Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-03-11
ttiseEIIaus.
KATE KIMBERLY's ELOPEMENF.
BY JUDGE CLARK.


sire" We we going to quote, CerJdtinl
a clause Of Percival Pennydip's will
but If the reader hates legal tautology
half as much as we do, hewill pardon !
and we think, thank us, for giving the
sense of the item at verbal saving of
fifty per cent.
In plain words, then when Percival |
Pennydip's body and will were opened |
/; 1t Was found that he had left a hand |
some fortune to an orphan niece, q de-
ceased sisters daughter.
The bequest had singular condition |
to it. If the legatee married under
thirty, unless with the joint consent of
her uncle Roger and aunt Penthesilea !
Penny dip-with whom she had her
bringing up-she forfeited all claim to |
the testator's estate, devised over, In |
that event, to some Society for the
Diffusion of Something Useful ignor-
ance, it is to be hoped; for of such an
Institution the world stands sadly in
need, to preserve an equilibrium be-
tween the knowledge Of Good and
Evil.u
At twenty-one, Kate Kimberly's
beauty had blossomed with luxuri-
ance that astonished those who remem-
bered the prickly little bud it sprang
from. Time had toned down and soft
ened the sharp, elfin features, and had
tempered the tomboyishness that had
so fretted Uncle Percival, into woman
ish sprightliness and spirit. No Won
der Reginald Warton, and a score or
more besides, were over ears in love
with Kate.
In required the joint consent of his
brother and brothers. wife to the mar
riage of his niece, it is possible that
Percival Pennydip meant to provide a
wholesome system Of 'checks and
balances" or, it may be, in his bache-
lor simplicity, that he never imagined
that husband and wife, theoretically
one flesh, could practically be Of two
minds.
For such a contingency the will had
failed TO make provision; and as in
nine cases out of ten, the very contin-
gency not provided for was just the
one that happened.
Uncle Roger was bent on match
between his niece and a rich mercan-
tile friend Of his, his own side of for
ty, Peleg Poplin by name; and Aunt
Pethesilea had set her ambitious heart
on having for a nephew-in-law Squire
Wyndigust, who had represented the
District with distinction in the last As
sembly, and might yet land in Con-
gress or the White Housewife knew?
These gentlemen proposed in turn,
and in turn Kate referred them to "un-
Gle and aunt" well knowing the hitch
there was in that quarter. Meanwhile
the time passed blitherly enough with
handsome Reginald Warton for a con-
} slant visitor, whose attentions the willy
} pair of guardians were too busy
watching each other to spare an eye
. for
"Kate, dear" said Aunt Penthesilea
one day, N something isn't done soon
the poor Squire will certainly break lis
heartw
,, (Which would be a great loss to the
country" signed Kate.
"There's only one thing for ii, heI
aunt replied.
"What's that?n Kate asked.
"You must Fttp dUdy Wtth him.' said
her aunt.
ooh! aunt!' cried Kate taken aback
With astopishment,
"Ive thought it all over,n her aunt
, continued, land it's the only way Left
"But there's uncle-you know how
much opposed lie is to Mr. Wyndigust;
and if marry without his consent
YOU know lose my whole fortune"
"Pshaw, child You don't know
your uncle. He won't consent, in ad-
vance, to your marrying the Squire;
but, once it's over, never fear but he'll
give in rather than see the money
wasted on that good-for-nothing Soci-
ETY.. Don't kno Eby myself Why,
if YOU was to cut away with pOpinjay,
Reginald Warton.-if such thing
could be-do you think l wouldn't bite
my tongue and give you my blessing,
sooner than see you robbed ~
Kate opened her eyes in more than
one sense,
It could be easily managed" said
Aunt Penthesilea. IA carriage at
midnight in the rear alley, a low whis-
tie under your window, quiet descent
by the back stairway, and the things
done! What say you dear?n
"Let him comeW !
Oh! Kate!-and it not month since
you vowed to Reginald Warton to be
bis, and his only!
/ Aunt Penthesilea was in ecstasies.
She had already talked over the whole
matter with the Squire, and nothing
was wanting but Kate's consent and
the fixing Of the time. These settled,
she undertook to communicate the re-
suit to the lucky lover, and dismissed
Kate with kiss of fwarm approval.
Soon after, Uncle Roger beckOned
Kate into the library. /
"I want you to do something" he said
"What is it?n asked Kate.
"Eloper' said Uncle Roger, in
hoarse, Conspiring whisper, his honest
old face pursued into the look ofa very !
Cataline.
Kate wasn't so much astonished this
time. She was getting used to it.
"Do you mean with Mr.. P0plinW
she asked innocently.
"Sly puss!" said Uncle Roger, pinch
ing her ear "Of course l do"
aBut what will aunty say?n
"Never mind aunty. No doubt she'd /
raise Ned il she knew 1t beforehand.
But let the knot be tied, and she'll lis
ten to reason fast enough. I've only
to Judge by myself away on that pup
py, Reginald Warton, dye think I'd
20 to blubbering over split milk, and
stand between you and your fortune?
Not by a-good sight"
Kate eyes twinkled.
"Only say the word,n said Uncle
Roger, iand Mr.. Polin's carriage III be
at your service any time you name."
hLet it be night after tomorrow"
Kate whispered, with blush.
Oh! what a tickle Kate 1t was-that
was the very night appointed for the
Squirrel II
hYou must getaunty TO sleep early"
said Kate; t'she has sharp ears, you