The Republican journal., 1873-03-27

SO far | had succeeded in deceiving my
uncle, but the worst | feared was, that
when Mrs. Kingsley returned, she might
object to my claiming ownership in her
child. Besides, to carry out my deception
| must find wife as we'll as an infant,
and Mrs. Kingsley was the only one |
could conveniently claim. The only diff
Guilty was to get her consent to the de-
ception, and this might be done if could
only secure private conversation with
her before | introduced her to my uncle,
then it would be all right
l watched my opportunity, and gained
an interview with her before she entered
the room. | told her, in few brief and
hurried words. the extent of my difficulty,
and how had taken the liberty of acting
as papa for her little one. 7 then told her
| must find a wife somewhere, and begged
her to allow me to introduce her in that
capacity. She laughed very heartily at
the suggestion, said she conld compre
hend my difficulty, and consented to my
proposal, and very roguishly warned me
not to presume upon the occurrence
We then entered the parlor and | intro
duced her as my better half. Ny uncle
was very much pleased with her, and
complimented me upon my good choice
in the selection of a wife. Mrs Kings
ley, of course, colored most charmingly
at this compliment, and | could plainly
see thai she could scarcely refrain from
laughing;
"You have Il fine boy here said my
uncle to Mrs Kingsley, pointing to the
cradle.
"Excuse me sir,'' said she, coloring up
again, ''its girl"
I was dumbfounded. | was exposed
in my iniquitv. Would my uncle believe
me after this He looked from me to my
pretty landlady with puzzled counte-
nance.
"Your husband told me it was a boy,
he said, and rather suspiciously, too,
thought.
swell, | always took it for boy n
was my reply, putting on a bold face,
"but | suppose my wife knows best"
Here Mrs. Kingsley fairly screamed
with laughter, and my uncle's stern face
assumed an ironical smile
You are a nice father, amt you P' he
said, touching me with the point of his
umbrella, ''not to know the sex of YOU.
own child. Why, | knew it was Il girl
the moment | looked at it,
"But, Charley he said again addressing
me, "what did YOU do with the goblet and
pap-spoon | sent to the little one ?'
son, they are perfectly safe, assure
YOU" | replied 81 have taken good care
of them"
eyes, but where in the deuce are they :.
| would like very much to take another
look at them"
"Well, | have deposited them in a bank
for safe keeping, but can readily pro
duce them--that is-in the course Of ;
week time"
He told me to do so, rs he wanted I'd
see them, and then got ont of the room
for fear that he might ask me some more
perplexing questions.
A short time afterward, Mrs. Kingsley
came to me, when was alone in an "a
Joining room and | saw Immediately that
something very humorous must have
happened for the corners OF her lips were
breaking into smiles.
'Do you know. sir, into what an awl1
ward predcament YOU have GOT me p
she inquired, as she took Il seat on the
lounge by my side.
"EXplain YOURSELF" | said
''Why, your uncle came to me short
time ago, and asked to see my marriage
certificate, and he said he had some money
to settle upon US Immediately, but wanted
to be sure that everything was RIGHT FIRST ;
"Did You expose me ?" inquired anX
iouslv.
"No, sir, | did not for | never enter
into a deception, or anything else, by
halves"
| was so elated that | could not with.
stand the temptation of embracing her
This did not make her angry, for she
nestled her head costly on nv shoulder
and smiled serenely
''What answer dId you make him ?n
asked
She hesitated for moment, and the1
said:
81 promised to produce the marriage
certificate"
''But we haven't got any | then re
marked
She indulged in quiet little laugh tC
herself but said nothing
''Mrs. Kingsley-nay, my dear madam
no, | will call You darling-we are boit
in scrape. and there is but one way fol
us to get out of it. We must 90 and oe
married Immediately. VIII You be my
wife p''
81 shall be delighted" she answered
frankly, and seizing both my hands. sale
that she was ready for a frolic OF any
kind.
We lost no time | assure you. / dom
think Mrs. Kingsley ever got into hel
Sunday clothes in such a hurry in her lif.
before, while ] spoiled two pairs of sus
penders in my frantic endeavors to be on
time. We quite astonished the parson
by our haste, and at the conclusion of the
ceremony, | would have forgotten to Civ,
him the usual ''fee," if he had not re
minded me of it,
We had secured the coveted marriage
certificate, signed and sealed, and were
now safely out Of our difficulties, as W.
thought. We had omitted one precaution
as we presented the certificate to uncle
1t was all right with the exception of tn,
modern date
"Why, how is this ?' said my uncle
gazing at the document through his specs
81 thought you were married over yeal
ago"
$50 we were, uncle" answered very
| solemnly.
GLOW comes it, then, that the certificate
is dated to-day?" he asked in voice o
thunder.
We were struck speechless, both my
wife and l.
Come" said my uncle, 81 see ther,
has been some trickery here. Own up to
it, OF I will never forgive YOU"
L did own up to it, and told him th'
whole story. | expected it would make
him angry, but it didn't; for he laughed
heartily, and said l was clever rascal
and he was proud of me.
"But how about the gold goblet ant
pap-spoon? You haven't been drawing
the wool over my eyes about them, too
have you--eh ?'
l told the truth about the goblet ant
pap-spoon.
why, you are regular trickster, y
said my uncle. believe you would de-
celve Satan himself. But l won't ge
angry with you, tor l used to play The
same games when I was young"
In word, we became thoroughly rec
oncled, and my uncle settled upon me q
sufficient income to enable me to quit my
irksome duties as clerk He has gone
back to Vermont and I can hnt cav ir