Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-07-12
,IR. BoNsALL's HArCHnAKING

Nevertheless she was little late
this morning. Eight o'clock was
the breakfast hour, and il was now
only ten minutes past.
Aunt Nancy was not my Uncle
McFarlanc's wife. lie was a Wild
over of some fifteen years stand
ing. Fifteen years before his wife
had left him a delicate little boy for
a keepsake, and had gone away,
whispering with her last breath that
she was very happy. Her mother
and sister, who had come to the
house to nurse her, remained after
her death, according to Uncle Nc
Farlane's particular request. lie
would be so glad, he said, If il were
not eXacting too much Of a sacrifice,
to have Mrs. Howard and Nancy
stay with him, keep up his house,
and attend TO his little boy. So
Mrs. Howard, who was a widow
with a very straitened income, rent
cd her little house in the New En-
gland village where she had always
lived, and came to preside over Mr.
McFarlane's spacious mansion and
liberal housekeeping in Greenwich
street, New Nork-my Uncle Mr.
Farlane lived in Greenwich street.
a fact which marks the date of mys-
terry with sufficient exactness.
Mrs. Howard had been dead three
months, and stin Aunt Nancy presi-
ded over Uncle McFarlane's house
hold. Neither OF them had ever
thought of a change as either neces-
sary or desirable. Nancy had been
a fair, prim, and somewhat quiet
| girl when she came 10 live in Green
witch street. She was still q fair,
somewhat prim woman of thirty
five, with pretty, soft brown hair,
violet blue eyes, and a pure soft,
somewhat changeful complexion.
She was not In the least like mod
ern young lady's heroine. She had
no particular aspirations beyond
the limited and Old-fashioned one Of
doing her duty In that state of life
to which it had pleased God to call
her. She did not consider herself q
martyr to uncOngenial circumstan-
ces, because she made Uncle McEar-
lanes shirts and mended dis stock
ings and even the fact of going down
into the kitchen, to do up his i'm
maculate rHilles, when old Mrs.
| Browns hands were too lam0, and
the chambermaid's too unskillful to
be trusted with them, did not awak-
en- in her mind any desire 20 rush
out into the world In search of a
career. No such fancy had ever en-
/ tered Nancy HoWard's head She
was absolutely "contented with her
present condition" willing to go on
making Uncle McEarlane's shirts,
keeping his house, spelling his child,
and making il pleasant for him, "
as she simply said. Her great pleas
ures consisted in doing muslin en-
broidery, visiting the poor, going to
| church, and reading the English
/ classics, with now and then a novel.
IL she had any trials she kept them
to herself, confiding them TO no spir-
itual director, newspaper editor, or
female friend. Such was Nancy
| Howard at five-and-thirty.
NV Uncle McEarlane was a fine
! gentleman in the true sense of tho
phrase. lie was unimpeachable in
integrity, unspotted in morals, in
manners absolutely perfect-a little
set in his way, and possibly some
what particular in eating and drink
ing. lie was also given 10 amusing
himself in quiet way with the pc
culiarities of those about him. Blu
he never willingly hurt or neglected
any one, and he had certain genia
graciousness of manner, whicl
made all his employees, from Mr.
/ Saunders, his confidential clerk
down 70 black Sam, the carman
and Davy, the errand boy, feel tho
better when he spoke to them.
aa n AZ
moruinViH observed Uncle Mcfar
lane, as Brown, his man, brought
him the paper.
ssYes, sir. She was out until af-
ter twelve last night, at Sans. SIR
/ "Indeedl How was that Z"
| "Well, you see, Sans girl was
took with a quick consumption last
spring, and his wife amt very rug
ged, either. Miss Nancy, she's been
there a good deal, and when Susy
was struck with death last evening
she sends for her. So Miss Nancy
she went and stayed until il was al
over. 1t was a great comfort tC
them, sir. You see, Sans wife
she's got a little young baby, too
and altogether il comes hard"
81 should say so, indeed. We
must see that everything is done
Brown. Find out when the funera
is to be, and let me know, and tel
| your wife to send them something
| comfortable when she goes to mar.
ket. But here comes Miss Nancy.
Send up BREAKFAST, Brown"
Breakfast was usuallya a somewhat
| silent meal, save for Alexis chatter
with his aunt; for Mr.. Mcfarland
! always read the paper, invariably
asking Miss Nancy's permission.
"Why do you look at me so close
ly, Alick ?'' asked Miss Nancy, a
she caught her nepheW's gaze fixed
upon her.
al was thinking how pretty yog
are !" answered Alick, with his usua
frankne IS. 81 think you are a hun
dred times prettier than Miss Regi
ma Schuyler, that they make such ;
| fuss about. Aud 1 don't want hcl
for step-mother. So there %
ssWhat is that about, Miss Schuy
ler % asked my uncle laying dowI
his paper. 'Itstrikes me that yoI
! are taking rather a liberty will
that young lady-to say nothing o
myself"
\ L
Bonsall," answered Alick. "Mr
I Bonsall asked me II i wouldn't hk
a pretty young lady like Miss Regi
ma Schuyler to come into the house
: and told him mol didn't wan
: any one but Aunt Nancy. Then b
said Aunt Nancy was an old maid
and l said, if she was forty oil
maids she was a hundred times prei
tier than Miss Regina-and so sh
! ! isl"
awe won't discuss that matter,
said my uncle, annoyed, but re
pressing his annoyance, as usual
5sYou need not mind Mr.. Bonsall
We all know his ways"
There was something in his fath
s er's tone which made Alick awar
: that he had better drop the subject
Uncle McEarlane went on with hi
paper, but now and then glance
over il with an expression OF som
: interest. Nancy is pretty" he sal
e to himself. "There is something i
c her face that reminds me of m
: mother"
Breakfast being over, my uucl
;, put on his overcoat, asking, as b
: did so, his invariable question
s "Have you any commands for tn
, city :"
"And, by the way, please see tina
: everything is done for Sans family
: The poor woman will perhaps b
the better for some port wine, Q
: ale, and let everything be nice abou
: the funeral. l will take the e1
y pense on myself. Sam is a gOoC
! faithful fellow"
: 'Really, Nancy is very pretty
said my uncle, as he walked out {
y the house. 81 never thought muc
e about it before, but she is decided
J. nrettv Miss Repina Schuvler In