Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-04-08

ITO be hungry? Yes; very good =
! sitting down at the table and tapping
| the call-bell. But it won't last very
long I'll venture to say that in fifteer
minutes from now your appetite will b
considerably diminished
Every likely" said Dick, as Sarah en-
ters from the kitchen, bearing the cof
fee-urn in one hand and dish of beef
steak in the other AT any rate, vii
see how far steak, coffee and hot bis
cults will go toward diminishing it.,
/ Presently there is violent ring at the
door-bell. s7t tR
"Who can that be?" exclaimed Dick
inquisitively. wonder if any of the
boys could have come out to see what
has become of me?"
1T sounds very like the postman,
adds his sister; and the postman it is
Two letters are his contribution to the
Roys this morning, both of which Sarah
hands to Miss Janet, who hurriedly
reads the addresses. One is for herself
the other is for her brother.
Here is a letter for you, sir, if youl
name is Horatio,'n she quotes, reaching
it to him across the table.
"But my name is not Horatio," he
replies, correctingly, as he takes it.
Are you aware that to paraphrase is
perfectly allowablep If your name be
Richard would be much more appropri-
ate, and would sound far better"
Janet scarcely listens to the prattle Of
her brother: the letter that has come fol-
her is edged with black, and she is
neryously tearing open the envelope in
her haste to see what i'll news it has
brought, whose death it has come to an
nOunce.
Dick notices her agitation as she draws
out the inclosed sheet, and wonders,
even as she is wondering, what can be
its message.
Uncle Arthur is dead" she says, the
next moment, giving a sigh of relief.
II saw it was in Harry's handwriting,
and so feared it was Cousin Margaret" "
"Uncle Arthurm repeats Dick. I'm
Gle Arthur! He's one of my respected
great uncles, whom l have never had
the pleasure of seeing: a California mil
ionaire. | wonder did it ever strike
acceptable to his great-niece and great
nephew, who are battling with the
world far away over here in the East?'
"Oh, Dickn' exclaims Miss Roy,
greatly shocked, how can you talk o
the poor mans money When he is just
dead?n
Poor man. says Dick, laughing.
" always thought he was rich one. F."
May | inquire, y asks Miss Roy,
meekly, when her brother had twice
read the epistle he holds in his hand,
and is about to begin again, what Nell
has to say that is so gerry interesting?"
A slight flush mounts to Dicks face as
he hurriedly crumples the missive into
his pocket.
"Nelli" he repeats. "How did you
know it was from Nell?"
II know her handwriting.
But it's Just like hundreds of others. 7
continued Dick, buttering hot roll in
continuance of his breakfast. All
ladies write in the same style nowadays
The letters are all very tall and all very
thin.n
Each lady's hand has a peculiarity,
nevertheless
- Which nobody can deny" quotes
Richard. Some hands are pink and
some are white, some are fat and some
are lean, some wear diamonds and some
wear none"
How you trip one upn' exclaimed
Janet, smiling. You know very well
what | mean. Would you have me
stumble over the whole length Of CHR
ography' every time?n a19s1
By no means. 1t would only be a
waste of breath, and would seem as
though you were Intentionally airing
your knowledge of Webster's Una
bridged.''
Dick is beginning to congratulate him
self on the mastery way in which he has
turned the subject and escaped fudely
telling his sister that the contents Of
Miss Nellie Taylor's letter are not for her
ears, when she again refers to his re-
marks
"By-the-bye,n she says, as she draws
from the urn her brothers second cup of
coffee, speaking of some hands with
wear one, does she? When do you pro-
pose presenting her with one of the
gems?"
g was not aware with mock grav-
ity) THAT young men are generally ex-
pected to provide their lady friends with
diamond rings"
Did the fact that there is such a
thing as an engagement ring ever present
itself to your enlightened intellect?"
g E'lgGgenle7atr' ~ repeats Dick; did
understand you to say engagement? !?
Since when, pray, did you conclude that
your respected brother had given his
heart to another? / know of no engage
ment.n
oh, dear!' says Janet, signing melo-
dramatically; g have [ really been mis-
taken? And here | was already congrat-
ulating myself on so soon having sister
in-law!n
"Do YOU remember the nursery