Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-08-14
"Of course not, /" said Charley.

And well slt talking over the news,
when some one will inquire for you
and being shown in, will prove to be
Uncle Buncle's lawyer, who will say
Sir, it is my duty to inform you that
my lamented client, Mr.. Buncle, prior
to his decease, signed will which leaves
all his fortupe to your wife, his niece. ,"
Then L paused.
"What is that9" cried Charlie.
"Oh, what is it" 1 echoed.
"Help! screamed Uncle Buncle's
voice. "Fire Murder! Help! help |"
"Oh Police I" screamed Mrs. Jones.
Somebody somebody" cried Mrs.
Brown.
"Cousin Charlie!" screamed Cousin
Clarissa from the sofa, "your pooi
Uncle Buncle is being murdered I"
Cow! ow! O-o-o-w!" cried Miranda
Jane from the storeroom.
And above it all we heard sound az
of many waters.
"What is it, love?" asked. "What
can have happened ?"
"That confounded pipe has burst
again, said Charlie, "and Uncle Bun
Gle is drowning in the bathroom !"
In a moment I comprehended it all.
The Barley Hillites were proud of hav-
ing good provision of water from Bar
ley river throughout the town. But the
arrangements for supply had not been of
the first order, and the consequence was
that every house had been flooded in
turn, that the main street had been in
undated twice, and the reservoir burst
as often. At this unfortunate moment,
when Uncle Buncle reposed in the de-
ceitful arms Of the bath, without an idea
of his danger, the pipe above his head
had given way, and the flood of water
poured itself out upon him. The door
was locked inside. We heard him sput-
tering and swearing. In our agitation,
we could do nothing but pound upon the
panels, and implore him to come out.
At last he appeared, wrapped in a
drenched dressing gown, scowling,
stamping, bowling, half-mad with rage,
and shivering with cold, snatched a
lamp from my hand, and dived into the
room again. We heard the bed go fop
into the water; we heard the pillow fol
low it. Our deception was discovered.
"By George !" yelled Uncle Buncle,
in the voice of a sea captain in storm
-"by George they've put me to sleep
in the bath !"
From that time until he stepped into
the train next morning, he vouchsafed us
no other word. And from that time we
never saw or heard from him again.
When he died, however, we We're unex-
pectedly summoned to the reading OF
his will, as being parties mentioned
therein. We went. The will left the
bulk Of ths property to hospital; and
we were mentioned thus:
"And I desire it to be known by al
interested, that this will, which [, being
in my right mind, have signed and at
tested, makes null and void former
one in which L made my niece, Mrs
Hetty Hope, born Hopkins, my sole
heiress. The reasons for her disinherit
ance being these Firstly, she did for {
weeks time disrespectfully, indecently
and by infamous deception, cause me tc
sleep in bath, to the great detrimen
of my health and nervous system; am
secondly, she proved her extravaganza
by wearing on ordinary occasions, ant
while occupied at household work,
certain tortoise shell comb which [ pre-
sented to her, and which the late Mrs
Buncle, apattern woman in every respect
never wore save at weddings and funer
ais. In consequence, [ bequeath to tht
same Mrs. Hetty Hope, born Hopkins
only the expression of my Indignation.
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