Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-10-14
a RRtpE,s TRIAL.

Gle, darling" said Hugh Benedic
to his young wife. "He is eccen
tric, but ne is sterling.'
Rachel did not answer, but he
blue eyes were wistful and full 0
perpieXity. Uncle Ben,of whom sh'
had heard much, was to her an in
scrutible riddle, whom she feared
more than she was willing to ac
knowledge. For Hugh's future
depended to a certain extent upor
Uncle Ben Benedict, and witt
Hugh's future her own was bound
inSeparably
Old Ben Benedict was a sort o
human March day, with streaks q
sunshine and chilling gusts sand
wichs through his nature. Ia the
opinion of some he was gentle,
man, scholar and ii philanthrO-
pist; while others, quite as well
qualified to judge, wondered that
such IL monster WAS allowed to
walk The earth unciialIenged. Peo-
pie who new him liked him pass
ing well, but it took almost a life
time to know him as he really was.
Rachel was sitting in the fire
light at their lodgings when the
old gentleman first beheld her ;
and the only warning she had OF
his presence she saw reflected in
Hugh's eyes:
"My dear, how do you do?" said
the old gentleman, kissing Rachel
on both cheeks.
And she thought he was not so
terrible, after ali.
ITo f,,rDo1 ~, IIuOi, aff01. hn had
thus unceremOniouSly made the ac-
quaintaEce of his niece-in-law.
"Well, young man, are you pre-
| pared to leave these lodgings and
go to your new home ?' he asked !;
for be it known that he had given
Hugh and Rachel a wedding pres
ent of a home wherein they were to
| live.
"Quite, SIR" Hugh answered,
cheerily.
"Shall it be tomorrow ?'
"Yes."
"All right" And Mr.. Benedict
sat down to spend the evening and
enjoy himself:
"WeIl. SIR" said Hugh, when his
uncle was taking leave, and paused
on the steps to light his cigar.
Well, sir ?' said Uncle Benedict,
calmly.
"How do you like her ?" said
Hugh.
"How can tell ?" demanded the
old gentleman, irritably. "She is
pretty enough to look at so is
china doll or white kitten. 1t
isn't always the prettiest calicOes
that wash the best. Good even
ing"
And Hugh Benedict, albeit he
was fond of his uncle, didn't know
whether to be VeXed or not.
Early the next morning Uncle
Ben made his appearance before the
young couple.
''Trunks packed p; he asked.
'All but the last one, uncle"
And Rachel lifted her pretty head
out Of large trunk. -
Pm going to take you down to
Bloomingdale myself, my DEAR"
said Uncle Ben. Hugh, l want
you to go Off to Canterbury. with
these letters. They are of import
ance. I'd go myself if [ were ten
years younger, but sudden journ
eys don't agree with old bones like
mine"
Hugh looked aghast at the pro-
posal, Rachel turned pale.
"CannOt the business be post |
poned, sir ~ said Hugh, hesitating-
ly.
'No, it can't" said. Uncle Ben,
curtly. "If you don't want to go, |
say so; dare say | can find some
one else To Ohlipe me- -
"Of course l shall CO." he said.
"But Rachel"
81 suppose Pm old enough TO
take care of a little girl like her."
said Uncle Ben in an aggrieved |
tone.
"You'll find us in the new resi-
dence, with the table laid for din
ner, when you come back to-mor-
row."
So there was nothing for it but
for Hugh to kiss his little bride
goOd-by and to commission Uncle
Ben to take the best possible care OF
her until his return.
"Foolish children" said Uncle
Banedict, as he saw Rachel sObbing
on Hugh's shoulder; but there was
a CHEEKY twinkle in his gray eyes,
Poor little girl the atmosphere
seemed chilly and the world looked
less bright to her as she journeyed
in Uncle Ben's barouche toward
her new home, with Uncle Ben's
rafting by her side.
"Uncle," she said, turning sud-
denly toward the old gentlemen,
"what sort Of house is it? Ours,
| mean ?"
"Well," said Uncle Ben, reflect
lively, cit is a cottage, l should
say"
IA modern cottage ?'
"Well, no; rather of the antique
order"
"Oh," cried Rachel, "I'm glad. l
despise these new, stiff, formal
places, that look as if they were
to be admired, not lived in
and enjoyed. Uncle what are you
at ?''
cat your curiosity, my DEAR" re-
piled the old gentleman.
"Then | want to ask another queS-
tiOn," said Rachel, resolutely.
But she fully atoned for that de-
privatiOn by picturing in her own
IilltNl IL NdIICly vi 1IttiS SlluCIuACo |
with bay-windows and trellises Gov
cred with roses and hOneysuckles
while Uncle Ben watched her from
behind his paper with the queerest
of expressions on his old brown
face.
"l'm almost sorry i commenced
the thing" he said to himself. "If
f should be disappointed in her.
But it's the only way to find out il
she is worthy of any boys love-"
Presently the numbering old car
riage came to standstili; but to
surprise, in front of no
fairy cot, or low-eaved edifice sur
rounded by vine-cOvCred veran-
dahs. A tumbIe-down, unpainted
stood IA little back from {
the road, with its shutters hanging
loosely by one hinge, and one or
two scrubby lilac bushes forIornly
tossing their foliage in the wind.
"HOw dreary it looks" thought j
Rachel, with shuddcr, as she won I
1ered if the eOachman hadn't made !
4 mistake. But Uncle Ben at once {
seized his umbrella. {
"Come in, my dear" he said to s
Rachel.
"Is this the place? she asked.
Et'HhiS iS thp nlacO ~ ITnpIn Ron