South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-07-04
a Bachelors Tenant.

should like to describe my hero as
Voung and gallant cavalier OF this nine.
teenth century, with tho beauty OF an
Apollo and the wisdom Of sage. but
truth compeis me To acknowledge that
Rupert otnthson. in spite OF his 6nc
Christian appcllation, was neither the
one or tho other. His nephew and
nanesake, who was called in the bosom
OF his family Rupert the Second. said
that MIS- uncle Rupert was a 'crusty old
bachelor and | hammer my brains ia
vain for more fitting description. A
crusty old bachelor he undoubtedly was.
more than iifty years OF age, with priz-
aled hair, hoavy gray eyebrows, a thick
gray beard, sud rough voice and manner.
1t is true taat he was always very care.
fnl 10 keep tue crustiest side of his ma
ture or the surface. and had been dis
covered in committing secretly dec,ls OF
charity and kindness that belied utterly
his habitua!ly surly tone and abrupt
manner.
twenty years before, when the gray
hair was nuL-brown, aud clustered i'm
rich curis over the broad, white forehead.
when the brown eyes shoue with the fire
OF ambition, and the clear voice was
true and tender, Rupert Smithson had
given his heart to Kate Carroll, neigh.
Dor and friend, and little sweet heart
irom childhood.
Urged by love as we'll as ambition, he
bad left his home IN q small wos,arr
town and gone to New York to win
name and "a fortune TO lay at Katie's feet.
Ale fortune and fame "a ouccossr,I
merchant came 10 him. and whom no ~.
turned To Kat Ina tound tho, Ohio hal
LETT nor home .lan to l,acoma thu hr;,,.,
of a weollby pork dealer in C,ncinna,i
Nobody told Rupert of treocberv m
the pretty Kate. OF letter, sunnreased
OF ISLANDERS circulatea and narentaI an
,uorily stretched TO its utmost in favor
OF the wealthy suitcr. He had no re-
cnri Of the despair that crept over tho
loving boar. when the plcaiinr letters
we're unanswered. Of tho dali an,,hv
that y'e!dci n list, md gave away The
hand Of the young .,ill hen her Leart
seemed broken. Aiitbat the vonno mr..
dent lover Ipc,y was the one hitter foot
Jhat the girl tee loved faithfully and fond.
~ vs., false TO her Dromises-the VITO
OF another lie spoke no word or hit.
ierness, Dut returned to the home he
had fitted 10 for his bride. To tho buai.
ness b. lad hoi eel was his Stepping
stone To harpi4css, aud To a life of lone.
ilness.
Ten years l'tcr, when his sister, with
her son an' daughter. came to live in
New York Tor educational advantages,
Rupert the First Yas certainly what his
saucy nephew called alma crustv old
bachelor. Yet, into that sore disappoin-
ted heart Kate descrtoI had so woun-
del, tile bachelor uncle took with warm
lose and great Indulgence his nephew
and niece" bright. handsome, children Of
ten aad twelve. WHO. Childlikc, imposed
upon MS goot nature, rioted over
lnf quiet, orderly home, till his staid
h"GsehcepcT declared they were worse
than pair of monkeys, cares3ed him
s'0rmiiv one moment and poutel over
some refusal for monstrous indulgence
me next, and treated him generally as
bachelor uncles must expect to be trea.
,cd BY their sisters children.
There was some talk, when Mrs. Kim.
berly came to New York, Of making one
household of the family, hut the idea
was abandoned, and the wealthy widow
selected residence three doors off, in
the same block.
Rupert was 80 set in his fdgety old
bachelor ways she said, that it would
he positive cruelty TO disturb him
Probably young Rupert and Flora
did not consider their bright young ia
ccs dlsturbers of their uncle's tranquil
"; but IL Is quite certain that out of
school, No. 40, their uncie'S house. saw
them quite as frequently as No. As,
where theirmother resided. WitEthe intu-
itiVe perception OF chiltfen, they under.
stood that the abrupt, often harsh voice,
Tire suriy WORD, and the undemonstra-
tive manner covered a heart that would
nave made any sacrifice for their sakes,
thut loved them with as true "a kheir