The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-04-11
THE TWO NEPHEWS.

THE TWO NEPHEWS.
Az the parlor window of pretty villa,
near Walton.on Thames, sat, one evening
at dusk, an old man and young woman.
The age Of the man might be some sew
enty years, while his companion had
certainly not reached nineteen. Her
beautiful, blooming face and active, light
and upright figure were in strong con.
trast with the worn countenanca and
bent frame of the old man, but in bis
eve and in the corners of his mouth were
indications of a gay self-confidence
which age and suffering had dampened
but not extingnished.
"No use looking any more, Mary"
said he "neither John Meade nor Peter
Finch will be here before dark. Very
hard that, when sick uncle asks his
two, nephews to come and zee him, they
can't come at once. The duty is simple
in the extreme only to help to die and
take what ! choose to leave them in my
will Pooh when ] was young man
I'd have done it for my uncle with the
utmost celebrity. But the worlds getting
quite heartless!' y
ooh, STRIP said Mary.
And what does 'Oh, sir! mean ?"
said he "D'ye think | sha'nt die? /
know better A little more, and there'll
be an end of Billy Collett. He'll have
left this dirty world for cleaner-to the
great sorrow (and advantage) of his af'
tectionate relatives! Ugh! Give me a
glass of the doctors medicine.
The girl poured some medicine into a
glass, and Collett, after having contem-
plated it for a moment with infinite dis
gust, managed to get it down.
81 tell you what. Miss Mary sutton"
said he, 81 don't by any means approve
of your 'Oh, sirn and dear sir and
the rest of it, when I've told you how |
hate to be called sir at all. Why, you
couldn't be more respectful ii vou were
charity.gir and beadle in gold
laced hat. None of your nonsense,
Mary Sutton, if you please. I've been
your lawful guardian now for more than
BLK ulOHtIlS, anu Nou OuBho w hho" my
likings and dislikings"
MY poor father often told me how
you disliked ceremony" said Mary.
"Your poor father told you quite
right" said Mr.. Colett. "Fred Sutton
was a man of talent-a capital fellow.
His only fault was natural inability to
keep farthing in his pocket. Poor
Fred he loved me-Pm sure he did.
He bequeathed me his only child, and it
isn't every friend that would do that"
"a kind and generous protector you
have ever been r'
"Well, ! don't know Pve tried not to
be brute, but dare say have been.
Don't l speak roughly to you sometimes
Haven't | given you good, prudent,
worldly advice about John Meade, and
made myself quite disagreeable and un-
like guardian? Come, confess you love
this penniless nephew OF mine"
"Penniless, indeed"
"Ah, there it is," said Mr.. Collett.
"What business has poor devil of an
artist to fall in love with my ward? And
what business has my ward to fall in love
with poor devil of an artist? But that's
Fred Sutton'sdaughter all over. Haven't
| two nephews? Why couldn't you fall
In love with the discreet one-the
shriving? Peter Finch--cOnsidering
he's an attorney-is worthy young
mani He is industrious in the extreme,
and attends to other peoples business
only when he is paid for it He despises
sentiment, and always looks to the main
chance. But John Meade, my dear
Mary, may spoil canvas forever and moi
grow rich. He's all for art, and truth
and social reform, and spiritual elevation
and the Lord knows what. Peter Finch
will ride in his carriage and splash Johr
Meade as he trudges on foot"
The harangue was here interrupted by
a ring at the gate, and Mr.. Peter Fincl
was announced. He had scarcely takel
his seat when another pull at the bel
was heard, and Mr.. John Meade was an
nounced.
Mr.. Collett eyed his two nephews witt
a queer sort OF smile. while they mad
speeches expressive Of sorrow at the ns
ture of their visit. At last, stoppin
them, he said
Enough, boys, enough !" said he
Let us find some better subject to di'
cuss than the state OF an old mans health
want to know little more about yo
both. haven't seen much of you u
, to the present time, and for anything
know you may be rogues or FOOLS"
John Meade seemed rather to wine
under this address, but Peter Finch ss
calm and confident.
"To put case, nOw," said Mr.. Co
+, let, "this morning poor wretch of
, gardener came begging here. He coul
yet no work, and said he was starvin
!. Well, | knew something about the fe
low, and I believe he only told Il
: truth so / gave him shilling to get ri
: oi him. Now I'm afraid l did wron
!, What reason had for giving him
{ ,hilliug9 What claim had be on me
S What claim had he on anybody? I'll
value OF his labor OH the market is
n that workipgman has right to; ant
e when his labor is Of no value, why, the
q he must 90 to the devil, or whatever els
! he can-eh, Peter? That's my philost
phv: what do you Think"