Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-04-23
THAT RED-HEADED IMP.
BY ANNA SHIELDS.

VMke tOICPi'CA SOWCA13 ACOltCu WllUlCS110
grocer, owner Of the prettiest house and
most extensive grounds in Owensville, old,
fat and hot tempered, was in a lage. Not,
be it understood, that it was any very ex-
traordinary event in the household, for
Mr.. COwen averaged about four fits of rage
per diem, but this time his anger was fear
full to behold. The object against whom
! his present fury was directed, his nephew
| and namesake. Stephen Cowen Hill, only
child of his sister, sat calmly regarding
down the room, uttering threats and taunts
innumerable. 1t was certainly aggrava-
ting to have such tempestuous volleys Of
| wrath so placidly received. Mr.. Hill, puff
ing fragrant Havana, with ali air of per-
feet respect for his uncle, spoke little and
was perfectly unmoved by the most fear
full threats. AT last, exhausted 10y his own
violence, the old gentleman threw himself
into deep arm chair, crying as a final sa-
lutte
''You are an ungrateful puppy, sir.''
81 may be apuppy, nncle, y was the quiet
reply, shut am not .ulgrateful."
mot ungrateful!i' roard his uncle "Who
has been a second father to you for fifteen
years? Who educated you, sent you to
college. made lawyer. OF yoils allows You
a decent income till you can catch client,
who?''
81 do not deny, sir, my obligations to
you, but do deny the ingratitude. / am
deeply and profoundly grateful
''Show it then. Prove it,
81 bave tried for years, Uncle Stephen,
to fill the place of a son to YOU
II don't want Il sons place filled.
want yeu to pay some regard to my wish
es."
"You want me to marry my cousin Dol
ly."
Exactly: You are now twenty-five
Dolly is fifteen. You are my only rela-
tives, and ropose to leave you all pos
sess. But won't divide the property
1 cay, sar, L ,yon't divide tie property"
1.-The property is your own, sir. Leave
| it to my cousin entire, if you wish.'
Il don't wish to, . he roared again. II
| wish to leave it entire to both. can do
that if you are married.
| 81 cannot mary Dolly"
"Why not? Is your heart set upon some
body elses''
mo. sir. My heart is my own, as
| yet.
Then give it to Dolly"
J ''Never." was the firm reply. "My cou-
sin hsss been here three months, and du-
seems to have been to torment me. I have
not had a meal without pins in my napkin,
salt in my coffee, sugar on my meat, or
some other lady-like trick played upon me,
/ My led is filed with .burrs, my cigars are
drenched in cologne water, my gloves have
pins in the fingers, my hat is filled with
chicken feathers. Really cannot enumer-
ate the various ways in which this young
lady developes the desire to irritate me-
| This she cannot do. l am not to he irr
tated. Still, as wife, object to any one
who annoys me. Besides, / have an eye
for beauty, and my cousin Dolly is simply
hideous-a red-headed imp
And you won't marry her?"
81 will not.'
itThen, sir, you will never inherit one
farthing of my money"
Stephen Hill rose and bowed politely.
81 cannot be bought UNCLE" he said
Suppose we end this Improbable CONVEX
sation."
"Go, sir! never expected such Oppose
ton from you. Send Dolly to me, swil
your"
But Dolly was not TO be found, for thu
good and sufficient re son that she Was il
the deep WindOw-Seat, hidden by the cur
tains, in the very room where her future
was being so holly discussed and coolly de
cided. She had been fast asleep when the
gentlemen entered the room, but waiting
to hear 'sUncle Steve in a tantrum,'' hat
sagely concluded to lie quiet until til.
storm was over.
When her uncle himself finally started
from the room in search of her, she darte(
from her hiding place and sped to her roon
to lock the door and burst into fit o
laughter.
$50 my stately cousin won't marry m,
at any price," she said, at last. ''Poor fel
low Can't he irritated He is about righ
there. have tried in vain to move hin
from his col non;haance. I sbelieve, il
there was an explosion or an earthquake
he would light fresh cigar as he was sho
up in the air or swallowed down in tn
ground. He is not lazy either. He studio
hard and saves uncle the work of thre
men in his superintendent of the place
I'm red-headed imp, am II Let me see.
e She darted to the bureau and resting he
chin upon her hand, her elbow on the mil
ror stand, she critically surveyed he
face. &