The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-04-15

Il
Brown learned half of this story in q
glance round the room and was encour-
aged to persevere. He introduced HIM
self to the elder lady and exerted him
self to the utmost to remove the untaV-
orabe impression he had produced. She
received him with politeness which at
once put him at his ease, apd gradually
the daughter was induced to join in the
conversation. What may have been
said, do not know, but the interview
lasted for at least half an hour, and from
that time Brown became frequent visl-
| tor.
Somewhere. under the shadow of the
Wrekin, in Shropshire, there lived a Mr..
Silas Brown, retired medical practi-
| toner, bachelor, and Browns uuces
When our Brown was boy, his uncNe
Silas took fancy to. him, and even went
so far as to buy a small piece of ground
in h1s name in an improving neighbour
hood. Brown had always shown a
proper sense of his uncle's generosity,
though hitherto he had not derived any
advantage from it, for the old gentleman
persisted in retaining the property and
acting as trustee. He had worked his
way up without help, and he was deter
mined that his nephew should do the
same. 1t was fine thing for young
man. Besides, by keeping down the
boys income, he would be prevented
from making some foolish marriage, a
tel which Brown was used to apply to
marriage under any circumstances.
About three months after the adyen-
ture of the advertisement, the old gen.
tleman was startled by letter from his
nephew, in which the latter, for the first
time, alluded rather pointedly to '.those
three acres by the new church."
"You have always told me, my dear
uncle''-so ran the letter-''to consider
this land as my own. l have no right
| to presume upon your kindness, but |
should be very glad if you would allow
me to derive some immediate advantage
from it. The fact is, that l am engaged
upon work-scene laid in Spain-from
which hope great things, and am COM
PEELED in consequence to keep an amanu-
ensis, which is very expensive"
The elder Mr.. Brown read this letter
with doubtful expression on his face
''Great work, indeedr' he said TO him.
self, Chateau en- Espagne! I'll go to
London and see what that boys DOING
And therefore Mr.. Brown wrote no re-
ply to the letter, but he presented him
self few days afterward at SO Hamp-
stead Road.
'Out of town!-nonsense, my good
girl, the Old gentleman said to Sarah,
who vainly attempted to oppose his en-
trance. This is the room, | Think"
and he walked in without further cere-
mony. His face grew absolutely purple
as he did so; for there was his nephew
seated at a table busily writing, and OPP
posite to him was young lady, very sim
ply dressed, but very good looking.
''Well, sir?' he exclaimed, in tone
by no means pleasant.
Brown, as soon as he recovered from
his surprise, shook his uncle's unwilling
hand, and pressed him into chair. As
to the young lady, she blushed consider.
ably, and seemed anxious to run away.
''Pray, sir, is this your amanuensis?'
Poor Brown heSitated, and at length
said:
Eyes SIR
"Whatn' the old gentleman said in 8
tone that was so menacing, that Brown
thought it was best to lead the young
lady out OF the room, whispering to heI
some reassuring words.
The old man wiped his brow. John
/ can't tell you how grieved l am al
what have seen to-day. That you
should be so lost, not only to principle
but even to ordinary propriety
my dear uncle, what do you mean?''
"Mean-why, you won't persist in the
story of that young person being your
amanuensis? What is she doing here,
sir?''
''It's all over with the three acres,''
Brown thought. 81 must tell him."
II admit, sir, that L have practiced
some deception upon you, and yet told
the truth"
'"Eh?n
81 mean that that lady is indeed my
amanuensis, but that she is also"
"Well, sir?''
"My wife,
CHOW it's all over" Brown said tc
himself. His uncle was evidently taker
by surprise. He threw himself back il
his chair, and drawing out his small
snuff-boX, helped himself to severa
pinches successfully. At last he spoke
in much calmer tone and said gravely
Il am very glad to hear it"
| Brown would have been ill-fitted fol-
his position as a comic writer if he haG
not possessed a profound knowledge Of
human nature. Thought he, this i:
the proper time to say nothing" In
dealing with ones relations, there is the
great advantage of knowing that theil
hearts are in the right place, whatever
may be the case with the rest of the
world. Uncle Silas is one of the family
and he'll come round by degrees.
Uncle Silas might or might not be
coming round. but in the meantime he
sat in profound silence, using his snuff.
box at intervals. AT last he spoke.
d" John, I've been mistaken in you
don't suppose that | object to marriage
on the contrary, l approve of it when
undertaken prudently-not otherwise.
Yours has been most imprudent. Not
only that, sir, but you have been guilty
of deception, which is unmanly and dis
graceful
Brown felt the truth of this and
showed it in his face
For that, sir, shall have to beg your
pardon"
L 4 I