The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-02-15

guess at her face, not even when che
kissed US, for she only raised the corner,
and let it down again. She was umid
no doubt, as my mother had said
"Come in. dear aunt, by the fire
You must both be half frozen
You are an hour later than we hoped
you would be.
Dear Uncle Jacob, let Tom take your
coat" Civil things we said of that sort
and finally marshalled our dear relatives
TO the fireside in the morning room.
Stir the fire well in Mrs Jacob s
room before she goes up stairs, said my
mother TO the maid as she left the room,
land take up the spiced negus when |
ring. 1t is a great preservative from
cold, negus as we make it, said my
mother, turning to our aunt in an expla-
natory manner.
Thank YOU. said the yelled lady
Uncle Jacob in the mean time had taken
the poker in hand, and was 'mending the
lire, as he called it, to such purpose that
his yellow brown face became suffused
with ardent crimson, and we kept NOV
ing our chairs backwards half q foot 81 a
time.
Yes, he said, replying to my mother
1T was {poke), 1T was cold (poke -
q
BARI like glass (crash of the upper
crust, and we crept along slowly
will she never lift her veil ? ponder
ed l, and caught myself wandering off
into musings about the mythical Pig
faced Lady, and her rich veil, never
+ drawn aside for human eyes to gaze be
i hind. What if my uncle had been tempt
ed by visions of enormous wealth to
marry = a what? Before I had decided
as 70 the sort of ugliness, my aunt raised
her veil, and l came back to every day
life
She raised her veil, and we all looked
at her. Nettie made some excuse, and
fled from the room, but l could hear her
laughter a: the end of the hall
l think even my mother was startled
by the swarthv. gaunt face revealed. 1t
was 4 Scotch face evidently. for the sal
lent points of Scotch physiognomy were
almost caricatured, thev were so str ongiy
pronounced The high cheek bones
might have belonged to Tartar
Are YOU warm enough to go up stairs!
my mother asked her. with tremor of
surprise in her gentler tones.
You must speak ont to her, said I'm
Gle Jacob, with curious culver in the
corner of his mouth
sOut /? my mother asked.
Yes loud : and again the quivcr
Janet and he moved closer to his wife,
Mary wants to know if you are readv 70
go up stairs s? He speke in loudest
tones.
What ? she said, turning an ear as
deaf as Dame Eleanor Spearing $. Up
stairs 2
Yes. Will you go and take your
things off !?
Yes, l am ready, quite ready, thank
you; and she turned to my mother, and
rose from her seat.
Ring for the negus, my mother bade
me. Janet, let me carry your cloak.
she said in desperate voice but. Aunt
Janet was evidently dubious OF her
meaning till my mother had taken pos
session of that article.
Uncle, said Tom, III show YOU
your dressing room
w hat on earth can he have done it
for: whispered Tom as he passed me-
jane and l were left together, and
Nettie came back when she heard them
pass up stairs
On, Nettie. why did you laugh in the
hall 2 | asked
She wouldn't hear it., said Nettia ),
and YOU know Uncle Jacobs always a
little deaf
You will be getting US into scrape.
indeed, If you don take care.
Not L. O. what bride :,
She is an odd-looki1g creature said
Jane
Fifty at least
w shall be as hosrse as rocks with
shouting to her. if they stay for week,
said lane.
What a sight the courtship must have
been Poor Uncle Jacob must have
made love under difficulties indeed the
whole neighborhood must have been as
wise as himself How ever co1ld he
have managed itr and Nettie burst into
a fit of uncomfortable laughter. in which
we both Joined In the height of our
merriment Aunt j Janet entered the room.
II was well she was so deaf, or she
might have heard what would have vex-
ed her.
James and the parlor-maid looked on US
at dinner in a state of much amazement
Their eyes seemed to be facinated to
her, however much they might try to
look the other way. James was quite
nervous, too. poor man. and Absolutely
jumped everv now and then when my
father roared out piece of politeness to
the lady by his side but he did his best
He did not attempt TO shout TO her, for
he was so proper minded footmar, that
he would have died rather than lift his
voice and below in the unseemly man.
ner required; so he employed dumb
show,-lifting mp her wine glass to her
notice first and then holding sherry and
Sauterne before her in a beseeching man
ner, that she might elect between them.
Nettie watched him gravely, but unluck-
lily her eyes caught mine, and a spasn
of silent laughter passed over her face.
She did not laugh, however, and her po-
tato did not choke her, SO all was we'll
The evil moment was only deferred,
however, for Aunt Janet bethought her
self of the bag that hung by her side.
and drawing thence tube with bone,
ear. and mouth pieces fitted thereto, she
said to my mother, please, use nv tube.
and shall hear vou;' and uneoiled it as
she spoke
l.. AZ 4 !