Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-06-06


and get look at you and your wife and
child. You may expect me about the tenth
| of the month";"
"Good gracious my uncle is coming TO
visit me p 1 exclaimed, land It's past the
tenth of the month now don't know at
what moment he may pop in What am 1
to do for wife and child?"
At that moment there came terrible
pull at the door bell, as If the man who
pulled IL imagined that he owned the house
and could make as much noise as he pleas
ed. A sickening sensation took possession
of me, for 1 had misgiving that 1t was
my uncle. Now, as good fortune would
have it, Mrs. Kingsley had gone out TO
nelghboring store for few moments and
requested me to have an eye on her child
while she was gone, so that 1t wouldn't fall
out of the cradle and hurt itself. AS
glanced at the cradle and thought of my
uncle at the door, a bright idea entered my
mind. 1 determined, in case the visitor
was my uncle, to claim the youthful occu-
pant as my own.
The visitor proved to be my uncle. I
knew him by the pictures of him I had
seen, and he likewise knew me by my pho
tograph. After mutual recognition and
hand-shaking, ushered my honored rela-
tive into the parlor and introduced him to
my newly-claimed offspring.
"There, UNCLE" I said, ais the first pledge
of our married life. I assure you I take
pleasure in presenting TO you my child"
at is fat little youngster," said my
uncle, gazing at it admiringly. "By the
way, what is it, boy or girlP"
That was knotty question for me to an
swer, for he was just as much acquainted
with II as 1 was. But it would not do to
show ignorance on the subject, and so an
swered at hap-hazard that it was boy.
"I am sorry it is boy" said my uncle,
"there are TOO many boys in the family.
Now, if you had only produced a little
blue-eyed girl, it would have been more
sensible"
assured him 1 was sorry 1t did not suit
but hoped in the future his wishes would
be gratified.
So far, had succeeded in deceiving my
uncle, but the worst l feared, was that
when Mrs. Kingsley returned she might
object to my claiming ownership in her
child.
Besides, t. carry out my deception, l
must find a wife as well as infant, and Mrs.
Kingsley was the only one l could con-
veniently claim. The only difficulty was
to get her consent to the deception, and this
might be done if could only secure pri-
vate conversation with her before I intro
duced her to my uncle; then it would be
all right.
| I watched my opportunity, and gained
| an interview with her before she entered
the room. 1 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. then told her
| / must find q wife somewhere, and begged
her TO allow me to introduce her in that ca
pacity. She laughed very heartily at the
suggestion, said she could comprehend my
difficulty, and consented 10 my proposal,
very roguishly warning me not 10 presume
upon the occurrence.
We then entered the parlor, and intro
duced her as my better half. My uncle was
very much pleased with her, and compli-
monted me upon my choice in the selection
of wife. Mrs. Kingsley, of course, col
ored most charmingly at this compliment
and could scarcely refrain from laugh
ing.
"You have fine boy here" said my un-
Gle to Mrs. Kingsley, pointing TO the era
die.
"Excuse me, sir" said she, coloring up
again, "it is girl"
1 was dumbfounded. I was exposed in
my inquity. Would my uncle believe
me after this7 He looked from me TO my
pretty landlady with puzzled counte-
! nance.
"Your husband told me it was boy"
he said, and rather suspiciously, too,
thought.
"Well, always took it for boy" was
my reply, putting on bold face; "but L
suppose my wife knows best.'
Here Mrs. Kingsley fairly screamed with
laughter. and my uncle's stern face assum-
ed an ironical smile.
"You are a nice father, amt you?"
touching me with the point of his umbrel-
la, mot to know the sex of your own child.
Why, I knew it was a girl the moment
looked at it,
"But, Charley" he said, again addressing
me, "what did you do with the goblet and
|
"Oh, they are perfectly safe, I assure
you p replied; az have taken good care
of them"
"Yes, but where in the deuce are they?
I would like very much to take another
look at them"
swell, have deposited them in a bank
for safe keeping, but can readily produce
them-that Is, in the course of Il weeks
time"
He told me to do so, as he wanted to SEQ
them, and then got out of the room, for
fear that he might ask me some more per-
picking questions.
A short time afterward, Mrs. Kingsley
came TO me, when l was alone, in an ad-
joining room, and / saw Immediately that
something very humorous must have hap
pened, for the corners of her lips were
breaking into smiles.
"Do you know, sir, what an awkward
prodlcament you have got me into ?" she
inquired, as she took seat on the lounge
by my side.
"Explain YOURSELF" said.
"Why, your uncle came to mo a short
time ago, and asked to see my marriage
certificate, and he said he had some money
to settle upon us Immediately, but he want
ed to be sure that everything was right
first"
"Did you expose me?" l inquired anx-
iously.
"No, sir, did not for never enter in-
to deception or anything else by halves"
I was so elated that l could not with
stand the temptation of embracing her.
10 Il mob hn. -, oh