The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-01-02

Then Charlie improyised bed over the
bath ; and after draping the machinery
with curtains, and making up a valance
for the side of the bath, really felt
quite proud of our handiwork. And we
had fairly began TO enjoy ourselves
among our friends, when late one warm
afternoon some one raped at the door,
and was greeted with, "H'm and
how do you do ?"
1t was Uncle Buncle, and he had come
to stay.
Delighted, gasped.
Charmed to see you, SIR" said
Then we exchanged glances, and each
mutely asked the other, "Where shall
we put him ?"
Echo answered, Where ?"
;" $50 glad you've come, said again.
Uncle Buncle answered, Thanks.
He had seized upon this one fashion
able variation with advidity, because it
seemed to do away with the personal
politeness involved in the words, "TAank
you"
" Thanks. Like to go to my room at
once-wash my hands," ......
His room-he must be taken some
where not to the spare bedroom, for
there Mrs. Jones and daughter were
dressing for dinner; nor to ours, for
there the Misses Brown were crimping
theiE tresses. So perforce led him to
the bathroom, and there left him to
sacrifice to the graces.
Remarkable bedstead that of yours"
he said, when be returned to MS. Some
new patent, suppose. Very ricketty,
generally, those new patents. Old
fashioned things much the best-much.
However, curtains all very well-like
old times. All, everything dreadfully
changed-dreadfu,ly w
To which we, the guilty parties, ans
wered only by bushes.
That night Uncle Buncle slept upon
our couch, and we sat up in the kitchen.
We bore it very well for a while; but
finally, maddened with want Of sleep,
Charlie, supporting his aching head,
inquired Of me in plaintive whine,
" Why didn't you kick the old brute
out, Hetty?"
"Don't, dear" ] pleaded. 81 know
it's very uncomfortable; but still,
though he is rough and unpleasant, think
of the six thousand pounds |"
"Nonsense p said Charlie. "He'll
outlive us look at his constitution. A
crusty old curmudgeon, without civil
word for any one"
my DEAR" demonstrated, "don't
speak so loud. Of course we are suffer-
ing on these harl chairs, but think of
the beds of down six thousand pounds
will buy Don't be angry. I think
| shall wear the comb while uncle stays"
"The what p asked Charlie.
"The comb he gave me, said.
a" You shan't put the hideous thing on
your head" said Charlie.
DIX thOu- began.
"Six thousand racks aud thumb
screws You may enjoy sitting up all
night on a kitchen chair for an old fellow
who may, or may not, choose to leave
You something when he dies" said Char
lie 81 don't. He asked me not to smoke
this evening, too !"
And never felt so sorry for any one
as l did for that poor fellow, with his
hair all tossed about, his eyelids heavy
with sleep, his feet on one chair, and
his head against the side of the mantel-
piece but, in spite of all, I resolved
that Uncle Buncle should stay as long
as he chose-yes, stay, though we slept
in the coal cellar, or did not sleep at all /;
for think of my Joy when, some time in
our life-same time when it was, per-
haps, most wanted--I should fly into
Charles arms, and say to him: "My
dear, you are worth six thousand
pounds; and have won it for you by
never allowing myself to be put out by
Uncle Blfhcle !"
The next morning I wore my gigantic
comb. The Misses Jones giggled, and
Miss Brown laughed outright No
matter Uncle Buncles goodwill was
worth more than anything else. I bore
their smiles like martyr, and only fret
ted because, after all, my uncle did not
look perfectly satisfied. On the contrary,
although he had a habit of seowling, /
had never seenrhim scowl so much as he
did that morning. He sneered at the
milk, and scofied at the butter, pooh
poohed the rolls and described to us,
with his mouth full, breakfasts which he
had eaten elsewhere, which were what
breakfasts ought to be and, ever and
anon, he cast towards my unhappy self
a glance of inexplicable disapproval.
However, he stayed with us through
the week, growing more ill-tempered as
time passed on. I shall never forget
that week-the weary nights during
which we tried to take maps on chairs, or
reposed on the kitchen table-the
humiliation and self-contempt suffered
when I permitted myself to be scolded
Charlie to be snubbed, and our guests
to be sneered at by Uncle Buncle-the
persistency with which wore that awful
comb-the things / said that L did not
mean-the manner in which / abused
myself, slaved myself, and suppressed
myself. 1 shut up the house at nine to
please Uncle Buncle. I locked up the
piano for the same reason. did it all,
not for love Of him, or respect for him,