St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-12-10

about their chances than ANYBODY pres
ent, and had no intention of pulling
faces at Uncle Stephen if the latter
should get the whole Inheritance to his
own cheek.
Stephen Umberglowth was just the
man whom the world in its discretion
would have fastened upon as q fit heir,
for was ne not the great Mr.. TIMBER
glowth whom Everybody knew-the
statistician, politician and general critic
of other mems "isms?" He was tall,
pompous, red-eared. bald person. with
full lips always protrudng, as if they
were going to say "pooh-pooh." The
bump of generation is wanting on his
pate. but self-esteem was largely deyel-
oped. He was a practical man. who
cowed and scoffed and said "tut tut"
and delied mankind to oppose any ar
guments to his common-se view of
things. He had twice tried to get into
Parliament and had nearly succeeded
both times; it was thought he would
get in before long, and he himself talked
Of the idea Of his being beaten a third
time as "preposterous." Stephen UNI
berglowth was married, but kept his
wife in the background as an inferior
creature, inapt for rational argument
and he had two sons still at school, who
by his orders were undergoing prac-
tical education in mathematics, geology,
natural science and modern languages,
with as little Latin and Greek and
"other fooleries as possible.
just before the will was opened
Stephen Umberglowth thought good
to sing the praises of his deceased
cousin by way of a change, for he sell
dom praised living people. He had
also observed that his kinsfolk seemed
to have no lively appreciation of the
deceased's character.
"a man of great shrewdness he was,
l assure you," said he, with knowing
wag of the head. Il used sometimes
to run down and see him. He and [
were of opposite opinions on all con-
ceivable subjects. but | tatter myself
that l talked him over"
II once talked with him about his
religion, but met with no success" re-
marked Mr.. Gioam, dismally.
Pooh, pooh, religious systems, my
dear Gloam-. Well, well, as YOU are
parson, won't say what think about
then."
why didn't you advise him to in
vite some friends down and shoot his
preserves" asked Alice Callingclere.
II never saw such quantity of pleas
ants and hares going about wild"
"What sentiment for womanr
exclaimed the great Umberglowth.
"You and your husband, my dear, lead
lives absolutely devoid Of common
sense, preserving game that you may
kill it; breeding life only to destroy. If
you want sport, why not make it useful
to the community by destroying rats
and mice9''
eve do when we get a chance,
said Alice, mildly.
"Well, your uncle was not above the
country gentleman's foible about fox
hunting" confessed Stephen TIMBER
glowth. "When he was young he
hunted; but in his latter days tried to
make him understand what a foolish
waste of capital and energy there was
in setting sixty hounds and as many
men to gallop after fox. He used to
listen without answering, but l am sure
made an impression; he was an old
fashioned gentleman, your uncle, but
very keen and sound of sense. A won
derfully accurate Judge of character to
begin with
II expect he used to praise you, if
you say that laughed Mrs. Calling
clere.
II am as Indifferent to praise, Alice.
as | am to all the luxuries and amuse-
ments that seem to please you,' re-
marked Stephen, loftily. ''Your uncle
read me Alright, and esteemed me, be-
lieve, which was only natural, as /
never gave him occasion to doubt the
soundness of my judgment"
Here Mr.. Purkin, the lawyer, inter-
vened: Ladies and gentlemen, if you
are ready = - he said; SO the
door was closed, and everybody sat
down. Stephen Umberglowth took his
place at the head of the table at the
solicitors right hand. Mr.. Purkin,
who knew the contents of the will, had
given him hint that he was the heir,
so Stephen felt secure and jubilant, as
the above conversation showed.
Mr.. Purkin. broke the seals of the en-
velope that contained the will and
smoothed out that document amidst a
dead silence. He was a prim, white.
haired little man, very formal in all his
ways, and he proceeded to read with
tuneful distinctness.s a. D.
After the customary preamble, the
will continued as follows: I bequeath
to my sister-in-law, Lady Blackwell, the
sum of $4,000 and mourning ring
worth 100 guineas. To my nephew,
Clement GIoam, $4,000; altogether
deprecate his new tangled ritualist an.
tics, or l should have left him more.
To my nephew, Dennis Callingclere,
leave 10000, and f50O to his wife to
buy trinkets with; they are a pleasant
couple, but it would be folly to bequeath
the whole of my estate to pair of such
scattergoods.n Then came q string OF