The Newtown bee., 1879-07-02

| Intimacy WlGn bI1o DOuIueTn lddleS gtcW l apace. Before the final telegram arrived to announce Uncle Joshua and his be- lated party, three weeks from the time originally set, all was over, so far as Ned Banks was concerned. He was hope | lessly in love-so hopelessly and so ut- I terly as to make any other idea impossi- ble to his mind. And with the resolute determination to clinch fate, and defy the world, the flesh and his uncle, he arrival. won 8 lovely, blushing 'syes" from Essie, and awaited the appearance fhis relative with sense of joy and ex- ultation at heart which made facing lions an easy matter enough, and how much more so confronting one old gen tleman of placable manners and a coun- tenance habituated to the expression of the milder emotionsp
 Miss Lowell was pretty = wonder fully so for an heiress, Ned was forced to confess. Uncle Joshua seemed singu- larly depressed. He introduced them with an air so deprecatingly miserable that his nephew did not know what to make of it. Behind the trio appeared fourth passenger-Allibone Crosby.
 Glad to see you back" said Ned, who felt in good humor with all the world just then. His secret burned within him. He followed the party as they went up | Spetllo, oIOoDJ UilC SldPo3 and assisting Mrs. Lowell with an air of profound devotion. He turned to meet Uncle Joshua's eyes fixed on him with look of mournful emotion
 "Come with me to my room," said the old gentleman; "I want a chance to sneak 4nMd Mth Wxant xon n pFfHnts efande to speak with you in private" retorted Ned, gayly.
 "I It is not your fault, my boy" began Irn1 1n Inrh ,,nio nttN1y he locked the door and motioned Ned to take a chair: "That is 8 comfort for me to think of"
 Ned stared. What was not his fault? Had Uncle Joshua heard?
 There was no fault about it,n he began, flushing little. "Such word is out ot the question in speaking of the matter Wait till you know her, sir.n
 You're right. I didn't know her." say that I was deceived; but I am man of the world, and tolerably acute, as l flatter myself; and without a good deal of pains having been taken to blind me, l am certain my eyes would have been opened long before."
 But, uncle, you were not here. If you had arrived at the time you fixed you would have seen the w.ole thing coming on weeks ago"
 NIOuUIS you ulcHI1. IU ScGIIS titbIG was an understanding, if not an engage ment, in the spring"
 Spring, why, I never set eyes on her till I came here''
 "On whom? I am not speaking ot you, of course, I refer to this fellow Crosby"
 Crosby! why, what has he to do with her?n
 Do with her9 why, they are engaged, Ned. It is a great blow, after all my hopes, and will be so to you.'
 '' Engaged! Crosby! But what nas he to do with Miss Darbelle?"
 Miss Darbelle! Who is that? I never heard of her in my life before. Of course I mean Maud Lovell.''
 Ned stared for a moment; then the full absurdity of the situation flashed be- fore him, and he burst into a laugh so long and loud that Uncle Joshua, sus- pecting sudden frenzy, cried:
 My boy, control yourself! What an extraordinary way of relieving your feel ings! Do stop. What is there to laugh atPn
 3 His perplexity changed to dismay when at last the true state of the case was explained, and he found that his cherished nephew had engaged himself to an unknown somebody from Mary land.
 "You positively know nothing about supportP" he ga gasped. ped aoh, Ned! Ned ]! never heard of anything so insane in all my life.''
 II know that she is gentlewoman," :" retorted Ned. "No one could doubt that who talked with her for five minutes. And I know that she is the sweetest, most charming, most refined girl 1 ever saw in my life, and almost the prettjest. That is enough for me, Uncle Joshua, and I think it ought to be enough for you as well.o
 It wasn't, however Uncle Joshua S afternoon was completely spoiled He went about deiectedly, his hands clasped behind his back, head bent, dropping whiskers-the very picture of misera- ble old gentleman. The very tails of his coat looked wretched, as if in sym pathy with their owner. Gone were all his airy graces and conversational sal lies. He had not 8 word to throw to a dog, and went to bed while still the sun was high, pleading headache, and ex- cusing himself on that pretence from the introduction which Ned was eager to effect between him and his new niece elect. Tomorrow would be time enough for that, remarked Uncle Joshua, with low groan.
 1t was astonishing how he revived next morning, after a before-breakfast talk on the piazza with Allibone Crosby
 My dearest Ned,n he cried, drawing his nephew aside, '' I have just heard something which has gratified me very much-very much indeed! Why didn't you explain that Miss Darbelle was the adopted daughter of my old friend Sena- tor Ross? l knew him well in Wash ington in, let me see, '49 it must have been-a highly elegant man, and a most princely fortune. Your fiance and her sister are his reputed heiresses, under stand. I should have met your an had I known this. My old friend E : daughter well! well! In some re- spects the connection pleases me better than the other of which we have spoken You are going to do remarkably well by yourself f- remarkably well, you lucky fa11oyf f',