The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-12-17


"And these are your glrls, hey?" said Uncle
Ephraim, surveying Cassandra and Theodore
through the brilliant spectacles; "and not
married yet heyy That won't do, Angelina
that won't do at ali!'
Uncle Ephraim shook his head, and cvl'
IDENTITY losing his temper at such state OF at.
fairs, he continued with trown gathering
above his nose:
at won't dot won't do, Angelina They
must get married"
"Bu, YOU see, uncle" began Mrs, SparkIer,
1--WE know nobody now, OWING TO our fortunes
having fallen
Bother your fortunes cried Uncle Eph'
rain. who cares for fortunes? | know a
nice young man-splendld young man. I'll
fetch him to see you-fne young man; sure
to make fortune some day; saved my life
once. III fetch HIM to see you-tne young
man He's only gardener now-head gar.
dener over yonder-"
Good gracious! don't bring gardener
shrieked the ladies'.
Uncle, how can you?" sobbed Mrs. Spark
Ter, weeping with the disappointment OF hav
ing had her hopes raised only to be knocked
over-"a man that dIgs--a man that raises
vegetables"
what of that" cried Uncle Ephraim
bouncing out of his chair IN a rage, and grow
ing angrier and redder with every word. Il
don't care if he does. ! don't care II he's
vegetable himself. don't care II he's Gu
cumber, or case.knife bean, or Hat DutcH
cabbage, or q gumbo-hc's fine young man
Sure to make his fortune tell you, Harley Is
| I'll fetch HIM TO see you"
"Oh, dear! oh, me-" wept Mrs. Sparkler
"Itl upset everything to bring him here
Coral wants to marry him bad enough now
and
Hey, hey, heyi" shouted Uncle Ephralm
Does Coral WANT marry HIM" And Cora
at that minute entering the room, he caugh
her by the arm without waiting Ior an intro
duction, thus terrifying her half to death, anc
whirled her round so he could see her face
Needn't get scared" he vocitcrated. II ain
no ogre; I'm Uncle Ephralm. And who is l
YOU want to marry, hey, hey? Is it Laurence
| Harley"
And in his excitement the little man shool
Coral about so she could only gasp;
Yves It's Laurence Harley
Mrs. Sparker and Cassandra and Theodore
Instantly set up wall
- And oh, dear' said Cassandra, despairlng
ly, "what'll the rich old bachelor think whcl
he comes back?'
/ What rich old bacheor-what rich ole
bachelor" demanded Uncle Ephram, squal
ing his elbows and TRANSMITTING Cassandra Wit
his shiny spectacles "Do you mean the olt
bachelor who owns the house across th
hedge-hey, hey? Who doyou reckon | III
-hey?'
Il presume you're Uncle Ephralm,' SAT-
| Mrs. Sparkler with slight HINT of sarcasm.
. eyes, yes, of course" SAID Uncle Ephrain
+ beginning to prance around again; land In
the rich old bachelor, too. Didn't know thai
t did you? Didn't know you'd settled dow
next door to Uncle Ephraim, did you? Bu
you're set of lunatics-all but Coral. Can
tolerate gardener, can't you? But | tell yo
he's my gardener, and a fine young man-ln
t going to take him in partnerships he'll be a
rich as the old bachelor himself You're al
5 lunatlcs-won't speak to gardener-nlc
/, country this lovely country this Coral shal
ride in her carriage yet, Pm gong home
you're all lunatcs!"
And Uncle Ephraim skipped off before h
> could be detained.
2 "And suppose you don't object to my ha'
1 ing Laurence now" said Coral.
t ~ suppose not" said Mrs. Sparkler, still
j. little injured, but ready to catch stray gleai
r of hope Seems like Laurence'll be quite
catch after all"
i "And here's all my hopes of a rich old bacl
. elor gone up" said Cassandra, "since he turn
+ out to be Uncle Ephraim. "-Saturddy Ntgh