Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-05-28
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HOW TOM FOOLED HIS UNCLE.
ny HENRY c. HUH" :, is1s .ss,


"Really Uncle, 1 would like to obey
you but Ne&oyia ot-
mo butts about IL sir |, I toll, yoil
plainly that you shall marry ELLEN
Morely, or else not one dollars worth Of
my property shall, you possess. You
can have your choice. Marry, Ellen,
take possession of this grand old man
sion, and be the owner of all these broad
acres, or still persist in your foolish
waywardness, of marrying that little
insignificant jade, an be cut off without
shilling! - - Ss,,. ...'.
"But uncle, II you was to see her once
l think you certainly would not object
to her becoming my wife,"
"Pooh, young man, do you take me to
be n natural born idiot? What would
seeing her have to do with changing my
determination ! tell you it Is no CO.
If she were as beautiful as beauty could
be, and as enchanting as fairy iJ would
not influence my dicision one atom. You
must either marry Ellen, as 1 told you
In the commencement, or else hereafter
expect nothing from me
The above conversation took place in
my uncle's spacious library. At that
time had but just returned from visit
to cousin of mine, who lived three
or four days Journey In the country, and
it wes while there, that made the ac-
quaintance of Ellen Morely. Being
well acquainted with my aunt, she had
left the noisy, bustling city, and come
down there for the purpose of enjoying
for 0 few weeks the cool air and pleasant
sunshine of the country.
Ellen was q remarkable handsom girl,
and knew the first time caught sight
of her as she stood on the rustic porch
adjoining my aunt's house, with the
. breeze playing coquetishly with her fair
golden tresses, that | had met my fate,
and 1t seems as though she was indfIer-
ent tony presence, for when n few weeks
later offered my heart and hand, beg
ging In return the love 80 much craved.
She did not refuse me. Iremained few
days at my aunts after my engagement
with Ellen, and then set out Tor my
uncles, where l made my home when
not in the city, attending to my studies,
to practice medicine. | had often heard
uncle soy that If | married to suit him
he would make ma his heir, and tho re-
marks In the commencement of this
missive, were called forth by telling him
of the engagement l had contracted
while at my aunt,s. Very often had he
told me OF q certain young lady of his
acquaintance who he intended should
be my future wife, that is II the young
lady In question would give her consent
to such an arrangement, and / was not
too big Ounce To accept II. But he had
never told me the young ladies name, or
If he did ! had forgotten 1t, therefore
you can Imagine my astonlshment when
he mentioned the name ofmy betrothed
as the one he had ali along Intended for
me. The idea instantly flashed into my
mind what good j6keI could play at
my uncles expense, by laying low and
telling nothing about who my intended
was, until after we were married. l
knew Ellen was tho one uncle meant,
from the fact that while at my aunts
she had oniseveral occasions spoken to
me concerning him. l wrote to her
Immediately, telling her Of my plan and
desiring that should she happen to meet
him, sue would tell him nothing of our
engagement. / taen went about my
business as usual. Late In the fall,
Ellen and were quietly married ut my
aunts house, were first methor. wrote
uncle note, telling him Of my marriage,
and that he might expect US ut hishouse
onacertain day. Theappointsd day found
as en- rout.. for his residence. which place
we reached shortly after noon! As 1 ex-
pected wefound him away from home.
His housekeeper informed us that no had
got powerful wrothy over the reception of
my note, and had that morning put off,
leaving word that he wanted nothing
60 do with myself or my kin. Late in
the evening however he came home, and
the first one he met was Ellen. lie was
surprised indeed to find her there, but
was fairly dumfounded when lie learn
ed, as he soon did that she was my, wife.
I got the grand old mansion and broad
acres AZ my dowery, but uncle could
never quite forgive mo for the joke i
played on him. klo