Litchfield enquirer., 1879-09-11

1 nists and stationery business, in aid of Toms legal earnings. At first Tom was rather in- clined to take the tobacconist's portion of the | business himself, as he had an idea that he could serve cigars and vesuvians with consid- erable artistic finish ,y but this was overruled by Bessie, who would not hear of his giving up his profession" That Idea was there- l fore abandoned, Tom justly rerlarking that, as he wasn't at all likely to find the deed, it really wasn't of mnch consequence. After a somewhat lengthy stroll the young people made their way back to Chancery Lane, Tom 1 purchasing pint of shrimps on his way as a contribution to Mrs Moyse's refreshment ar- engagements. They found the table spread, a pot of home made jam and a plate of water crosses shedding lustre on the festive board : the kettle boiling on the hob ]; and Mrs. Moyse bustling about in the final preparations for tea- 1 making. Uncle Keckwidge sat with his hat on, in his accustomed place by the fire S.'1''' On Mrs. Moyse's first talk ing possession some years before, of ,thes. housekeeper's apartment I in Bedford row, Uncle Keckwidge complained of draught. and had put on his hat as a pro tection. As the rest of the family did not re- | ceige any draught, and rashly ventured to ques- ton it's existence, Uncle Keckwidge, who could never brook contradiction, became firm | ily convinced that there was a very severe draught indeed, and had continued to wear his
 
 never looked with favorable eye on Tom Halliday, and had occasionally caused Bessie considerable embarrassnent by uttering aloud private reflections to his prejudice. On the present occasion the first greetings were hard | ly over when Uncle Keckwidge, who had been eyeing Tom over in critical manner, remarked to himself, but quite audible, 'The idea of girl like our Bess takin' up with such a pair of trousers as that, Lor', l believe the I mark which caused Tom, though not unnatur- ally bashful, to tuck his legs hastily under his chair, and Bessie to look very hot and uncom- fortable, Mrs. Moyse makins, as much chatter | as possible with the teacups, and endeavoring | to make believe that nobody heard the obser- l vation, while Uncle Keckwidge continued to munch his bread and butter in profound un- consciousness of having said anything at all | offensive
 h"You mustn't take any notice of uncle, Tom," whispered Bessie. ''You know what one off,"
 ''He needn't take flo my trousers, though" i" said Tom, and then finding that he had (quite unintentiontially) made a kind of joke, he tried hard to look as if he had said It on pur- pose.
 I Thomas" said Bessie, pretending to be dreadfully shocked. "Thomas, l am perfect ly ashamed of youl It would serve you right not to let you have any shrimps."
 Forgive me, this once" said Tom; "Ill never do so any more. wonder wether the old buffer would like shrimp. Try mon- ster of the deep, MT. Keckwidge," he con- tinued, putting spoonful on the old mans l plate. And shouldn't break my heart if one of'em got crossways and choked you you old image 1" he added in lower tone ,. :, .,.s. ''For shame, sir r cried Bessie; "a poor, harmless old man like that and you want to choke him '" # f' '" ':t-
 >.'Why couldn't he leave my trousers alone, then ?" said Tom, still by no means pacifed.
 Here Uncle Keckwidge, who had been look | ing about uneasilv, pulled large black pin out of his necktie and commenced digging at shrimp tholgh apparently without satisfac- tory result. -.
 ''No, uncle," said Mrs. Moyse, taking the pin away from him ''not like that You're | thinking of wrinkles; these are shrimps." l eve are grieved to confess that the good lady ! pronounced the word as ''s'rimps.'O
 Then what did he say they were wrinkles | for, said Uncle Keckwidge, much aggravat- l ed. ,s. yu ae. i,a7.-ls aH fo -,a5 ''I didn't" said Tom, indidnantly., II nev- CT said anything of the sort" ..1.i.....
 "Young man," replied Uncle Neck widge, with dignity, ''you said wrinkles distinctly; l noticed it particularly. am very partial to wrinkles, but shrimps ain't no account"
 Come, unce," said Bessie, you know the last time Tom brought wrinkles, you said you preferred shrimps." t'
 "We aint had wrinkles, :" resumed the old man, quite ignoring his niece's remark, mot since that day wien we found the earwig in my Sunday hat. And then they was in a pie?" .r..1 ,.t sa -.. .. .,1y ''No, DO, uncle, y said MT. Moyse, laughing, ''that wasn't wrinkles, that was cells"
 ''I dunno about that" said Uncle Keck- widge thoughtfully; ''but know you pick 'em out with pin! With pin l" he repeat ed at intervals, like an echo, fainter and fam ter each time "With a 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 gs, Morpeth was expected to come off on Wednesday week, and how the most important title deed was mysterionsly missing and Mr. Morpeth had offered large reward of e500 to any one who could restore it. .,,.. Uncle Keckwidge frightened up suddenly at the word ''reward" ''''' II know" he said, nodding his head sage ly. Il see tue bill myself at the, bakers round the corner, A terrier dog with one eye answers to the name O Bob. Ten shillin' re- ward,'' - ''H t'N'.'-'. S'''s4 t'. .'
 "No, no, uncle,," said Bessie; 'that's not
 
 telling us about paper that was lost, and the gentleman offered a heap of money to get it back again. Five hundred golden pounds! Only think of thati' 1fI,1l es! -1 ..1'...'. "FIve hundred pounds for finding terrier dog" replied Uncle Keckwidge. ,..'It ain't rats" -.'. 't @l&' fi'fT -'t"''EF ''. - s-. Il don't say anything about terrier dogs, Mir, Keckwidge," exclaimed Tom, II said a deed : Mr. h fos sIoa .,-rrss ..,s s''You distinctly said a terrier dog with one eye" said uncle Keckwidge; land as for say ing you'll be d--d, that don't alter it. Nor It ain't manners either" ""'s i'si" fliil. ''ies
 T never said anything of the kind p shout ed Tom. 'Isald that it was a deed that was lost-a parchment document"
 -''I said all along it was a dog you meant" said the old man, only catching the last word of the sentence. A terrier dog, answers to the name of Bod? Well, you ain't found him have you ?'' -i't /" f"" i..tii jal Vi f.tf.
 Mrs. Movse and her daughter were so tickled with the old mans mistakes and Toms in- creasi2g indignation that it was some, time be. fore their laughter would enable them to ex- plain to Uncle Keckwidge that it was valii able paper, and'not a dog was lost. r .'o7, e'Tlfen why did he come a-teliing us stories about terrier dogs?, don't believe there ain't been no dog lost at all-there now. And he may put that in his pipe and smoke it." Tom was beginning to get really angry. but Bessie pacified him by squeezing his hand under the table and whispering ,7.,,a ...
 "Lor' you don't mind uncle, Tom, dear, You know he's quite deaf and foolish He doesn't know half he saysl''a ] 27o11'y"4t ass | t.''I, don't y think much of the other, half, whatever, ,it may be- said Tom, doubtfully i"Hes never particularly anliable but this evening he does seem to have his knife into me uncomrn0n "sdl ' +5s5Hg5 GaEn- 3HI iv f.ai l s"Never mind, dear, " replied Bessie, ''we don't take any notice of what he says, and | you mustn't either. Have little of mothers home made raspberry jam, and think no more about it. This is the first pot of last years making, brought out expressly in honor of you"
 s'Thank you, ma'arn since you're so press ing, don't mind if l do;" said Tom, and proceeding to hef himself But scarcely had he taken mouthful when he grew suddenly