The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-03-01

/
Ted was seen TO change from his nor
NAL state. The half startled, meditative
look would come suddenly into his eyes,
the long hand begin strolking the chin
with quick, agitated fingers, the figure
draw itself up, and make Its retreat
| from the kitchen with dignity that
accorded but ludicrously with the set OF
the ragged and patched Indian dressing
gown, which had something OF the
character of the garments worn by
monkeys on barrel.organs.
These attempts at flight were very
rare. and of brief duration. Before his
friends in the kitchen had enjoyed his
absence a quarter of an hour, Uncle
Ted would probably be again amongst
them, assisting the offending housemaid
to shell peas, helping John to spell out
love-letter from the country, or bow
ing at cooks elbow with his newly-tlled
snuff-box, and the request
4" Madame, obleege me. | have de
sired Mrs. Woods to put in little more
rappee than Scotch on purpose to suit
your taste. You l0W obleege me?"
The gravy or sauce of such day
usually seemed TO suggest that cook had
not spurned the prayer, though it might
have happened she had not sufficiently
recovered her temper to utter her ac-
customed magnanimous reply OF
Certainly, Mr.. Edward, sir" while her
huge thumb and finger filled his tiny
box which he held toward her, per-
fectly conccaling his dismay, not only
at so much Of its contents being COW
cred by the finger and thumb, but at so
much more being scattered around III
their efforts to sqeeze themselves out of
the box again without losing grain of
what they had secured.
One day it was exceedingly desirable
that Uncle Ted should be so disposed
of as to leave no danger of his intrusion
at little dance to take place in honor
of his eldest niece's engagement.
The task had been undertaken by
DR.. LETTER at the fearful entreaties of
his daughter, who, in consideration OF
the high birl h and poetic temperament
of her betrothed, implored that he
might be spared the sight of Uncle Ted
until closer intimacy would allow OF
some explanation as to his condition.
The queen of the evening was Uncle
Ted's special favorite and the object of
his most intense admiration. Ever since
he had heard of the engagement he had
been in state of wild anxiety to see the
person for whom all those affairs Of
Sophy's, in which he had shown her
such lively though inconvenient sympa.
thy, had been brought to so sudden ter
mnation. But though Uncle Ted
rushed out into the area, and started up
every time he heard carriage stop at
the house, he had always as yet managed
to Miss his carriage; though he had
paced the hall for half an hour when he
knew him to be in the house and on the
point of his departure, he had been al
ways been beguiled away before the mo.
ment came, and listened at distance TO
the buoyant step and voice in indignant
disappointment. He did at last obtain
sight of him through the keyhole,
and spent some time there-rushing
down every minute to confide to the
servants his impressions of the bride
groom elect from this narrow point of
view, then rushing back to it again.
These impressions, unfortunately, were
such as to make him more eager than
ever for an introduction. Countless
pieces Of paper were found about the
; house, the beginning Of letters present.
ing Mr.. Edward Letters compliments
to Captain Aldyce," and begging for an
interview at Mrs. Woods, or at some
other of Uncle Ted's choice resorts, al
the captains earliest convenience
: These notes sadly alarmed Sophy, who
felt sure the writer was waiting his OPP
portunity to throw one into the captains
carriage, or have it delivered to him in
the house, or perhaps it would be in
, her own presence.
All his efforts failing, Uncle Ted hac
, of late begun to give way little to dies
pondency. This had been brought OF
by a severe cold he had caught through
! waiting half an hour in the area on {
: foggy evening just to see the captain
carriage-lamps flash by. He had no
been out for the last day or two, to tn,
y wonder of several small pensioners o
his to whom he made daily allowanc,
/, of hard-baSe out of the little none,
! with which the doctor ventured to trus
him for his snuff. He had passed mos
q of his time in the kitchen, had beer
Z rather more mopish," as cool
| expressed it-and altogether less socia
: BILE than usual, mutterng, when asket
what he would take to eat, some gloom,
; allusion TO dry crust, and snappishl
$ offering, when asked where he woul,
y sit, to so to the coal-hole, if his doing s.
y would afford anybody satisfaction.
u DR.. Letter found him seated by tn
I, fire, and his first glance at him led hin
e to expect even more opposition to Sc
l. phys wishes than he had anticipated.
y "Tm sorry to hear your colds orse
!; Edward" he said in a professional tone
II II You must go to bed very early"
q To his surprise Uncle Ted answere
e Immediately
o Yes, Theodore, ] think l will 60 t
! bed early tonight"
!, 81 would, indeed, Edward" urge
Z the doctor.
z 81 think III 60 now, Theodore" de
r clared Uncle Ted, rising from his char
" "Well, really would" agreed tn
II doctor, trying hard not to appear to
4, much relieved.
.. lie began to think, as he gave Uncl
% Ted his arm up the stairs, that he mus
have forgotten about the party alt