The southerner., 1866-06-23

with TIE purple woods rising against the
brigL. far off horizon.
But he did not stop in the cozy room
where the eight-day clock ticked away
as peacefully as if its master had not
been absent two whole days-a thing
which hadn't happened before in half
century; he went straight up stairs, to
a tiny nook under the caves, where be
kept an old sort of trunk, curiously
scenty with camphor, and bound togeth.
er with strong claps and rivets of brass
Frons this receptacle he took bit of
paper, snd held it SO the light fell on
its contents.
"Twenty thousand" he muttered -
"Well I am an old man, and that gal
| is just the light of my eyes. It shall
buy her happiness, the blue-eyed bird,
instead o. lying useless in the garret
She deserves it al y
Uncle Obed pocketed the document,
locked bis precious trunk, and went
down stars wiping the glesscs of his
spectacles.
The financial crash came, and the
house of Amber & Go /, was among the
first on the list. 1t was true that Mrs.
Amber had been expecting the failure,
but the blow fell none the less heavy
for the anticipation. Somehow her
plans all proved futile. Young Gold
had in some unaccountable manner dis
covered the state of the Amber exche-
quer, and wisely concluded that it was
not best to waste his personal charms
and elegant stock of small talk on so
ineligible a fair one as Miss Cecilia.--
Colonel Woodall had also shown une.
quivocal signs of Withdrawing his suit,
not at all to Miss Fanny's displeasure.
In short, everything seemed to be 60
ing wrong, and the only satisfied men,
bers of the confederation were Harry
Latimer and Miss Fanny.
1t was gloomy morning of rain and
tempest, and Mrs. Amber sat in sort
Of slovenly disha billie, in narrow room
in one of our third.rate hotels. Her
own stately house had fallen a prey to
greedy creditors some time since. Mr.
Amber at an opposite table was slowly
openicg end s!-aoius over his letters
Halo" he sue denly exclaimed,
dropping one and catching it up again.
How you do agtate ones nerves -
groaned Mrs. Amber.
Hapgyour nerves, here's something
to set them in Autter-a letter from
a New England lawyer, announcing
that your Uncle Obed jenkins has
made Miss Fanny Amber present. of
twenty thousand dollars, to become her
property on the day she marries Harry
Latimcr."
"Twenty thousand dollars" shrek.
ed Mrs Amber and Cecilia i'll chorus,
"and nothing for US ~
"Twenty thousand dollars - mur-
INJURED Fanny, with Grim son spot on
her cheek "Oh, how happy We shall
be Dear, kind Uncle Obed !"
" You're nice manager" snarled
Mr.. Amber, turning sharply to bis wife.
1t was for this, was it, you treated
Mr.. jenkins so rudely on the night oi
your last party?'
81 didn't know didn't suppose
-sobbed Mrs. Amber. 1" He never
told me he bad any property
'Of course mott! calculated Mr.
Amber, otis enough to make mar
: rave to have such an idiot as you for :
/, wife. Twenty thousand dollars woule
have been everything to me, just now
when there is such scarcity Of read.
). money IN the market. And what
G worse, the sum is so tied up that no on
It but Fanny can get cent of it.
It Mr.. Amber strobe out of the room
e giving the door very energetic slam
d and Mrs. Amber went gracefully int
e Mysteries, while Fanny Sat looking a
the letter which had been messenge
is of SO much happiness TO her, with scar
e. let lips half apart and the light of dec
d gratitude in her eyes.
,e What will Harry say ? she ponder
It ed. Will he not think it a blesse
t, dream? No more weary waiting-n
more procrastination. o, how can
y, ever thank Uncle Obed sufhciently?'
f, But Uocle Obed was already thanl
ed.
ar When upon Fanny's wedding day
:, the deed which constituted her a sma
heiress was delivered into her hand,
was inclosed in morrow strip of coars
II bIpa naner which the old man common