated the old gentleman
at the close of the little life romance.
, He's only poor lawyer" sighe'
t Fanny, "and papa will never consent
!. But one thing l am resolved oa," sh
added with sparkling eyes, "I l will NO
= marry any one else, least of all tha
= odious Colonel Woodall, not if he wer
worth twenty times twenty thousan
/. dollars I'll marry the one can lov
not for money"
d The stamp Of her foot gave emphas
a to the determined words as she spok'
d Fanny was very much in earnest, an
It if Colonel Woodall had happened to /
o. present, he would have concluded tn;
j his chances were, to say the least OF i
8 rather small.
n "Twenty thousand dollars, eh
Il slowly repeated Uucle Obed. "Wel
" Fanny, it is hard world We live in
,e hard gripping, grinding world. I new
:. thought so afore, but somehow to nig'
d has borne it in upon me-
b When Uncle Obed went away ne,
;e day he was comparatively cheerful
The kind words and loving smiles
re little Fanny bad fallen like drops
u balm upon the sore spot in his heart.
n There it was, nesting in the hillsid
r the gray old farm house, with giant s.
ct camores tossing their silvery branch
q. ahova If ond fho l;l.o huehor noddiY