Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-02-29

Led gently away by his brothers
trembling army, and stearnly, yet en-
treatingly demonstrated with in the Sc
clusien of the doctors study, Uncle
Ted defended his conduct on the score
of the milkman's being very remarka-
BILE man, a gentleman under a cloud, a
persen of considerable mental endown-
ments; and the interview would be
brought to an abrupt close by an
earnest recommendation from Uncle
Ted that his friend should be asked to
dinner.
Among the nursemaids in the park
no less than amongst his brothers do
mestics and tradespeople, Mr.. Edward
LETTER was necessarily discovering some
"higly-gifted mind" or some fine
nature,n that demanded not only the
devotion of his morning hours, during
which he would sit in speeches or elo-
quent admiration of the "mind " or
mature in question, usually to the
embarrassment of its owner, and of
some policeman or lfeguardsman near
at hand: but, unfortunately, too often
demanded also homage. in the shape of
silver thimble, brooch, or ribbon, pill
fered from the toilet table of one of
Uncle Ted's nieces.
When the family went out of town,
Uncle Ted was left behind. To carry
such disgrace among fresh scenes and
servants was of course out of the oues-
ton; yet the alternative was a serious
one. In fact, it generally happened
that, from the moment of the familys
return to the moment of its departure
again, fresh revelations were constantly
being made concerning Uncle Ted's pc
culiar modes of passing this interval of
separation from his relatives.
AT first when the doctor, on opening
one after another of his favorite books,
found himself possessed by strong in
cllnation to sneeze, and traced this
strange effect to its cause-namely, a
few grains of brown powder sullying
nearly every page-he concluded that
Uncle Ted had been devoting his time
exclusively to study during the family's
absence. Sundry odd volumes being
missing from their places, and undis-
coverable anywhere else, Uncle Ted's
bedroom and favorite little retreats
would be searched. As to the volumes
themselves, the search would be in vain,
but would result in the finding of mys-
ferrous little tickets bearing mention of
the missing books and their where
abouts; and not of these alone, but
bearing mention also of other little
trifiing articles; and their whereabouts
Perhaps the whole amount which the
exchange of the things mentioned on
the tickets themselves had brought
Uncle Ted would not be more than ten
or twelve shillings. But the most
alarming thought to the family was not,
after all, the way by which the money
had been obtained, but the way in which
it had been spent.
Who could tell for what purpose it
had gone? Perhaps in woolng to be
Mrs. Edward Letter, Mrs. Woods, the
tobacconist, widow with six children,
and person for whom Uncle Ted had
confessed feeling of no common
friendship, through her likeness to a
certain Lady Emily, his first love; or
perhaps it had purchased a betrothal
gift for Mrs. Webfoe. the charwoman,
whom the master of the house was ever
in fear of having introduced to him as
his sister-in-law.
1t cannot be supposed that the dis
coyery of these tickets could be passed
over as easily as Uncle Ted's other little
eccentricltles. A sense of unavoidable
but useless duty compelled the doctor
to summon his brother to his study, and
| endeavor to awaken in him some feel
ings of shame and penitence, but when,
IN obedience to his stern command, the
tall form appeared, there was still SO
| Of hn nl1 a1 1 IL .
the doctor felt himself almost overcome
with shame at the accusation he had to
bring against him, and his voice would
tremble, as, pointing to the tickets OF
the table, he would say
"Well, Edward, so it has come to this
has it, again ~
Uncle Ted, though seated in an atti
tude as dignifed as his brothers., would
gaze on the tickets with the expression
of child being chidden for broker
toy, and wondering timidly whether the
fact of its being rendered useless ought
not to be considered sufficient punish
ment, without further interference.
Sometimes when the doctors word!
were more than usually stern and rous
ing, when his eloquence over the family
honor came strongly, like the WIND
from mountain heights, to this poo
fallen human eagle. he ,oas stirred
would ruffie his feathers, and struggl.
to soar to where he had fallen from
His brother, pausing for want of breath
would gaze upon him with some hope
as he saw the thin figure draw itsel
suddenly up, as if stung, the long hanc
trembling and hurriedly stroking the
long chin, the fine blue eyes kindling t.
something like horror as they rested or
the tickets; but the very next instant
catching sight of his brothers relentins
eye, Uncle Ted would forget everything
bat the fact that he was about to be for
given and set free, and the doctor saw
that he had seized upon that though
with the joyous avidity of child
though he still tried to keep the corner
of his mouth drawn down, and an affec
tation of remorse in his eyes during the
rest of the lecture.
When it was over, and the docto
looked after his retreating form, tryin,
to cover its relief by greater show o
infrn1ity than usual, he sighed to thinl
how useless it seemed even to point on
to him better state, since it was so i'm
possible for him to reach it. Not ONLY
had fate so cast him down, but haC
taken away all by which he might eve