The Russellville Democrat., 1881-01-20
THE WISER CHOICE.

speaks, from the scented note she has been perusing, which begins-"My ador- ed Laura" and ends with--"Yours till death"
 Say? what can he say to object? Of course he will be proud to have his niece marry into so aristocratie a family" Mrs. Earle replies, in her usual naughty tone.
 q am not sure about that, mamma; you know that Uncle Hugh is queer and old-fashioned, and 1 don't believe he liked the cool way treated that favorite of his-that young Lesley"
 Nonsense, Laura; your uncle only likes Mr. Lesley as one man likes another whom he has befriended. I can't inn agine for a moment he could suppose that my daughter could ever think of car penter."
 "Well. I'm sure l hope that you are right, for Madame Blanchard's charges are pretty high, and I expect he'll give me the money for my rousseau"
 The bell rings, and a ser,r@s @s .ers the boudior where the ladies 4lss' 4...s sea.edi, to tell them that Mr. Hugh Fielding -aesTyraTts them in the parlor.
 Laura was right in her intuitive feel ing that her "old-fashioned" uncle would not look with any great favor upon her alliance with Lambert Rodney. He does not scruple to speak his thoughts.
 ''Umph, niece Laura, so you are going to throw yourself away upon that young flop, when you might once have had such a man as Burt Lesley.
 "HTghm exclaims his sister, "you are not serious! Why, when Mir. Lesley called on Laura, felt that it was great piece of presumption, and we soon showed him that we thought so."
 Presumption! We'll, well, we won't quarrel. Laura's engaged, and I suppose all I've got to do is to put my hand in my pocket; but let me tell you, Maria, that though my young friend, Lesley, is poor and as you so scornfully say, a carpenter some day Laura will be sorry that she lost the opportunity of winning such a husband-for it was easy to see, when l introduced him to her, he was very much attracted. I mean it when say, that an honest man is Gods noblest work, , and that such man, be he rich or poorly born, can raise himself by his power of brain into the highest posi- ton in our land-even to the Presidential chair"
 The old gentleman suddenly stops; he detects the vailed expression in his niece's brillient eyes, and sees that his words are only being wasted.
 After little while he rises to go.
 Well, Maria, here's the money for the wedding things. Pm sorry can't con gratulate Laura upon her choice"
 With these abrupt words Uncle Hugh takes his leave.
 Laura opens the package, and a curl of the lip shows that she is not pleased.
 "Five hundred dollarsl Why, mama, it will only get my wedding dress! I didn't think Uncle Hugh would be so mean~
 "Never mind, Laura. When you are Lambert Rodney's wife you will never know the need of money"
 Let us follow Uncle Hugh as he walks quickly along, striking his gold-headed cane now and then on the pavement, and humming softly to himself
 He comes to a neat cottage in quiet street and enters unannounced.
 "Ah, brother Hugh, how glad am to see you after all these monthsl We have missed you so much"
 Eve only just returned from my trip, Jane," he says, as he presses a kiss upon the smooth, placid brow of his sister.
 Then they seat themselves, and Hugh tells her all that has happened since they last met
 Suddenly, fresh young voice rings through the hall:
 I'm ower young to marry yet and, so singing, a bright, beautiful girl bounds into the room.
 It is Jane, Uncle Hugh's favorite niece.
 He strokes back the soft hair which waves and ripples willfully around the sweet face.
 50 you are 'ower young,' are you, little one? You are not like your cousin Laura, then, for she's 'wooed and won and a. already"
 Then he tells them of Laura's engage ment.
 'Iow foolish of Maria" exclaims Mrs. Fairleigh, Ito allow Laura to put her life's happiness in that shallow-brained youths keepingl How thankful should be that my little Jane has chosen one who l know has the fear of God in his heart"
 Jane covers her face with her hands to hide it's tell-tale expression, as her uncle draws her to him.
 'So! so! go away for six months, and come back to find both my nieces en- gagged to be married Who is the lucky man that is to have our little Jane?"
 "You will be surprised, Hugh, and know glad, to hear that it is your friend Mir. Lesley. He has told me that when he first met Laura his fancy was touched by her handsome face and fascinating but the moment he saw our Jane his heart went right out of his keep ing" said Mrs. Fairleigh.
 "So little Jane IS to be Burt Lesley's bride? A carpenters wife-surely, sister, you are not looking very high"
 Jane lifts her eyes with an incredulous look to her uncles face; but she soon sees that he is only trying to tease her a little.
 Five hundred dollars Only think, exclaims Jane, after her uncle has gone. q can lay two hundred dol lars of it away for a rainy day, l am sure, for Burt is not rich, and shall not need | an elaborate rousseau. How good Uncle Hugh isl"
 Ten years have passed. Time has en- grayed many more wrinkles upon Uncle | Hugh's face; but his kindly heart is as youthful as ever.
 He often visits his nieces in their mar ried homes. We will go with him as he | ascends the steps of dingy house. A servant lets him in, and at his | entrance thin, faded woman arises to | him.
 Can it be the once styleish, fascinating | Lanra2 Yes, it is she