New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-25

now Obliged her 10 give THE up entirely. we Hlu
been married six months, and there a prospect
of our hapDiness-and our expenses-being by and
by increased. Minnie was III delicate health, ana
the idea of marriage being still a secret one
seemed to prey on her mind. We were decevng
my uncle she persisted IL not honest; and
though my affection for my uncle WAS not 80 vivid
to make me equally sensitive on this point. felt
that with the expected increase in our expenses,
ought to endeavor to earn more. Uncle John
might, If he chose 10 use has influence among mis-
city friends. east procure far better situation
than now held but then. would he choose when
he knew of the crime had committed
L did net despair; all my life hitherto had
been obelient to his wishes he had never paid
b.ll for me, nor received complaint from an en-
ployer: surely he might overlook the one instance
IN which / had counter 10 his will, especially
when he heard all the circumstances and saw
Minnie. had worked myself into quite sangulne
frame of mind, when one day received summons
10 Chaplain. Uncle John rarely wrote letters, but
he sent brief line inviting rather requiring
Uncle johns invitations were always OF pereinI-
tory characterl, me to stay with him for week or
81. as he was laid up with the govt, and dull. |
could go 70 and fro to my work he only wanted
me to play crbbage IN the evening. ! did not like
the idea of leaving Minnie but the invitation could
not bc refused besides. 1t offered good oppor-
tunlty for telling my secret. Uncle johns hts OF
the govt al WAYS affected him mentally IN one of
two ways. Sometimes he became melancholy, and
would talk of his solitary old and lonely life.
If he in this mood it would be an excellent
time to break the news of my marriage. Minnie
would brighten his dali home rs she had done mime.
and bring back the sunshine that had lett ms
hearth when his sister married and went away.
But too often the govt influenced my uncle after
irritable end testy that even Mrs. Corbet hardly
dared TO speak to him IN this case II would have
been madness to allude TO Minnie ut all
| duly arrived ut Chaplain, and discovered that
the govt vas affecting Uncle John dlsagreeaply.
Never had ! him wOrsv-tempcred lie had
been six months at Buxton, and the change had
done hun no GOOD il had been an expensive trip.
and he was angry with himself for having gone,
and the doctors for having sent him. Then, i'll
luck would have IT, the son of city acquaintance
had lust made an mpTudent marriage AGAINST ms
fathers wishes and Uncle John was very full of It,
and expected me to join IN his condemnatlons:
Now, rs was Just as great a sinner nyse could
hardly in conscience anathematiZe young Robinson,
and my lack of sympathy Irritated my uncle. ~,
The weary days dragged 10y. had been at Clap
ham three weeks, and had not found n single on
portunity for disclosing my fatal secret some
times | managed TO get 4 hasty glimpse of Minnie
while i'm town for my work but | was heartily !
sick OF separation. and often half resolved To
sneak ont boldly 10 nay uncle and end this Wretched
state of suspense.
Fate was about unexpectedly to grant my wish. |
The census paper had arTiy ed and Mrs. COrOet one
day reminded ny uncle thatI would be called iCt
that morning. and was not yet nIled up IL was |
one of Uncle Johns worst days: the CONT was IN |
his right hand, and be could not write. was sum
moucd to act a secretary my uncle was te ty-nc
liked TO do everything himself. l TO fill mp the
paper under his eye, to make sure committed no !
FLINDERS and was eahorately instructed where to
write, etc Alas, the first glance at that 4iatlI |
paper ssent my wits .asrdy. Not alone did pry-
ing Government desire 20 know the age and sex OK
married or single And was 10 I'll this mp Mt my |
Uncle Johns elbow With a vain attempt 10 put |
OF the EVIL day wrote tne required particulars |
regarlng Uncle John and Mrs. Corbet as slowly as
possible and then paused
." Hadn't better put down the servants names
servants Pshaw put yourself next"
But ought To NIL mp the census IN London |
urged with sudden hope. Ihls Is not my actual |
home
You slept here last night, idiot; didn't you ?"
said Uncle John, who had waxed IRRITABLE as my |
slow eagraphy and You've Eve, been mere three Ve
know your name and age, don't you till it IN |
here under Mrs Corbets. only you're single
Was | rapidly debated what was BEST 10 De !
done | believed DIRE pains and penalties were at |
tachcd ito fraudulent Cling up of the census; but |
l would cheertuliy have taken my chance OF Oehg /
detected by the Government did describe myself |
as "A bachelor That risk not very serious |
one. But. the other hand. could not write, |
statement under Uncle johns own eye that might |
have TO dsavOw next dag at the same time this /
was clearly not Iuoment to reveal my marriage. |
." Can't you write your own name CRED nee !
John wrathfully and. as stu fingered; chance |
came to my aid. The doctor arrived | hailed /
him a beuetcent genius; .,,., |
)" THIS paper viii be called for to-day, SIR said.
Selling il; = perhaps while you are engaged with /
Mr.. Jones. l will rake 1T down stars ana nHlsh
filing in the servants names ana With'qt wait
Ing for reply Aulred OIL Iev44Hs ID Il 4 Ha'
escaped precipice.
/ called mp the servants, filed in their names
and my ltrutntully, OF couIsel, ana fingered IN
the hall till the messenger called cOh-lRnluS lHe
precious document to HIM with my own hahdS 10 |
escape pryIng eyes Alas, neglected one precau-
riou- | did not sre him out Of the garden HE |
danger [ hsd escaped had really given me such /
shock that thought / would light "a cigar ana take
quiet stroll in the shrubbcrJ to calm my nerves.
We'll IL had ended right at last, but ! resolved to
take the very earliest opportunity of making my
confession: this state Of concealment was growing
uubearable.
Please M William. your uncle wants 70 speak
to You at once" Mrs. CorLet interrupted my rclec-
lions
There was a look of malicious triumph in her :
face that alarmed ne. | threw away my cigar and
followed her in reputation les, my worst fears
were realized there sat my uncle, almost sDeecess
with rage the fatal census paper open before him.
demanding IN a choking voice the meaning OF this
i shalt always think Mrs Corbet had suspected
my secret Perhaps she had friends in London who
knew Of my marriage. Anyway, IL was az her sug-
gestion that the messenger was recalled before ne
cot clear Of the garden 20 enable my uncle 70 make
sure | had filled up the paper properly. mus the
i need not dwell on the scene that followed. An
other hour saw me on my ROAD money wards no
longer oppressed by secret, certainly, but at the
same time dey old of all further expectations from
Uncle John. / never saw him again. Next day
came "A parcel containing all the small personal
possessions had left at Chaplain, also "A cheque for
nifty pounds in blank envelope, and this closed
NV intercourse with my uncle. go
| did not accept my banishment, without
struggle | wrote Minnie wrote our letters were
returned To Us unopened Ilen trled Gazing IN
person nj the house but could not get Ambulance
NV uncle was not well enough To receive Ylsit0rs
Three months afterward / saw the announcement
Of his death in The Tunes, and received formal IN,
vitatiOu 10 the funeral from the iamhy solicitor
went and remained 20 hear the Will read as eX-
Dectcd my name was not mentioned. The dOcu-
uent dated the day after the filling up OF that
fatal census bequeathed everything unreservedly
10 bis faithful and attached friend ana mousse
keeper, Mary COrbet.
Many people advised me to dispute the will on
the ground OF undue nhuence;" but was too
poor 10 emb ark in costly lawsuit; and besides, my
lucle's prejudice against marriage was SO well
known that it could not be denied that l had
wounded him in his tenderest point Dy marrying
Minnie and hi ght have expected 70 be dsinherlted
l consequence. Old Mr. Williams, the solicitor, 9
old me that he had often tried 10 put IN good L
word for me during my uncle's illness but Mrs. {
yorbet watched MIN so closely that IL was lmpos-
,De TO speak to him ID PRIV ate, and Or course her
influence was all against my interests
Fifty thousand pounds and the house and Z
rrouuds was "A good deal to lose but Chancery J.
h. =. LIZ fI1nr n 10 embark |