The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-10-21

1t can't be pleasant, I'm sure, y with head
toss-''to be dependent upon Mrs. Gra-
shaw's charity"
"The train will be the 1.3O, no doubt,
that he'll arrive by" remarked Mr.. Gra-
shaw, on the day of Uncle Johns coming,
as he contemplated the recherche luncheon
prepared. II hope, my love, there is moth
ing to make hitch in his welcome"
1t was moment of great excitement.
Nellie fitted everywhere; Horace lounged
about, assuming Indifference; Kate sat at
the drawing room window, regretting her
bright, bonnie Jack, who was so worked
that he could not get holiday. Suddenly,
as cab stopped at the door, she sprang up
and ran to the rest.
"He has come! Uncle John has come
she exclaimed.
"Gracious Why, he must have got
up at dawn" calculated Mrs. Grashaw.
"Where are Nell and Horace?"
A futtering bevy they proceeded into
the hall to receive the lucky speculator.
The page had already thrown wide the door,
and coming up the step they saw tall,
thin, gray-haired man, with stopped shoul-
ders and sad, careworn visage.
Welcome to England! Welcome home,
John!' cried the merchant, wringing his
hand 'Dear me, how delighted ami |
congratulate you, brother!''
The welcome and congratulations were
echoed all around. They clustered about
him like bees around honey. Horace took
his hat, Kate his walking stick.
"Ah, George p' exclaimed Uncle John,
in feeble voice, as he slightly waved his
hand, ''let me sit down somewhere, please
[ have much te tell you"
''Horace, fetch the wine your uncle is
fatigued after his journey. No; we will
90 into the dining room at once" remarked
Mrs. Grashaw.
"Much to tell me, y laughed her husband.
II should think SO, John, after your long
absence"
They had all got into the dining room
now The softest chair was pushed for
ward by Horace; Kate gave shake to the
cushions; Ellen brought foot stool
Uncle John dropped down wearily.
"Oh, George!" he exclaimed, almost
piteously, chow can I tell you-how hun
dred times have wished that I had never
written you that letter-much has happened
since. [ am''-the gray head dropped on
the withered hands" ruined
Had the listeners suddenly been con.
fronted by the face of Medusa, they could
not have been more aghast-more silent
They were paralyzed. The first
thought of Mr.. Grashaw, indeed of all, was
that they had been grossly taken in.
"What do you mean, John? p demanded
the merchant.
''That the speculation in which I fool
ishly invested my all, George, was but q
bubble. 1t bursted week before I started
for home. 1t has ruined hundreds"
"Home! I wonder if he thinks this is
his home?" reflected the merchant. Cir.
cumstances alter cases"
"Whatever will Monkbourne say p
thought the wife. "We shall be perfect
laughing stock. To have pauper instead
of a millionaire on our hands"
Horace and Nell looked at each Other
helplessly.
Kate felt inclined to cry. Then she
filed a glass with wine and handed it to
Uncle John.
GLOW very oficious that girl is, )" thought
her aunt.
II always said you were the idiot Of the
family, John," remarked the merchant
hufishly. "There, we may, I suppose
have luncheon, then you can tell us about
it."
"Well?" inquired Jack Wakefield, ca
gerly, on Kate waylaying him as he was
creeping up stairs to change his coat, after
returning from the office, "has he come ?
eyes, Jack and, oh it's so terrible
He isn't rich at all-he is beggar. The
speculation was-was a bubble, he says
and he has been ruined
'Poor old Uncle John p exclaimed Jack
sympathetically.
"You dear-dear, darling boy!' cried
Kate, throwing her arms about his neck
''that's the first kind word any one has said
of him here. Oh! Jack, Jack, | feal
Aunt and Uncle Grashaw will make a great
difference to him.
"Why, he wouldn't have lost his money
if he could have helped it. Where is he =?
And Jack, no longer thinking of his of.
fee coat, walked into the drawing room,
and warmly greeting the old man, remark
ed, heartily:
"Welcome home, Uncle John; Kate has
told me all. I'm so sorry, pom my word
am; but never mind; nal desperandon,
you know-better luck next time
Heaven bless you, my dear boy-thank
you" rejoined Uncle John, gratefully; for
already he was awakening to his position.
And such pleasant, radiant expression
came over his features that, like flash
an idea sprang up in Mrs. Grashaw's head
that Uncle John was pretending poverty to
test their affection.
But her husband soon negatived that
There was no pretence, but hard, bona fide
implacable ruin.
Monkbourne did laugh and did sneer.
That might have been some excuse for the
Grashaws; but before fortnight was over
Uncle John found himself so much in the
way that, hurt, panied, he announced his
intention of leaving, and no one asked him
to remain.
That evening, however, Jack came into
his room on the third floor with Kate, and
the two made proposition. To let Uncle
John in his great trouble go and live alone
was more than terrible to these silly young
people; it was impossible. Would Uncle
John like them to put all their tiny in.
comes together, and take a little cottage
just outside the town and live in it Kate
would be the most economical of house
keepers.
Uncle John sat aghast.
"And you would do this for me, my
children" he exclaimed "You would
give up your fine life and the fine guests
here at Georges Toto"
"Be quite as happy elsewhere" laughed
Kate, kissing him. "You mustn't refuse
uncle; will not hear of it. You can't tel
how merry we three people will be to-