South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-12-05
Yes. the adopted child


him. said Silvia, unlocking the door
and admitting her companion.
Il beg your pardon About
'A5oul that rich old California cdr
mudgcon. our Uncle MacJigxer,' said
SILVIA. You'll excuse me speaking SO
strongly, but he neE has done any.
thing for us. aud OF cant be expected
to respect a chsfaelss one never has
Oh, of coS, 3 nc.r said the tall young
gentleman, who had looked triie puz.
zled just at first: Can Icarry your bias.
kct Tor you?'
And Silvia. intent on thinking how
she could replace the little walnut wood
crib, which was SO glaringly unsuitable
for this long legged silky bearded child
of adoption with something better a.
dapLed for his wants. gave him the has.
ket, whence protrudcd the leg OF fowl
ana the conesna ed corners OF many
brown paper package. to say nothing OF
a crisp head OF celery AMI en- odorife.
rous smoked mackeIel.
Il wish you weren't quito 60 tall,' she
sal frankly.
Because, 70 tell you the truth said
Silvia, we thought uncle Mac.Jiggers
adopted chilli was u li,tle boy, and we
borrowed Bertic Mallison's crib. But if
YOU don't mind sleeping with your uu-
Gle
Il can put up with any quarters saiI
Mr.. MacJIgger.
And Silvia pronounced him, in her
secret mind, perfectly splendid
In fact, tie whole Muir family were
in love with him before they had finish
ed dinner. They had besiged him with
questions about Uncle NacJigger, Civ
ing him their private and not altogether
favorable opinion in regard to that gen
tlcman, and coniiied to him Nil their
troubles. financial and otherwise.
III only Uncle MacJiggcr would do
something for Us, said Agnes; visit
ful V.
What do you want him to do? said
the adopted child. laughing. :.
Die and leave us oil his money SAID
Silvia, promptly.
Allow US al income Of 80 much per
anuum,' cried Agnes.
Girls, gi.ls!' demonstrated Mrs.
Muir.
What does yellowfn old miser
want OF SO much money! demanded
Silvia.
'ilorrid old skinflint! CALCULATED Ag-
mes. But DO tell me, have you much
influence with him?'
The young stranger modestiy admit
ted that he thought he had.
You couldn't poison him, could your
asked Silvia, solemnly.
Il shouldn't like To do that said Mr..
MacJig5er with equal gravity. And.
after all. perhaps lie has some right to
live
Well said Silvia. slowly, perhaps
he has
No one had understood definitely what
il was that detained Uncle MacJigger
himself. A sentence or two had been
spoken about some trouble with the
trunks at tue custom-house. and they
had asked no further questions.
But after the long, pleasant, gossipy
evening, In which they had all grown so
costly confidential. Mrs. Muiv went to
the kitchen, to take counsel with her lit
Tie servant respecting the breakfast
Agnes had gone up stairs to see that
the bedroom fire and candles burned
brightly, and Silvia had just risen TO
say goodnight, when the e!iest put out
uis land in OBTAINING sort OF way.
silvia said he-I may say Silvia,
mayn't |, although we are no real rela-
tiCnsY'
'Ot curse, brightly assentel the girl.
] think perhaps owe you a little ex-
planntion, went on the young man.-
The truth is that am not your Uncle
MacJigger's adopted child
Then cried Silvia. tragically' who
arc you%
i am Uncle MlcJisgor himself. con.
tessed the stranger.
But slrcked Silvia, you told
US
i beg your pardon gently correcte |
the stranger. i told you nothing, ex-
cept that Inv name was MacJigger, AMI
that / was an adopted child; both Of
which statements were strictly true
Dear, dear + cried Silvia. And we've
been calling you cUrmudgson, and a
nun j'AtNt , tilON sdNti tulStI, anu
all sorts Of things and wanting you to
poison yourself, and
DO you suppose I attach the least i'm
portance To those trilcsY laughed Mr..
MacJ igger.
But but You telesrnphed that you
we're coming here with an adopted child'
said Silyir.
80 did. 1t was a little child who
was orphaned on the voyage. and Of
whom / assumed the charge; hut. very
Unexpectedly TO me, It's friends we're
waiting on the pier TO relieve me Of oil
espOnsibility.'
And why didn't you tell us ali
this2'
We'll. I was going 10. when yo1 PRO
nounced me an old California skinlint
or something 81 the sort, and after that
II wasn't in human nature. YOU see. TO
resist "a little quiet masqueraiing-now
was it?'
And gasped Silvia, can you ever
forgive Us all?'
j have nothing TO forgive, laughed