The Osceola times., 1877-03-24

most satisfactory amount OF patronage
for our laundress aud most appalling
| bills for me. However, We managed to
keep ahoat in some wonderful manner !;
but Henry was beginning to have a
strangely careworn look, TO which could
not blind myself. He was worried and
harassed. His business was all right /;
but there were bills to be met, difficulties
to be dissosed of which he could not
quite see the end of.
To outward appearance, however, We
seemed very prosperous pair. Our house
was now as elegant as our neighbors'. !
had thousand costly little trihes lying
about in the drawing room, got from
time to time, and as usual not paid for,
some of which the storekeepers them
selves had pressed me into purchasing.
Sometimes 4 sharp pang shot through
me when ] thought over our position,
and ! wished when we first set up that
had had sufficient sense to persuade
| Henry to do 40 more in accordance with
our income than we had done but it
| was too late now we must tiust TO some
good fortune turning up. Henry had
hopes that his partners meant to promote
him and il they were realized we should
be much better of. This idea was buoy
ing us both up. and we were feeling
sanguine when Mr.. Trevor, the senior
partner, q peculiar man, who never al
most left his own house in Bedford
square, except fol the office, announced
his intention of coming to Amberley
Villas TO dine, If we would have him.
In our anxiety to impress him fayorably
we launched out into further expense.
He must be handsomely entertained, 50
much might depend upon his visit. Ac.
cordingly, | arranged most recherche
little dinner and had the table laid out
a Ia russo to my entire satisfaction when
everything was completed, surveying the
preparations with the almost confidence
in Mr.. Trevors verdict. But alas! for
HeDry's hopes and for my dinner. Mr..
Trevor came, parLook very sparingly and
silently of our hospitality, and departed
without having dropped one syllable un
the subject which We were 50 hoping he
would discuss. o
Some ten days afterwards, the advance
in the business was bestowed upon one OF
Henry's Juniors who had never dreamt
OF getting it. We were terribly disap-
pointed, having counted 30 surely upon
an addition to our means and when our
wrathful feelings were at their height
who should suddenly walk in but Uncle
Jocelyn! He had never been in our
house since we were married. Ii was, in
fact, great event for him to leave Con-
ington, but the freak had seized him.
He wanted TO see his old favorite and his
new grandniece, so he had come. He
only meant to stay for the day; in the
evening he intended to return home In
my inmost heart l was a. fond OF him az
ever but his visit WAS ill-timed could
not rally from my disappointment for
Henry. and our cares were now assuming
too serious an aspect to be easily set
aside
You have a beautiful little house
Kate, he said. IL had no notion Henry
was such rich man."
Hadn't you, umcle?" | said, trying
to laugh unconstrainedly.
al am truely pleased to see you SO
comfortable" continued Uncle Jocelyn
kindly. "This room must have cost
you a pretty penny, Kate; and darcsay
you have nestegg somewhere as we'll"
"Oh, it isn't very muoh," answered,
really referring TO the room, but AS he
thought to the nest-egg and imagining
| meant that the latter, though of small
proportions, did exist, he responded most
cordially:
doesn't matter how small, Kate ;
| there's plenty of time to make it larger"
1t was no Use undeceivine him, though
at that very moment an ominous en-.
velope was delivered to NE with the an
nouncement that the person who brought
il was waiting for an answer, to which
returned the usual formula, that Mr..
Arden went out, but would call in day
or two. | tried to look as Indifferent az
possible, but felt Uncle Jocelyn's eyes
were upon me, and my face colored pain
fully, nor did my confusion escape the
kind scrutiny. | felt thoroughly CON
WINGED he had drawn his own conclusions.
Soon afterwards lunch was announced,
and we descended to the dining room,
where Sophy my parlor-maid had, TO my
horror, arranged some Of our best china
on the table, with the best intentions |
knew, meaning to impress my visitor
with our grandeur, but little imagining
the real effect such superhuities would
have upon my uncle. He noticed il
directly, and admired it very much.
"Where did you get that figure ?" he
asked indicating lovely china centre
piece.
81 am not quite certain, | replied
carelessly; Eve have had it for some
time"
WAS it very expensive?" pursued
Uncle Jocelyn.
90 DO. not very at least | didn
think so," answered, recollecting will
painful throb that it certainly had moi
cost us much as yet, considering we hso
not paid for it,
need not give all the details of Uncle
Jocelyn's visit Suffice it - say that il
was martyrdom that afternoon to me
and it was positive relief when his kinC
old face vanished and | found mysel
alone once more. He had gone away NJ
doubt thinking our lines were in yer,
pleasant places, feeling assured not onl,
of our property but of our happiness
Poor deceived Uncle Jocelyn! Ee littl'
knew that was just longing to throw
myself into his arms and make cleal
breas, OF all our extravaganza and conse
quent troubles. How / envitd hin
, going back to quiet peaceful Conngton
How wished Henry and | were jus
one-half as happy as he was
However, our struggle then was jus
beginning, for we sank deeper and deeper
! 1t was like quicksand-the more W
! struggled the deeper we got. We dsre'
not openly retrench---wo lacked the mora
courage, ,rfi,s1snzeu on south '-pts wer