The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-14


naturally. -was Mr.. Morpeth's advertise.
mpnt. and the young people amused them.
,elyes by discussing alphabetically Wnat
MO- they' would make Of the reward. SUP
nos;pa they we're lucky enough 70 ma tls
missing decd. Various plans We're. 5 5,
aested. but It was finally decided that bes-
sic shonld set up q tobacconisDs ana sta,s
tionerv business, In aid OF Toms ;iegai
earnings. at first Tom Ras rather inctlnea
~ nm aertake the tobacconist, = port ion q
the business himself, as he had an 5loea
that he could serve cigars and Vesu'
yiaus with considerable aratstlc ~.
ish: btlt this was sOyerTuled by Bessie,
who would not bear of his giving up MS
!. nrofession.n THAT Idea Was, therefore,,
abandoned. Tom Justly remalking mat rs
no wasn't at all likely TO find the oeea, ~
realIv wasn't OF very much consequence.
tier a somewhat lengthy stroll the young
naonie made their way back to Chancery
lane, Tom purchasing pint OF shrlmps on
h;a way.. as a contribution to Mrs. Moyse,s
refres6ment arrangements. They 1ound
the table spread, a pot OF home. made Jam.
and plate Of water-cresses sheddng lustIe
on the festive board the Kettle boinns on
the hob, and Mrs. Moyse BUSTING ABOUT III
the final preparations for tea-maKing. On
Gle X eckwidge sat, with his hat on' ID MS
accustomed place by the ire:
On Mrs. Moyse's first taking possession
some years before OF the houseReeper
apartment in Bedford row, Uncle Neck,
widce had complained OF drausnf, ano nau
nnt IN his hat as protection. As the rest
of the family did not perceive any draught,
and rashly yentured TO question its exist
ence. Uncle Keckwidge, who could never
brook contradiction. became frmly con.
vinced that there was a very severe draugnt
indeed. and had continued TO wear MS
hot indoors as well as out ever since.
He had never looked with a very favor
able eve on Tom Halliday, and had
occasionally caused Bessie consldera-
HE embarrassment BY uttering aloud prl-
waite reflections to his prejudice. On tue
present occasion, the first greetings were
scarcely over wheH Uncle Keckwldgc, VINO
had been eyepg Tom over 10 a critical
manner. remarked to himself, but qulle
oudibIy: q The idea OF a girl like our Bess
takin' up with such PAIR OF trousers DIS
that. Lor', believe the women VIII nave
ANYTHING nowadays "a remark when
caused Tom. though not naturally basn1u';
to tuck his legs hastily under his char, ana
Bessie to look very hot and ,uncomsor'aolc,
Mrs. Moysc making as much CHATTER as pos
sible with tie teacups, and endeavori9g 10
make believe that nobody heard the obser-
yation. while Uncle Keckwidge continued
70 MUNICH his bread and butter in profound
uIconsclousuess Of having said anything at
all offensive.
"You mustn't take any notice OF uncle,
Tom" whispered Bessie. "lou Know
what he is. It's only his fun. He's always
taking one off,"
Gle needn't take of my trousers,
though" said Tom, and then finding that
he bad (uuite unintentionally) made kind
NJ Joke. he tried bard to look as IL he had
said it OH purpose.
"Thomas |" said Bessie. pretending to
be dreadfuly shocked. "Thomas, am
perfectly ashamed OF you! 1t would serve
YOU right not to let you have any shrimps."
Forgive me this once" SAID Tom:
" I'll never do so any more. / wonder
whether the old buffer would like shrimp.
Try a monster OF the deep, Mr. heck-
widge," he continued, putting spoonful
on tile old mans plate. "And shouldn't
break my heart If one OF 'em got crossways
and choked you, you old image!' he added,
in lower tone.
"For shame, sir!" cried Bessie; ga
DOOR, harmless old man like that, and you
YOU want TO choke him."
"Why couldn't he leave my trousers
alone, thcn?" said Tom, still by no means
paclfed.
Here Uncle Keckwidgc, who had been
looking about uneasily, as ii in search OF
something. pulled large black pin out OF
his recktie and began digging vigorously
at shrimp, although apparently without
satisfactory result.
Ono, uncle" said Mrs. Moyse, taking the
Din away from him 'snot like that. You're
thinking Of wrinkles; these arc sbrimps."
Eve are grieved 10 confess that The good
lady pronounced the word as "s'rimps.")
"1hen what did he say they was wrinkles
for?" said Uncle Keckwidge, much ag-
II didn't" said Tom, Indignantly. ~
never said anything of the SORT"
.sYoung man." replied Uncle KecEwidge.
with dignity, "you said distinctly wrinkles;
noticed it particular. Pm very partial TO
wrinkles, but shrlmps amt no account"
"Comc, uncle" said Bessie, "you know.
the last time Tom brought wrinkles you said
YOU preferred shrimps." 5.-,.
awe amt had winkles," resumed the
old man, quite ignoring his niece's remark,
"not since that day when we found the car
wig In my Sunday hat. And then they was
in pie !"
No, no, UNCLE" said Mrs. Moyse, laugh.
ing, "that wasn't wrinkles; that was eelS."
81 dunno about that" said Uncle Keck-
widge, thoughtfully; "but l know you
pick 'em out with pin. With pH !" he
repeated at intervals, like an echo, fainter
and fainter each time. "Wlth pin !" and
then again relapsea into silence.
By the way OF changing the subject, Tom
began 10 tell Mis-. Moyse how the great case
OF Davis Us. Morpeth was expected to come
of on "Wednesday week, and how the most
important title-deed was mysteriously miss
Of five hundred pounds to any one who
| would restore it. '",
UncIe Keekwidge frightened up sud-
denly at the word "reward."
~ Know" he said, nodding his head
sagely. Il see the bill myself, at the ba-
ker's round the corner. A terrier-dog with
one eye, answers to the name o. Bob. Ten
shilliG' reward.",1 t.t
"No, no, uncle" said Bessie; "that's
not the reward we were talking about.
Tom was telling us about paper that was
lost, and the gentleman offers a heap Of
money to get it back again. Five hundred
golden pounds Only think OF that! "
"Fiye hundred pounds for finding ter.
rer dog" replied Uncle Keckwldse. III
amt likely; not if he was ever such stcn-
ner for rats /" ~
.sI didn't say anything about terrier qogs,
Mr.. Keckwidge," exclaimed rom. ~ sa'o
a deed, Mr.. Morpeths deed" ,
"You distinctly said terrier aos with
one eve.o said Uncle Kcckwldse; ana rs
for saving you'll be id, that don'talter w.