South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-11-10
Uncle Nahum's Wedding.


Uncle Nahum Nixon was reading
the paper in Lis back parIor. Nobody
would think. 20 hook at the simple sur
rouudings of the unpretentious apart
,ncnt, that Mr. Nahum was one OF the
wealtbiest men in town. The carpet,
il WAS true, was Administer, but il had
seen twenty years cfgood service, and
was worn down TO the very warp !;
the faded red curtains were OF moreen
instead OF satin deInask; the old
clock on the Inantel was no Partisan
affair OF alabaster and guilt, but a sub
stantiid Connecticut me.piece that
struck with whirr, like Il partridge
springing out of her nest: the chairs
of oid-fashioncd mahogany aud hair
cloth stood bolt upright against the
wall: the portraits of Gen. Washing
ton OH horseback and the surrender
cf CORVALLIS ornamented the gray
papered walls in frames of sombre
guilt, aud the one elegance OF the a.
partment was casket OF preposter-
Gus flowers under Il cracked glass
shade.
But Uncle Nixon had remembered
that furniture ever since he was Il child,
aud lie wouldn't have exchanged il
for the fittings ola Partisan bordoir,
or the choicest specimens OF the mo-
dern East-lake pattern. lie was q
rich man that was quite enough for
him
Hlfyou please, Mr. Nixon said the
trim little maid servant, MIR. Mar
madulle Bourne wants TO see you-if
YOU please, sir, il you arc quite ut
leisure
MIR. Marmaduke Bourne, eh?' The
old gentleman took off his spectaclcs
and laid them ON folded newspa-
per. Ask him in, Polly
And Mr. Marmaduke Bourne came
in--a tall, fresh .colorod fellow with
sparkling gray eyes, brown hair, all
in mat OF curls, and straight Greek
nose that seemed rs il it might have
been borrowed from some ancient
Apollo
well, sir?' said Mr.. Nixon.
well, sir counter Intercepted
Mr. Bourne; did you get my letter.
j got your letter. said Uncle Ma.
hum. so You want TO marry my
niece, Faith?'
Yes. sir valiantlv acknowledged
Mr.. Marmaduke Bourne.
'Ah, nodded Uncle Nahum. But
perhaps You don't understand all the
facts of the case.
The facts, sir?'
Iwant my niece to marry Col. ASH
lands son slowly enunciated Uncle
Nahum.
But, sir, she don't love him.
'Pshaw : snaricd uncle Nahum.
and ii she don't marry bin she'll be
Il beggar-I'Il give her no money of
mine. Now You understand matters.
Marry her, or not, us you please
He took up the newspaper once
more--a tacit intimation that the in
teryiew was at an end.
'Sir' began Mr.. Bourne.
'That'H do Numbered Mr.. Nixon.
And so Mr.. Marmaduke Bourne
went away.
Little Faith Nixon came down
stairs rresently--a blue-cyed blossom
OF Il girl, with yellow hair growing
low on her forehead, and very lit.
tie mouth, exactly the shape to sug-
gest the idea OF kissing.
Uncle Nahum looked llecnly up at
her as she ilultercd about the room
Strengthening a table cover here or
pa'ting down curtain fold there.
y ys,' said he witha curious tNitch
Of the muscles around his eyes, he
has been here
IL didn't ask any questions, Tn
Gle Nahum.
NO, but your eyes did, 'chu-llcd
the old man lie wants to marry
you the improvidout young don,
key .
Faith cane to her Unclc's chair
and laid her hand lightly ON his
shoulder.
That isn't tic worst oft. Uncle
Nahum want to marry HIM
IIumphy' snarled Mr.. Nixon. in
high contempt. 'Aud what DO you
expect to live ON, ] should Ike to
know
We can both work, said Funl
braycly.
You're moro likely 90 s'arvc,' said
Mr. Nixon Mind, don't count on