The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-10-21
Selett STORY.
UNCLE JOHNS FORTUNE.

;rg hack from Australia to settle at last.
All the heaps of money made he has in
yested-yes, that's the word-invested in
some-something, l don't know what, but
i will nearly double his fortune !!
"Nearly double it Oh, Nellie, cried
Kate, dropping her aunt's dress she was
mending, "only think. We are his only
relations y
~What a selfish little thing you are,
Kate" remarked Ellen Grashaw, throwing
herself on a couch by her cousin in her
mothers boudoir, which she had rather
impetuously entered with her good news.
How can one help being selfish when
one is poor?" laughed Kate Wakefield.
1T is all very we'll for you, whose father
is alive and well-to-do; but Jack and [ have
only ourselves to look to. have to turn
and turn my dresses until I'm quite asham-
cd I stick a new bow here, and new
how there. but I'm not foolish enough to
fancy people think it is new dress. All
me, Nellie! [ do-do so wish was rich y
and she clasped her hands on her knee, and
fixed her large gray eyes on vacancy, as if
she were filling the latter with her visions
of wealth probably she was
"What mercenary girl you are, coz !"
said Ellen. 'You don't think at all about
dear Uncle John himself-only his money"
Zach of us thinks of what most con-
Germs us, or what we most want" retorted
Kate "He may help poor Jack, who only
gets ninety pounds year. repeat you
are rich, or your father is.
"Heis not, Kate You know it's as much
as mamma can do to keep US up to our po-
sition in society But it will be different
now, for dear Uncle John says, as he has
no relations save ourselves, he hopes we
can manage to let him live with us. He
can see about our renting larger house on
his arrival Mamma is delighted, and she
says he will be sure to keep his carriage;
while if we try to be amiable, he may keep
horses for us to ride. Only imagine /!
Will it not be grand? How the people
will wonder and envy"
"What lot of suitors you'll have, Mel
lie. Who knows but that Sir Hugh Stat
ford, when he comes they say he will,
next month-to reside for the winter at
Beechholm, may be one of them!
A bright flush rose to the cousins cheek,
though she exclaimed ''What nonsense,
Kate p for the fact was, Ellen Grashaw
was very pretty, and such union had not
only entered her head, but also her moth
er's-one of those worldly minded women
who render their lives wretched by a con-
slant fight to keep their heads higher than
their neighbors', and to make five hundred
a year pass for thousand. Mrs. Grashaw,
indeed, was already secretly busy in devils
ING means for new dresses to make Ellen
look her best, and to give one or two par
ties ostensibly in the Baronet's honor
really "to throw the young people to-
gether"
Papa" proceeded Nellie, FUSED to call
Uncle John the fool of the family-a mad
speculator [ only wish in that case papa
had changed places with him."
When will he be here, Nell? Does he
say?"
He starts the second mail after his let
ter; therefore he will be here in fortnight.
There's mamma calling" she added, spring
ing up.
Il hope it's not to dress, for have not
done these bows yet, remarked Kate, re-
newing her stitching.
Mr.. Grashaw was tolerably well-to-do
merchant, who would have safer balance at
his bankers had not his inclinations in re-
gard to appearance tended in the same di-
rection as his wifes. What an 'Eold man
of the sea" to some persons are those words,
"What will Mrs. Grundy say?" They ex-
cused themselves by saying it was for their
position in the world, and Nell to be set
tied
The two other members of the family
were Kate and her brother Jack employed
in bank). When they had been left or
phans, Mrs Grashaw had consented to
receive them into the family, as their keep
would be mere nothing, considering one
must have good dinners because of the ser
wants tattling; while what Kate would pay
out of her small income of sixty pounds
year besides making herself usefuD, and
Jack out of his salary, would go into her
own private purse, and afford many toilet
luxuries. Besides she knew, as Nell did
too, that society, which was ignorant of any
payment being made, spoke highly of their
kindness to poor relations.
Their sole other relation was Uncle ohm
"a restless sanguine spirit, who had been
always going to make a fortune, and who
had at last, in Australia, done so Hehad
o,opo tbo,o ,,,bon Mil opd Il ota ,,oro ob;lJ
ren, so all they knew of him was that he
was very kind, and was ever sending pleas
ant letters and handsome presents to his
little neices and nephews. When Nell
danced in her joy from the room, Kate, at
work on her aunt's dress, thought of these
presents, and it is to be feared mentally
commented on Uncle Johns coming home
In very mercenary manner.
"Supposing, as Jack and / are orphans,
he were to adopt us" she ponders. "At
any rate, if he is so rich, he will hardly let
his sisters children remain so poor. If he
does not do something for Jack, II shall
hate him
Then, her eye resting on darn in her
dress, her mind revelled in the better toilets
she might possibly have when Uncle John
came home.
Uncle John! Before two days were over
everybody in Monkbourne knew about
him, of his immense wealth, and how he
was to live with the Grashaws, who we're
his only relations. Mr.. Grashaw dropped
into the estate agents to inquire casually
what mansions or small estates were to be
let in the neighborhood. Horace talked of
Uncle John at his club until the members
were sick Of Uncle John. Mrs. Grashaw
and the girls made visits and received them
on purpose to let Monkbourne society know
all about him.
every stuck up, proud people, those
Grashaws, = remarked Mrs. Stebbin.
Always were. Now they will be In
tolerable, rejoined the doctors wife. Gas