Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-19


course Of six months their united savings on
ly amounted to fve-and-thirty shillings and
some odd coppers, their engagement appear
ed likely TO be rather n long one. On Satur-
day afternoons the young people were in the
habit Of taking long walk together, follow
ed by tea at Chancery lane-a festive cere-
mony which was only marred by the pres
ence Of Uncle Keckwidge, an aged relative
who resided with Mrs. Moyse. 1t was fam
lily tradition that Uncle Keckwidge had been
rather n fascinating dog in his day but he
was now very inirm, not to say childish. He
was very deaf, and as q rule understood lit
tie OF nothing of what was going on around
him but every now and then he caught one
half Of a sentence, and invariably that half
which the rest of the company would have
preferred that he should not hear He had
further a trying habit of plunging irrelevant
ly into the conversation, following up some
train of ideas Of his own, very often Of an un-
comfortable personal character.
The conversation which we have reported
between Mr. Morpeth and his solicitor took
plnce on Il Saturday. Tom Halliday copied
out the advertisement as directed, and duly
left it with the agent by the time he done
this it was three o'clock, and with light
heart he hung up his well-worn Office coat,
gave his hat an extra polish, and then started
off to n certain tree in Regents Park, where
he found Bessie Moyso already awaiting
him.
After some indescribable proceeding on the
part of Tom, which caused Bessie to e1claim,
"Well never, sir And with so many peo-
pie looking, too !" they joined arm in arm,
and proceeded to hear the band in the Zoo
logical Garden. This, however, they did af-
ter manner Of their own. They had dis
covered that the music was equally effective
land shilling cheaper from the outside Of
the gardens, and as Tom justly remarked,
they did not want to be bothered with ami
mails, SO they promenaded up and down out
side the pnlings to the inspiring strains Of the
martial music within.
The main topic of conversation, not unuat-
urally, was Mr. Morpeth's advertisement
and the young people amused themselves by
discussing alphabetically what use they would
make Of the reward supposing they were
| lucky enough to find the missing deed. Va
! rious plans were suggested, but 1t was finally
decided that Bessie should set up a tobac.
conist's and stationery business, in aid of
| Toms legal earnings. At first Tom was
rather inclined to take the tobacconists por-
| ton Of the business himself, as lie had an
idea that he could serve cigars and yesuvians
with considerable artistic finish but this was
overruled by Bessie, who would not hear of
his giving up his profession That idea
was therefore abandoned, Tom Justly re-
marking that, as he wasn't at all likely to find
| the deed, it really wasn't Of very much con-
| sequence. After a somewhat lengthy stroll
the young people made their way back to
Chancery lane, Tom purchasing pint of
shrimps on his way, as IA contribution TO Mrs
| Moyses refreshmeut arrangements. They
| found the table spread, a pot of home made
| jam and a plate of water-cresses shedding
lustre on the festive board the kettle boil
ing on the hob and Mrs. Moyse bustlng
about in the final preparations for tea-making
| Uncle Keckwidge sat, with his hat on, in his
accustomed place by the fire.
On Mrs Moyse's first taking possession,
some years before of the housekeeper's apart
ment in Bedford row, Uncle Keckwidge COM
faatA6Ru SRd lts5 Rsd Bpt .2e on his lhi hat
| did not perceive any draught, and rashly ven
tured to question its existence, Uncle Keck-
widge who could never brook contradiction,
became firmly convinced that there was a
very severe draught indeed, and had contin-
ued to wear his hat indoors as well as out ev-
er since He had never looked with a favora-
ble eye on Tom Halliday, and had occasionally
occasoned Bessie considerable embarrass-
ment by uttering aloud private reflections to
his prejudice. On the present occasion, the
first greetings were scarcely over when Uncle
keckwidge, who had been eyeing Tom over
in a critical manner, remarked TO himself, but
quite audibly: The idea Of a girl like our
Bess takiu' mp with such pair of trousers as
that. Lor', l believe the women will have
anything nova days = remark which caused
Tom, though not naturally bashful, TO tuck
his legs hastily under the chair, and Bessie to
look very hot and uncomfortable, Mrs. Moyse
making as much clatter as possible with the
teacups, and endeayoring to make believe
that nobody heard the observation, while
Uncle Keckwidge continued to MUNICH his
bread and butter in profound unconscious
ness of having said anything at all offensive.
You mustn't take any notice of uncle,
Tom" whispered Bessie. 'You know what
he is. It's only his fun. He's always taking
one of ="
He needn't take off my trousers, though"
said Tom, and then finding that he had quite
unintentionaly) made kind of joke, he tried
hard to look as if he had said it on purpose
Thomas" said Bessie, pretending to be
drcadfully 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'm
never do so any more. wonder whether
the old buffer would like a shrimp. Try
monster of the deep, Mr. Keckwidge, he
continued, putting a spoonful on the old
mans plate. 'And l shouldn't break my
heart if one Of EN- got crossways and choked
you, you old image" he added, in lower
tone.
For shame, sir :" cried Bessie "a poor
harmless old man, like thas and you want
to choke him !"
"Why couldn't he leave my trousers alone
them" said Tom, still by no means pacifed
Here Uncle Keckwidge, who had been
looking about uneasily, pulled large black
pin out of his necktie, and commenced dig
ging at a shrimp, though apparently without
a satisfactory result.
mo, uncle" said Mrs. Moysc, taking the
pin away from him mot like that, You're
thinking of wrinkles; these are shrimps,"
1--WE are grieved to confess that the good la
dy pronounced the word as ''s'rimps,'D
'Then what did he say they were wrinkles
fory" said Uncle Keckwidge, much aggriev
ed
Il didn't" said Tom, Indignantly. Il
never said anything of the sort"
Young man." replied Uncle Keckwidge,
with dignity, you said distinctly wrinkles; l
noticed it particularly. am very partial TO
wrinkles, but shrimps amt no account"
Come, uncle" said Bessie, ''you know the
last time Tom brought wrinkles you said you
preferred shrimps,"
"We amt had winkles," resumed the old
man, quite ignoring his niece's remark, mot
since that day when we found the ear-wig in
my Sunday hat, And then they was in a
pie"
mo no, uncle" said Mrs. Moyse, laugh
ing, "that wasn't winklesi that was cells"
II dunno about that" said Uncle Keck-
widge, thoughtfully; but know you pick
them out with a pin. With pin !" he re-
pcated at intervals, like an echo, fainter and |
fainter each time. "With pin" and then
again relapsed into silence.
by the way of changing the subject, Tom
began telling Mrs. Moyse how the great case
of Davis VS.. Morpeth, was expected to come |
of on Wednesday week, and how the most |
important title-deed was mysteriously miss
ing, and Mr. Morpeth had offered a reward |
of $500 to any one who would restore it,
Uncle Keckwidge frightened up suddenly
at the word reward" !
81 know" he said nodding his head sage
ly. 81 see the bill myself at the bakers .
round the corner tarrier dog with one |