Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-02-11
MY RICH UNCLE FROM CHINA.

my dears," cried Mrs Chdleigh, hur-
rying into the morning parlor, where Bere
nice and sat, busy over blue and pink
tarlatan candy bags, for the charity fair.
We news for you, the very best of
news''
1t was the day before Thanksgiving, and
the fair was to be held that evening at nv
aunt's house.
6 WHAT'S it ?' demanded Berenice, scat
tering her candies. g Has Mr.. Everleigh
spoken at last2''
My aunt flushed and bit her lip.
My dear Berenice," she said, You
should not be so outspoken To hear YOU,
one would fancy you were exceedingly
anxious about Mr. Everleigh.''
Well aren't we?" interrupted Berry,
saucily, tossing her blonde hair. "Tm
sure we've been expecting him to speak
for the last month, and hoping for it. too.
Where's the harm in saying what we
feel?'
Aunt was silent. I laughed, as / filed
blue bag with pink bon-bons
ou seem to take it for granted Ber-
ry," l said, " that when Mr. Everleigh
does speak, it will be to propose for you
Now, you forget me. Who can tell which
he may choose n
Berenice curled her red lip.
He Il not be likely to choose you Meg,
at any rate" she said, with sneer.
Now, knew this to be quite true !
was a poor orphan, my father died, pen
niless, few years before. We lived in
small cottage, with only four rooms, that
had once been the gardeners cottage, and
which had been granted to us rent free, by
Aunt Mary. In fact, we were, more or
less, dependents on her bounty Mother
eked out our scanty living by taking in
plain sewing, and | earned little by fine
embroidery but [ had not much time of
my own for this kind of work, for nv aunt
was sending for me continually, to do this
and that, and did not dare to refuse
was In short a kind of maid -of-all-work.
up at the "great house, as we called Aunt
Mary's residence. Sometimes [ thought.
with sigh, of the difference between
mamma s lot and Aunt Mary's. Then | re-
membered that the latter had sold herself
for money, marrying an old man, who was
twice her age, and both jealous and exact
ing. Fortunately he had died at last.
But Aunt Mary had, long since, paid the
penalty, by growing harder hearted and
more selfish daily, when my own dear
parents, who had married for love, had
been supremely happy at least while fa-
ther lived. | was not sure, recalling all
this, that, in spite of our privations. we
ought to complain. Yet Berenice was cor
rect, of course. What right had /. de-
pendent, even to think of Mr.. Everleigb
who was rich, fashionable, and a fayorite
everywhere
But | was human, after ALL and this
taunt reused me-
:" can't see why he shouldn't marry
even me, if he loved me, (" I retorted
He's free agent, at any rate
Berenice tossed her head, till her ringlets
were in a simmer
What little fool you are, she said ::
" for goodness sake hold your tongue.
Mamma, love-" and she turned her back
on me, "don't you mean to tell us your
good newsf'
Z" Assuredly, when you are polite enough
to hear 1t. I've been waiting now some
ten minutes. Are you and Meg quite done
with your absurd discussion ?'
"Quite Mamma 1t was Meg who start
ed. it ! she's always chattering nonsense
But let us hear the news"
Aunt drew letter from her pocket.
A letter" cried Berence "then it
does not concern Mr.. Everleigh, after
all. :"
"My dear, no. No one mentioned Mr.
Everleigh's name but yourself. really
wish you would try and be little more
guarded. The letter is from your uncle in
Shanghai. He is coming home.''
Berenice and gave simultaneous ex-
clamation. Since the earliest years Of our
childhood, "our uncle in China" had been
the centre about which all our romance had
revolved. He was mamma s brother. and
Aunt Mary's also. Years before. when /
was mere baby, he had gone abroad, be-
came soldier and sailor by turns and final
ly had amassed, we had heard, great for
tune. Once in long while a battered box
that smelled of camphor and foreign spices
came over the seas, a reminder that uncle
Hal had not quite forgotten either mamma
or Aunt Mary. But generally the gifts
were to my aunt. "Thosc on whom sue