Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-01-31

/
was the black leather bag, the umbrella,
the tall, manly form, which rushed in
at once but the large whiskers did
not approach her face-only the large
| hands seized hers, and, as the hat was
put familiarly on the hall slab, she saw
! that it was not her husband, nor any
one at all like him, except in height
and color of hair. She trembled and
flushed, and would have called "Bet-
sey," had she dared, when all her
fears were dispelled by the strangers
address, and she reflected how silly she
| had been.
"Well, my dear sister, I'm afraid I've
surprised you. Where's Fred ~
"Oh, Charlie, is it you2 I'm so
gIad-come in !" and then she welcomed
the traveller into snug little parlor,
called Betsey to bring pair of Fred's
slippers, and otherwise cosseted the
great big fellow.
Of course it was Charlie Wilson, her
husbands brother, and jas such she could
not make to much Of him.
"Only think, how unlucky! And
Fred has gone to Southampton to NETT
you, " she said
Dey-villis unlucky! All, well, the
ship came in day sooner" Puff,
puff. And Ellie having assured him
that she didn't mind smoking, the clouds
vreathed up from his meerschaum.
Then he took long pull at the tumbler
of stiff brandy and water and stretched
out his legs upon an opposite chair.
Ellie found her new brother -in-law
neither affectionate nor communicative,
and kindly disposed as she had been
toward him before the evening was half
over she had stigmatised him mentally
as a thorough snob, utterly unlike dear
Fred. But then, living abroad does
altar men So Tumbler after tumbler
of brandy and water were mixed and
| disappeared down his capacious throat,
and choice ham, which she had order
ed in for his repast, looking very foolish
indeed when foolishly carried out.
/ Still, Ellie would have forgiven this
| to Fred's brother, but she did not see
why he should wink SO familiarly at
Betsey when she came in for the tray,
or weigh the spoons and forks SO SUI
perciliously on his fingers, while he crit
icised the mark, to see if they were silver,
as if he did not know that bank clerk
could not so we'll afford plate as Chi
nese merchant. Then, too, he seemed
| to care so little to hear or ask about
Fred, or any about the family.
Poor Ellie was fairly heart-sick, and
ready to cry with disappointment and
the wearisome task of entertaining this
great rough stranger, who appeared to
grow more taciturn and sulky as she
made more advances so, about eleven
o'clock, as he seemed to be smoking
himself into doze, aided by the guam
t1ty of spirit he had consumed, she ven-
tued to suggest that she would retire
to rest.
"Ah, yes, do, to be sure" he replied,
promptly, as if relieved "don't let me
keep you up [ sometimes sit and
smoke all night"
"What brute - thought Ellie. "I
showed you your room, Mr.. Wilson"
(No, she couldn't say "Charles" now
He was so different to the seCharles"
Fred had portrayed)
eyes, yes; all right, ,but-ahem-I've
been thinking if I were to run down to
Southampton early tomorrow morning
before you're up, [ might bring my
brother back few hours sooner, you
see, He'll perhaps be waiting about,
thinking the ship isn't in"
"To be sure" cried Ellie, eagerly,
&C that is kind thought! Go by all
means. He's not such a bad fellow,
after all-and I shall get rid of him to
morrow, was her congratulation.
"There's only one difficulty I've
nothing but this confounded Chinese
draft" and he took dirty piece of
paper from his pocket and hourished it,
Z" A foreign house will cash it for you
it's tennor; but I've lots of tin, and
you may buy wedding present for the
rest, if you'll advance me five upon
it." --.
Ellie was only too happy, she never
stopped to examine the document
probably would have been no wiser if
she had, for the little woman was, over
gifted with brains-but just glancing at
apparently some Chinese hieroglypics,
she dropped it into her port-manteau,
and ran up stairs to her dressing case
to fetch fve-pound note, which had
been given her as a dowry by "poor
papa" Ga hard worked, i'll paid curate
with eleven children) on her wedding
day
Ere she went to sleep that night she
had bought many imaginary articles
with the five pounds her brother-1n-law
!; had SO generously presented, and awoke
in the morning with hOrrid nightmare
) that she had purchased an ornamental
clock for the mantle piece, and when
, she would have paid for it the "Chi-
nese draft" crumbled in her fingers, and
she was rudely given into the custody
!, of two policemen as an imposter, when
she awoke screaming to Fred to save
her.
, The morning sun was streaming on
, her face, and to the horrid dream sue
, ceeded the pleasant realty that the
J odious brother-in-law" was certainly
gone, and the dear husband would re-
turn in few hours.
Poor Ellie had never passed such a
wretched day in her young life as the
, proceeding one, and SO she conflded to
Betsey, in the course of the morning The
, strangers bed had not evidently been
, slept IN, and the only trace of his visit
having been rather splrltuOus and splr
ltual was the empty brandy bottle and
: reeklng atmosphere of the usually pure
! little apartment sacred to love and
Ellie.
| She flung open the windows, ant
! Wl6n beuSeyS AID hastily removed al
: trace of the intruders recent presence
: half-shCcked with herself for the re
+ pugnance with which "Brother Char
D lie' had inspired her, so different from
l the sisterly affection Fred had assured
her she would feel for him.
r In the course of the morning th
gloves were mended and all the after
y noon Ellie sat and watched for the alb
/ sent husband. 1t must have been near
s ly five when wheels were heard ap
, preaching, and a cab with a weather
+ beaten portmanteau on the top drew ur
2 Two gentlemen jumped out, but ELI
: had only eyes for one.
f ooh, Fred, dearest, I am S
a gladl"
/, 1" Ellie, darling, how are you2 Chal
4 lie, come here, old fellow. This is m
: little wife. You may give him a 81:
: ter's kiss. pet. and think yourself