The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-03-15

Ior a moment; but Mr. Eyerleigl, in few,
kind words, put her fears to rest; and
long before the physician came, my injur-
I'd foot was swathed and bandaged, SO that
Dr. Landor declared he had been ''regu-
larly taken in."
When evening came my foot was so much
better; SO much so, that, when Mr.. Ever |
leigh returned with carriage, and insisted |
that We should 20 up to my aunt's to the
fair, as we had promised, was only glad
to consent. For the first time in our ac-
guaintance, there was something in Mr..
Eyerleigh's manner that made even me,
humble as | was, think that | was not
without charm for him.
The beggar had crept unobtrusively,
into corner while my foot was being ban
daged, but Kitty, remembering him, left
me when she found the hurt was not ser.
ious. "Poor old man" she said, ''we had
nearly forgotten you. You must be hun
CRY. Here, eat some Of these crullers, and
when mamma has finished with Maggie
she will make you cup of tea. -
The cup Of tea was made in due time,
and substantial supper set before the
mendicant; in fact, all the cold meat we
had in the house. When Mr.. Eyerleigh
returned, aud we proposed to 60, the old
beggar rose to his feet.
81 am stranger to you ma 'am, he said,
addressing mamma, "and naturally you will
not wish to leave me here in your house.
| will wait outside till you come back
"Wait outside ?" cried mamma, ''and 10
the cold ? No, your face is an honest face,
if there ever was one. Sit down right here
by the fire, and stay all night and take
dinner with u.s. 1t will be homely meal
for Thanksgiving one, but such as it is
you'll be welcome to it.
"God bless you, maam, said the old
man, with a shaky voice, and / thought /
saw tears in his eyes. am sure heard
him murmur, as he turned away to hide
his emotion: "0f such is the kingdom
Of heaven"
The charity fair, as the reader, by this
time has understood, was to be held in my
aunt's spacious apartments Everybody
was to be there. The governor even, who
was on a visit to his brother, near neigh
Dor, was expected to attend One Of the
senators for our State was also to be pres
ent. 1t was to be a most brilliant affair.
So, when the dining,room was all a
glitter with lights, and echoed with gay
voices, and shone with handsome dresses,
and beheld the presence Of the most dis
tinguished society in the county, and was
filled with stalls of pretty things, the big
chintz covered chair was wheeled into the
hall, aud 1, my spained foot resting on q
cushion, sat in it, with table of pretty
knick knacks before me, and Mr., Ever.
leigh by me.
My aunt did not look in a good humor
however, though her fair could not have
been more Of success, and though every.
body praised her philantrophy. Berenice
too, wore scowl, that spoiled all her blonde
beauty,
Somewhere about ten O'Clock, when bu
siness was at its briskest, there came a roll
Of wheels on the drive and hustle at the
door. Presently, Jack, who had gone tC
see what was the matter, rushed back, hi,
gray eyes dancing.
'0h Berry, | say" he cried out, stiff
ling burst OF laughter, "You know the
beggar? The old man we turned off thi
mOruingf Well, he's back again, here a
the door, and oh ! my, he's our uncle from
China"
My aunt, in her black silk and poin
lace, stood behind stall of cakes and ices
She turned sharply at Jacks words. Hs
saw her look of CONSERVATION, and scream
ed with laughter again.
II say, ma, it is true. Don't you wisl
you'd let me give him the cold turkey, in
stead of making it into sandwiches ?"
My aunt did not utter word. Bat
she hurried to the door, and Berenice fol
lowed. There he stood, our long expected
uncle from China, little, weather beaten
old man, with pinched, pale face. A
wicked twinkle lit up his eyes. My aunt
rushed up to him at once, and would have
smothered him with kisses. But he merel,
gave her the tips of his sun Drowned fingers
''I made acquaintance with your niece
this morning" he said, with dry ,chucking
laugh, turning to me, as he came in, "and
the little girl there, too, !" indicating Kitty
"See is poor Marian's child, eh? She.
got her mothers fair face and good heart
She gave the beggar a welcome, which
some Others | know of didn't All, well
suppose its human nature. But never
turn needy man from your door, Mrs
Chidleigh. I'll make it up to her, all the
same. You know what the Good Book
says about entertaining angels unawares p
Poor aunt The look on her face wa.
too ludicrous. In spite of our relationship
laughed till my sides ached. But Bere
nice went to her room and cried herself tc
sleep.
Well there is little more to tell. Ii
really was our uncle from China, who had
chosen to come to us wearing the guisc Of
beggar; and if only my aunt had been
consistent in her charity, her long cher,
ished expectations might might have been
realized.
As it was, the great China fortune went
to me aud Kitty and Jack; and Berenice
never got penny. And, moreover, when
Horace Everleish did speak, Che had
spoken that evening before our uncle de.
elared himself } it was me he asked to be
his wife.
Berenice takes 1t all bitterly to heart
and my aunt is inconsolable; but /, belicy.
ing that in this life and in the life which
Is to come we get our just deserts, have
nothing to say.
"Yes, remarks my uncle, "Maggie and
Kitty and Jack shall inherit all | have
They were kind to me when they did moi
know who was; that's the sort of people
| believe In"
THE GREATEST FIREs.-London, in
l666-l3,200 buildings destroyed; loss
s55,OOO,0O
Moscow, 1920, 500 buildings burn.
ed; loss, $3.50, ,0OO,0 900, Only G, 900 houses
left standing.
Savannah, l820-463 buildings burned;
loee 90 nm mn