The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-05-19

but 1T had become no laughing matter
now.
The remark of Uncle Ingot's, eff you
or yours ever get five pounds out of me,
madam, before l die, l promise you,
you shall have five thousand; and /
am man of my word" had become a
very serious sentence, condemning all
the family to, if not poverty, at least
very urgent want. What is meant of
course was that he was resolutely deter
mined to give them nothing. In vain
the young ladies worked for Uncle Ingot
slippers and book-markers for his birth
day, and sent TO him their best wishes at
Christmas in Rimmels highly-scented
envelopes; in vain Jack sent him
pound of the most excellent snuff that
Bacon's emporium could furnish, at the
beginning of every term. He always
wrote back civil letter of thanks, in a
clear and clerkly letter, but there was
never any inclosure. When Mrs. Isaac
asked him to dinner he declined in II
caustic Misunderstanding that he did
not feel himself comfortable at the aris-
tocratic tables of the West End-and
sent her a pineapple for the dessert, of
his own growing. He had really no ill
feeling toward his relatives, although
he kept himself so estranged from them
but l think this sort of conduct tickled
the old gentleman'S grim sense of hui
NOR. If he could have found some le-
gitimate excuse for making it up"
with his sister-in-law, within the first
year or two of their falling out, perhaps
he would have been glad to do so; but
time had now so Widened the breach
that it was not to be easily repaired.
What he had satirically written when
he declined her invitation had grown to
be true; he rarely went into society, and
almost never into the company of ladies,
the elder portion of whom he considered
frivolous and veXatious, and the young
er positively dangerous. He had few
old bachelor friends, however, with
whom he kept up a cordial intercourse,
and spent with them various festivals
of the year as regularly as they came
round.
On the 31st of December, for instance
he never omitted to go down to Read
ing, and "see the old year out and the
new year In," in the company Of Tom
Whatiles, with whom he had worn the
yellow stocking in those school-days that
had passed away more than half cen
tury ago. Tom and Isaac had been ever
greater Cronies as boys than Tom ano
Ingot but the latter did not like Tom
the less upon that account; secretly,
think he esteemed him the more highly
as link between himself and that luck
less family whose very existence he yc
chose to ignore. Mr.. WhutllCs had init
mate relations with them still; they
came down to stay with them whencvel
his sister paid them a visit, and coulc
act as their hostess but this never hap
pened in the last week of the year
Tom was never to speak of them to hi
old friend-that was not only tacitly un
derstood, but had even been laid down il
writing, as the basis of their intimacy
On the 3lst of December last Mr.. lingo
Beardmore found himself, as usual, a
the Paddington station, looking for al
empty compartment, for his own com
pany had got to be very pleasing to him
Having attained his object, and rollc(
himself up in the corner of the carriag
in several grcat-coats, with his feet upol
a hot tin, and his hands clothed in thicl
mittens, and looking altogether like
polar bear who liked to make himsel
comfortable-when everything was al
ranged, l say, to the old gentleman
f complete satisfaction, who should in
t wade his privacy, just as the train wa
about to start, and the whistle ha
| sounded, but one of the most bewitch
ing young ladies you ever set eyes on!
Madam, this carriage is engaged,
t growlcd he, pointing to the umbrella
c carpct-bag, and books, which he ha
l distributed upon all the seats, in ordc
, to give it that appearance.
9 "Only engaged to you, think, sir,
,. replied the charmer flippantly. "HaI
py CuIIldSc' Nioi Nao' iSii VIC
n pretty?"
!, Mr.. Bcardmorc had never heard any
S thing half SO shocking said to him in Il
/ his life, and if the train had not bee
r already set in motion he would hay
G called upon the guard for help, and le
: the carriage forthwith. AS it was, i
r could only look at this shameless youn
r person with an expression of the seve
y est reprobation. At the same time h
c heart sank within him ut the retlectio
IS that the train was not to stop till |
d reached his Misunderstanding VIII;
Is indignities might he not have to suflt
e before he could obtain protection! 81
= was understanding young lady, to
|, very simply dressed, and her voice W;
n particularly sweet and prepOssessini
: Notwithstanding the very dreadful r
'e marks in which she had indulged. Pc
is haps she was out of her mind-and
v this idea Mr.. Ingot Boardmore brol
W out, Notwithstanding the low temper
L, ture, into very profuse perspiration.
III Now, what will you give me for
ut kiss, you old you old polar bear,
ID asked the fair stranger playfully as Il
er train flew by Ealing.
OF Nothing, madam, nothing; am q
'l- tonished ut YOU" answered Mr.. Bear
d, more, looking anyiously round the ca
;, riaGe in the desperate hope of tindll
ly one Of those ncwly-patented invcntio
~ for atlording communication with L