Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-05-27
\ PRELUDE IN BROWN,

L L
"But, my dear boy, who is going to
say anything of the sort? What mis-
construction can be put on your going
to the seaside for month, meeting a
young lady there, and in a natural way
making her acquaintance? Nothing
may result from it beyond acquaintance,
and no one is called upon to remark
what, after all, is mere coincidence
"Uncle Joshua, | wonder you can
look me in the face! Mere coinci-
dencen when you know perfectly well
that this is q cut-and-dried arrangement,
and that | am led like a lamb to be sac
rifced on the shrine of your heiress.
Coincidence, forsoothi | am aston
ished at your cheek, sir, if you will par
don the expression"
Upon my soul, you young fellows
take pretty airs on yourselves nova
days. retorted Uncle Joshua, angrily
Maud Lowell Is an heiress-and l don't
= deny-a very considerable heiress; but
none the less is she 4 remarkably pretty
girl, accomplished too, and amiable. and
all that; just the girl whom you would
be sure to fall in love with if it wasn't
worth your while to do so. You are a
fool, Ned, let me tell you, very pro-
nounced fool, you let such chance as
this slip on account Of a farrago of nom
sensical notions about love and disinter-
estedness; all twaddle. Such ideas don't
wash, sir let me tell you. I've tested
'em; they don't wash" bringing his
nand down with bang on the table by
way ofperiod.
Uncle. Joshua was a natty, debonair
old gentleman of suave and circumspect
n hoh Af in+a
ly over the surfaces of ideas and things
with due avoidance of all dangerous or
debatable spots. This ebullition there
fore took his nephew quite by surprise,
Never had he seen his relative so ex-
cited about anything before. His care
fully preserved old face was red and hot !;
he jumped about in his tight boots his
voice and manner were fully of unwont-
ed vigor. Ned Banks had been used to
think of his uncle as kindly, formal
fop, to be gently chaffed and practically
ignored when convenient He hardly
knew what to make of him under this
new aspect.
Uncle Joshua, for all his little absurd
tiles, had been good friend and help
full one to his nephew. To him Ned
owed his college education and his start
in life-obligations which he had ac-
cepted easily at the time, as the young
are wont to accept all favors done them,
but of which he felt the weight when
thus reminded. His opposition to his
uncle's scheme had not sprung from any
deep-lying principle. The idea of mar
rying an heiress was no more distasteful
to him than to any other man of his age;
but he had experienced an instructive
repugnance to entering into a precon
certed, cold-blooded arrangement for
the purpose. Now, however, seeing his
uncle's real annoyance and displeasure.
he said to himself, 'After all, why not?
/ don't commit myself by simply going
to the place" And after short silence
he added: All right, sir; it's settled,
then. I'll be at the Cove at the time
you name, and do my best to be civil to
the young lady. First of July, is it?''
and he took out notebook and made
an entry of the date.
My dear Ned" cried the older Mr..
Banks, deeply gratifed, now you are
behaving just as I should wish. l hope
very confidently hope-that this trip
of yours may eventuate for your welfare
IN many ways. Nothing could be farther
from my wish than to force your inclina-
tions; but there is no harm in forming a
pleasant acquaintance, Ned; there can
be no harm-no possible harm. y
The South Cove was looking its pret-
tiest when Ned Banks, true to his word
alighted on the lst of July at the door of
its hotel. All the little cottages and de-
tendencies of the large establishment
shone in the brilliance of fresh paint.
The grass was newly cut; the plaster
vases and red-tinted frkins were filled
with gay geraniums and bright-leaved
plants. Beyond lay the sea, vast and