The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1873-05-01
UNCLE JACOBS WIFE.
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In one of my mothers pauses came
the sound of wheels, and we went in
a body to the hall-al of us except
my father, who kept out of the way,
wishing to meet the happy pair private
ly. Nearer and nearer came the car
risge-wheels, and we opened the hall
door, and stood just inside in the
biting cold air, as the green carriage,
bay horses, and yellow postboy came
to the steps. She was tall-the bride
inches taller than Uncle Jacob,
tall and slight, and dressed in dark
rich colors, but with SO thick veil
down, that we could not even make a
guess at her face, not even when she
kissed us, for she only raised the cor
ner, and let it down again. She was
timid, no doubt, as my mother had
said.
Come in, dear aunt, by the fire.
You must both be half frozen"
"You are an hour later than we
hoped you would be-" ~
Dear Uncle Jacob, let Tom take
your coat" Civil things we said of
that sort, and finally marshaled our
dear relatives to the freside in the
morning room.
"Stir the fire well in Mrs. Jacobs
bedroom before she goes up stairs,
said my mother to the maid as she
left the room, 'and take up the spiced
negus when I ring. It is a great
preservative from. cold, negus as we
make it, said my mother, turning to
our aunt in an explanatory manner.
"Thank you" said the yelled lady.
Uncle Jacob in the mean time had
taken the poker in hand, and was
"mending the fire." as he called it, to
such purpose that his yellow-brown
face became .suffused with ardent
crimson, and we kept moving our
chairs backwards half a foot at time
"Yes," he said, replying to my
mother; 1T was" (poke), ''it was cold"
(poke). "The roads were" (scrape of
the lower barr '1ike glass" (crash of
the upper CRUST, "and we crept along
slowly"
"Will she never lift her veil ?" pom
dered I, and caught myself wander
ing off into musings about the myth
ical ''Pig-faced Lady," and her rich
veil, never drawn aside for human
eyes to gaze behind What if uncle
had been tempted by visions of enor-
nous wealth to marry-a what! Be
fore 1 had decided as to the sort of
ugliness, my aunt raised her veil, and
1 came back to everyday life.
She raised her veil, and we all look
ed at her. Nettie made some excuse,
and fed from the room, but I could
hear her laughter at the end of the
hall.
I think even my mother was star
tied by the swarthy, gaunt face re-
vealed. 1t was Scotch face evident
ly, for the salient points of Scotch
physiognomy were almost caricatured,
they were SO strongly pronounced.
The high cheek-bones might have be-
longed to Tartar.
"Are you warm enough to go up
stairs 2" my mother asked her, with
tremor of surprise in her gentle tones.
''You must speak out to her" said
Uncle Jacob, with a curious quiver in
the corner of.his mouth.
''Out ?" my mother asked.
eyes, loud y; and again the quiver.
"Janet!" and he moved closer to his
wife, "Mary wants to know if you are
ready to go up stairs ?" He spoke in
loudest tones.
'EWhat?" she said, turning an ear
as deaf as Dame Eleanor Spearings. |
'Up stairs?"
eyes. Will you go and take your
things off"
eyes, I am ready, quite ready,
thank you; and she turned to my
mother, and rose from her seat.
'Ring for the negus, my mother
bade me.-"Janet, let me carry your
cloak" she said, in desperate voice
but Aunt Janet was evidently dubious
of her meaning, till my mother took
that article.
'Uncle," said Tom, 'I'll show you
your dressing-room."
"What on earth can he have done
it for?" whispered Tom, as he passed
me.
Jane and I were left together, and
Nettie came back when she heard them
pass up stairs.
80 Nettie, why did you laugh, in
the hall ?" / asked.
"She would Mt hear it, said Nettie;
sand you know Uncle Jacobs always
a little deal"
"You Will be getting us into a
scrape, indeed, if you don't take care"
'Not L o, what q bride!"
'sShe is an odd-looking creature"
said Jane.
::'Fifty at least"
1--WE shall be as hoarse as rocks
with shouting to her, if they stay for
a week" said Jane.
"What sight the courtship must
have been! Foor Uncle Jacob must |
have made love under difficulties in
deed: the whole neighborhood must
have been as wise as himself. How
ever could he have managed it," and
Nettie burst into fit of uncontrolla-
BILE laughter, in which we both joined.
In the height of our merriment, Aunt
Janet entered the room. It was well |