The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-01-03
VOLUME 27.1

was very happy, except when | felt to
keenly how unworthy was of Kate Thorn
. bury; not that she meant to make me fee
lit, for sne was never other than kind !; bu
she was such that could not help feelin,
it. | gathered courage, however, and be
fore three days we've over | began to tel
her all my slowly reviving memories of tn,
place, with my childish adventures associa
ted with this and that room or clubhouse o.
spot in the grounds; for the longer was il
the place the more my old associations with
it revived, till | was quite astonished to
find how much of my history in connection
with Culverwood had been thoroughly i'm
printed ON my memory. She never showed
at last, that she was weary of my stories
which however interesting to me must have
been tiresome to any one who did not sym
pathize with what | felt towards my old
nest. From room to room we 4rambled,
talkingaor silent; and nothing could have
given me better chance, believe, with a
heart like your mothers. | think it was
| not long before she began to like me, at
least, and liking had every opportunity Of
growing into something stronger, if only
she too did not come to the conclusion that
| was unworthy of her. ~ Il.
'rhese ladies my admiral uncle greeted
with something even approaching to servil-
ity, | understood him we'll enough. He
instinctiveIy sought to make a party to
protect him when the awful secret of his
cellar should be found out. But for two
preliminary days or so his resources would
serve; for he had plenty Of excellent claret
and Madeira-stuff | don't know much
about-and both Jacob and himself conde-
scended to manoeuvre little.
'The wine did not arrive. But the mora
ing of Christmas Eve did. | was sitting in
my room, trying to write song for Kate
that's your mother, my dears-'
II know, papa" said Effie, as if she were
| very knowing to know that.
when my uncle came into the
room, looking like Sintram with Death and
the Other One after him-that's the non
sense you read to me the other day, isn't it,
Effie p
mot nonsense, dear papa" demonstrated
Effie and | loved her for saying it, for
surely that is not nonsense.
Il didn't mean it :" said my father and
turning to my mother, added ''It must be
your fault my dear that my children are so
serious that they always take joke for
earnest However it was no joke with my
uncle. If he didn't look like Sntram he
looked like t'other one
1.-THE roads are frozen-I mean showed
up he said. There's just one bottle of
port left, and what Captain Calker will say,
| dare say know, but I'd rather not
Damn this weather God forgive me =
that's not right-but it is trying-ain't it,
my boy p
"'What will you give me for a dozen of
port, uncle ?" was all my answer.
/" Give you I'll give you Culverwood,
you rogue
Done, cried.
''That is,' stammered my uncle, that is
and he redeemed like the funnel of one of
his heated steamers, that is, you know, al
ways provided. you know. 1t wouldn't be
fair to Lady Georgiana, now would it !? |
put it to yourself-it she took the trouble
you know. You understand me, my boy?''
{" That's of course uncle said.
s." 'Ah see you're a gentleman like
your father, not to trip man when he
stumbles, said my uncle. For such was
the dear old mans sense of honor, that he
was actually uncomfortable about the hasty
promises he had made without first specify
ing the exception. The exception, you
know, has Culverwood at the present hour,
and right welcome he is. .aA
8 OF course, uncle | said-'between
gentlemen, you know. Still l want my
joke out, too. What will you give me for
dozen of port, to tide you over Christmas
Day 2''
g Give you, my boy? I'll give you
''But here he checked himself as one that
had been burned already. -
. BAH he said, turning his back and
going towards the door; what's the use of
joking about serious affairs like this P
''And SO he left the room, And | let him
go, For had heard that the road from
Liverpool was impossible, the wind and
snow having continued every day since
that night Of which told you Meantime,
| had never been able to summon, the
courage to say one word to your mother
| beg her pardon mean Miss Thornbury.
Christmas Day arrived. My uncle was
awful to behold His friends were evident
ly anxious about him. They thought he
was i'll There was such a hesitation about
him, like a shark with bait and such
furry, like a whale in his last agonies He
had horrible secret which he dare not
tell, and which yet would come out of its
grave at the appointed hour.
Down in the kitchen the roast beef and
turkey were meeting their deserts. Up in
the store-room-for Lady Georgiana was
not above housekeeping any more than her
daughter-the ladies of the house were do
ing their part and | was oscillating be-
tween my uncle and his niece, making my
70 ,,aaf,1l n
to the other. The turkey and the beef were
now on the table, nay, they had been well
eaten, before | felt that my moment was
come. Outside, the wind was bowling, and
driving the snow with soft pats against the
window panes. Eagereyed | watched Gen
eral Fortescue, who despised sherry or Ma
deira even during dinner, and would no
more touch champagne than he would eau
sUcree, but drank port after fish or with
cheese indiscriminatel with eager eyes
watched how the last bottle dwindled out
it's fading life in the clear decanter Glass
after glass was supplied to General Fortes-
cue by the fearless coxswain, who, if be
might have had his choice, would rather
have boarded Frenchman than waited for
what was to follow My uncle scarcely ate
at all, and the only thing that stopped his
face from growing longer with the removal
of every dish was that nothing but death
could have made it longer than it was al
ready. 1t was my intesest to let matters
go as far as they might up to certain
point, beyond which it was not my interest
to let them go, if could help it. At the
same time was curious to know how my
uncle would announce-confess the terrible
fact that in his house. on Christmas Day,
having invited his oldest friends to share
with him the festivities of the season, there
was not one more bottle of port to be had
Il waited till the last moment-till fan
cied the admiral was opening his mouth
like fish in despair, to make his comics
sion, he had not even dared to make &
couhdant of his wife in such dilemma
, Then pretended to have dropped my table
napkin behind my chair, and raising to seeE