The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-01-20
UNCLE OBED'S VISIT.

1t would have required no very powerful
stretch of imagination for Mrs. Amber's
guests to have fancied themselves amid the
light and fragrance of some tropic isle on
that fcstal night The stately balustradcs
were wreathed with decply-tinted blossoms.
the air was freightcd with the perfume of
heliotropc and tiibcrosc aud the chande-
liers that hung from the frescocd ceiling,
like Goronals of quiycring fire, threw noon
day brlliance over the crowd. -.tyf
At thc further cud of the superb drawing
room stood Mrs Amber hcrself-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 life.
Through all the hum and murmur of the
aristocratic asscmblage-through all the
crash of arriving carriages, and the stormy
melody of the band beyond, Mrs, Ambcr's
quick ear caught one low, hcsitatiug step
on the threshold. II was her husbands.
She bcckoned to him with her jcwcllcd fan,
and whispered In scnrcely audible accents
''Wcll ~ ..
"Iust as expected We are ruined, can't
| keep above water week. Norris has failed
and we shall follow suit"
"A week. murnurcd Mrs. Amber
| thoughtfuly, "A wcckw One can accom-
plish good deal In u week. Hive you
noticed how attentive Young Gold Is TO
Cecilia p she added musingly
"llc wont be after
'Ilush ~ Mrs. Amber exclaimed. with a
quick glance around, as if upprehensive
| that the very walls would hear their whis-
percd eolloquy. ''lf she wins rich hus-
band before the world learns of your dis
| tress, we shall bG tOleTably safe. For your
own sake keep a cheerful face; minglc with
our guests-throw off that pcrturbed frown.
| tell you all will yet be right"
Mr.. Amber shrugged his shoulders and
whistled half bar of some popular strain,
then turned away TO obey his wifc's behests
TO the best of his ability, while Mrs. Am
ber, her smooth lips all wreathed in dulcet
smiles, resumed the task of receiving her
! gay friends.
Suddenly there was n sort of thrill and
litter through the apartmcnt-the crowd
| opened as If TO make way for somebody
i and Mrs Amber came forward expecting 10
greet some distinguished arrival.
''Good evening, Tildy. kalkilated you'd
all be gone to bed, at this time o. night but
! see you don't keep ew-llampshire hab-
its. Ilant forgotten me, have you? Why
I'm your Uncle Obcd JenkcnsV
Mrs. Amber turned pale through all hGl
artificial bloom at the unexpected addition
to her company that stood before her, his
honest features beaming with delight. II
-
ternut-colorod cloth, carrying in one hand ;
ncatly-tied handkerchief containing hi
wardrobe, and i'm the other crooked walk
ing stick, full OfknOts and gnarls,s such sticl
+ as grows only In dense swamps, where th,
young sapings have to twist their littl,
arms IN every direction to get bit of sun
shine, and grow up in the most unhcard o
shapes.
III declare" pursued Uncle Obed ''your,
i fine as fiddle, Tlldy, and where's then
little gals you sent up summer before last
10 get red cheeks at their uncle's2 Crow
up to Young ladies--well, ii | amt beaten.
ri And Uncle Obed extended a bOny hanC
10 Miss Cecilia, who drew back and put M
goid-mounted eyc-glass, with an air q
well-brcd astonislnnent.
'l never heard that amy thing allied Cc
cilia's eyesight, Tidy" said Uncle Obed, II
extreme pcrpleNity. And that young fcl
! Ter in the ycllar waistcuat Is her beau,
, mppOscy Wall. young folks will be yOuns
folks, and we old ones hadn't ought 10 in
tcricrc. That's what | always said whcl
YOU aud Jim Amber used 10 walk In the ol,
side-hil orchard, aitcr you'd done TN
milking"
This unlucky allusion brimmcd the al
ready Oyeriiowing veins uf Mrs. Amber
wrath she drew her gloyed hand lrom TIN
old mans cordial grasp with aH energy
{ which puzzled him, and spoke with com
pressed lips;
II am really sorry, sir that we were no
previously made aware that you propose,
hOnorng us with n visit, In that case VI
could have prepared ourselves for the pleas
ure now, ! regret to say, II will bc incOn
Vcnient Ia receive you."
"What2" CALCULATED the astonishcd ol,
man, who was uncertain whether or not h,