Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-04-01
gu 0rigimal Sturg.
UNCLE BRAINERD'S WILL;
OR,
The Fortunes Of Alice Lynn.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
CHAPTER w.
"THE BOYS" COME HOME.

school-lfe commenced She was naturally
quick and intelligent, and though her educa-
ton hitherto had been carried on in some
what desultory manner, she had picked up
much general information, which placed her,
in some respects, far ahead of children OF her
own age while in others she found herself
more ignorant than her juniors. Her deh-
cencies, however, were speedily remedied by
ler perseverance and love of study, and her
teacher gave most satisfactory reports Of her
progress. ,;
Her home-life was not quite so smooth.
Mrs. Fielding, as the reader knows, had never
welcomed her into the household nor did she
take more kindly to her as time wore on.
Alice was a most inofensive child, never IN
truding herself where she was not wanted, and
striving to the best of her ability to please ;
but her presence caused her aunt additional
care and additional work, and she thought
that she had quite enough already of both OF
these. She could not conscientiously neglect
her, and even for appearance sake she was
obliged to make as little difference as possible
between her and her own children. But there
,oas difference, and Alice felt it, and felt it
keenly. 1t made her shrink within herself,
and increased her natural reserve, which Mrs.
Fielding sometimes called sulkiness, and re-
sented accordingly. 1t made her keep aloot
from her cousins, and often busy herself with
her work or books, when she would gladly
have Joined their merry play; for she had a
child's elasticity of spirit, and when once the
pressure of her grief was removed, 1t would
have vented itself joyously in natural mlrth'
if it had had free scope. But the counterac-
ton of timidity and constraint kept it down,
and at last the others began to call her
"mopy" and "dull," and to cease importun-
ing her to do as they did. So that though
she lived in crowd, she led a solitary exis-
tence, and was thrown almost entirely on her
own resources for amusement
One afternoon, when the others had gone
out, and she was sitting alone in the parlor
with book in her hand, old uncle Brainerd
came hobblng in.
"Whatw he exclaimed, "are you In here
What are you doing, all by yourself?"
Reading, sir" she replied.
Reading pooh; this is no time OF the day
for you to be reading. Why amt you run
ming out in the fresh air, instead of being
cooped up in the house %
81 like it better, sir.
"But you have no business to like it better.
Where are all the brats?"
"Gone out somewhere, sir"
"And pray, why didn't you go with them p
II had rather stay in, sir"
"Humph that's queer taste," said uncle
Brainerd, looking at her so GROSSLY tha*Aiice
almost began to fancy that he must be wish
ing her out of his way, for some reason or
other. She was revolving this idea in her
mind, and had almost determined to take her
self and her book off, and let him have the
room to himself, when he surprised her by say
ing, in an entirely diesrent tone of voice
you've never been into my curiosity shop,
have your"
"No, sir" she replied.
"Come wouldn't you like to pay it visit,
now?"
"Yes, if you please" she answered, hesta-
tingly; for though she did not see how she
could refuse, she was rather doubtful of the
pleasure to be derived from accepting the in
vitaton.
"Come this way, then. I never let any of
the brats in there, except Susy. She's about
the best of them, and doesn't lay her paws on
anything without leave. Oh | forgot Mau-
rice; but I don't count him among the rest.
He's lad of discretion, and knows how to
conduct himself like a reasonable being.
Fine boy, Maurice! He'll be at home in Au-
gust. This way, child, to the right per-
ceive you haven't got the run of the house
yet | live under the caves, like the pigeons.
I like it better than to be jumbled up with
all the rest, and deafened with all the noise
that goes on in the middle of the house.
Here's my den!' And having, by this time,
traversed the main entry and cross passage,
leading to the left wing of the house, the old
gentleman pushed open door and introduced
Alice into comfortably-sized, but rather dis
orderly looking apartment, containing sofa
bed, couple of arm-chairs, a table, and a
quantity of heterogeneous articles, of which,
at first sight, she could not distinguish the
nature or the use.
"Here live in peace and comfort" said
uncle Brainerd, "and never concern myself
about other peoples affairs, or let them Pry
into mine. It's blessed refuge-especially
on baking g-daysw he added with sly glance,
that called forth an involuntary smile from
Alice, who appreciated the allusion, knowing
that on Wednesdays and Saturdays her aunt's
temper was wont to be as crusty as one OF her
favorte loavcs.
"Sit down, child, sit down." said uncle
Brainerd, drawing a chair forward, land let
me have a little chat with you. You amt
afraid Of ME noW, are you?
"No, sir" said Alice, blushing deeply, and
wondering how he came to know that she had
ever been afraid of him.
"Well, that's right I'm not an ogre, and
never eat up little girls, though l like to
frighten 'em sometimes when they bother me
too much. But you are not the sort to both
er, as far as | can see. Do you know, Miss
Alice, I've taken sort of liking to you, some
how?"
Alice looked pleased she was beginning to
"take sort of liking to the queer old gen.
tleman, too, and to think he must be kind and
good d-humored, in spite Of his odd ways. SO
she presently found herself chatting quite I'M
reservedly with him, answering the many
questions he put to her concerning her former
life, with freedom and readiness that sur
prised herself, and which she could not have
done but for the genuine interest he manifest
ed in her. Once, when she touched (though
very lightly, for it was still too tender sub
iect to bear rough handling) on b. 'nother's s
death and her own forlol. r.:..on, the old
man Jumped up suddenly IRON his seat and
walked to the window, where he Immediately ly
made feint of becoming violently angry at
the sight of Bob finging stones at cat in the
distance, though she saw him furtively take
off his spectacles, and wipe them first and his
ewes afterward, while he was doing so. On
returning to his seat he changed the topic of
conversation, and asked her if she was fond
of pictures and on her replying in the affir-