South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-05-29

my newly claimed ofFspring.
There, uncle said | is the FIRST pledge
OF our married life. | assure you | take
pleasure in presenting to you my child
1T is fat lit,la youngster,' said my un-
Gle, gazing at it almiriugly. 'By the way,
what is it, boy or girl 2
That was knotiy query for me 90 an
swer, for he was just as much acquainted
with its gender as l was. Blu, j, would not
90 to show ignorance on the subject, 50 |
answered at hap hazard that il was a boy.
Il atn sorry it is boy, said ms uacla
there are TOP many boys in the family.
Now, If you only bad produced little blue.
/ eyed girl, II would hive heen more sensible
/ | assured him | was sorry the gender did
not suit, but hoped in the future his wishes
would be gratiisd
SO far | had succeeded in 3ecoiyinr nv
uncle, but the worst feared was that when
Mre. KINGSLEY returned, she Nigh. OBJ
/ ject 10 my claiming ownership In her child.
Besides, 10 carry out my deception must
| find wife, as we'll rs an infiut, and Mrs.
KINGSLEY was the only ono I could conve-
niently claim. The only difficulty was to
! get her to consent to The deception, ard
this might be done if could only secure
/ private conversation with her before in.
troduced her to my uncle, then it would be
all right.
| watched my opportunity, ADD 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 &C lag
as papa to her little one. then told her
[ mus. find wife somewhere, and b,gged
her to allow me 10 introduce her IN that ca
pacity. She laughed very heartily at the
suggestion, and said she could comprehend
my diticuIty,aud very roguishly warned mo
not 10 presume upon the occurrence
We Dhen entered the parlor, aud intro
ducod her as my better half Ny uncle
was very much pleased with her, and com
plimcnted me upon my good choice in the
selection of wife. blrs. KINGSLEY, of
course, coored most charmingly at his COM
! plIment, and | could paiul7 see that she
could scarcely refraiu from laughing
You have line boy here, said ny uncle
TO Mrs. KINGSLEY, pointing to the cradle.
Excuse me sir, said she, coloIing up a.
gain, 'its girl
was dumb-iounded. l was exposed in
my iniqui'y. WJuld my uncle believe me
after this Ii looked from me 10 my pref
! 'y Iandlady wish puzzled copa:euanoe.
your husband told me it was boy, he
said aud rather suspiciously too, thought.
'Weil, | always took /; fer boy, was
my reply, putting on a bold face, but l
suppose my wife knows best
II re Mrs KINGSLEY f4irly screamed
with Eu liter, aud my uuc.e's face assumed
an ironcal smile.
You are a nice father, ain't you P lie
sai], touching me with the point of his
umbrella, mot to know the sex Of your own
ciill. Why, | knew it vas girl the mo.
mCut looked at H.
But, CHARLEY be said, again address
ing me, what did you do with the goblet
and pap spoon l seut to the little one p
on, they are perfectly safe, L assure
YOU | replied, q have taken good care Of
them
Yes, but where in the deuce are they
would like very much to take another
lock at them
Wen, | bave deposited them in bank
for safe keeping, but l can readily produce
them-that i5--in the course Of week S
tine.
lie told me to do so, as bo wanted to
sec them, aud then 60, out Of the room,
Tor FEAR that be might k me some more
peTp'exingqlestions.
a short time aflerward Mrs. KINGS.
LEY came 70 nc when | was alone, in an
adjoining room, and saw Immediately
that something humorous must have hap.
pened, for the corners Of her lips were
breaking Toto smiles
DO you know, sir, into what an awk-
ward predic1ment you have got me ? she
onq1iroj, she took seat on the lounge
BY my side
Explain YOURSELF said.
Why, your uncle came % me q short
slime ago, aud asbcl % see my marriage
cer'iG ate, and he said De hal some money
to settle upon Us Immediately, but wanted
TO be sure that everything was tight, Grst
'D,l ycu expose me 7 | inquired abzi-
ouly
NJ ,ir, did not, fJr noeer enter ia 90
a deception, or anything else, 5y halves
vas 20 ela'cd 'ba' / could not With
stand the temptation Of embracing her.
This did Dot mako her angry, f5r she Des.
lied her head costly on my shoulder AID
smiled sereuely.
What sniSer dil you make 2 asked.
She besi,aicd for q moment, aud then
said:
Il promised to produce the marriage GER
tiGcntc.
'Ba, We haven. 60, aay,' l thea ro-
marked
She injulgod 10 quic; little laugh TO
herself, but said nothing.
IMra Lrr.ar