Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-01-27
seen her2D

seen her?''
"Her, uncle? Baggaee2 Her? Why,
what do you mean?"
"You know very well what I mean. 1
mean that piece of poverty-that hanger
on hat-that baggage-that- grill"
"Oh, you mean Lizzie Brown! The girl
that"
"Thinks to catch you. and thus catch
my money!"
'It Is hardly fair to say that, uncle, see
ing that made ali the advances myself"
Nonsense? don't you suppose know?
| say she set the trap for We! But won It
have it. IF Pm TO be father to ye, you
must obey me. Now, I've got you a good
chance. l want you to marry Susan Gar
land"
''But she's widow, uncle"
$50 much the better. She'll know how
to make home for ye.''
s'And she's older than I by dozen
years.
''Just five years. She's only %. It's
all the better for that"
sBut I can't love her,
ssCan't love her!" Cried the uncle, look
ing an immense number of sharp-pointed
daggers. 'Can't love the woman who was
the wife of the most faithful friend ever
| had! Let me tell you, that when the Ga
zele was cast on the rocks at Barnegat,
Bill Garland saved my life and lost his
own. He died in these arms, sir, and the
last words he ever said to me were, "Be
kind to my poor Susan"-and / will be
kind to her," the captain added, wiping a
big tear from his cheek, ''I'll give her a
husband-a graceless husband, perhaps
but who shall bave money enough to keep
her above want. You shall marry her,
sir.''
But, suppose I should retuse?"
"Refuse? Refuse your uncle? You dare
not do it, sir! I'll turn you out of doors in
an instant! I'll see you starve before I'll
give you another cent. I'll take away
what I ever did give you."
"Ah, you couldn't do that, uncle. The
education l have gained under your noble,
generous patronage is mine Of wealth OF
which you cannot rob me; and would not
to-day exchange it for all the wealth you
ever possessed. can live by my own
| wis.,
"Ahal you threaten me, do you? You
| mean to disobey me outright, sir?"
s'You do not understand me, uncle. You
| surely would not force me to belle my own
heart. If you could but know Lizzie
| Brown"
s'Lizzie Fiddlesticks! I don't want to
know her! 1 know Susan Garland, and
that is enough. I've had this plan fixed
ever since 1 came home. I promised Bill
I'd take care of her. and must do it; and
how can [ do it if you don't let me have
her for niecep'
| "Why not have her for wife?" asked
Jack, very quietly,
"Wife?-me? Why, you young rascal,
what do you mean Me-marry? Do you
think am crazy! am old enough to be
her father!'
''Only seventeen years older, uncle!-
Just enough to give you character as a
husband"
"Silence, villain! Would you have me
make a fool of myself just as [ am settling
down for quiet and comfortp Don't you
dare mention such thing again! I shall
go and see Susan tomorrow, and shall tell
her you will have her. That's enough. I
won't hear any more. By the big fish, III
keep my PROMISE
Jack knew it would be useless to say
any more at present, so he held his peace.
William Garland had been his uncle's
first mate during his last two voyages, and
the captain not only liked him much but
also thought much of Susan, having stop
ped at her home while her husband was
| living. When Captain Jerry came homo
with the care of the widow upon his Shout
ders, he had hit upon this happy expedient
| of making her his neice by marriage, and
thus having the right to care for her with
| out exciting scandal. Jack knew how his
| uncle had cherished this plan, and he fear
| ed it would be hard to thwart him. The
old fellow was as stubborn as he was kind
| hearted, and where he felt he had authori-
ty he would not yield.
Finally, Jack retired to ponder upon the
| subject, and before dark he resolved to see
| the widow in advance of his uncle, and be
went there that very night.
Susan Garland was pretty woman, with
plump form, and a dimpled cheerful face,
over which the sweet genial smiles were
continually playing when she was happy.
She had been widow two years.
She welcomed JACK kindly, and after
some commonplace remarks the young
man came to the point.
He related the conversation which pass
ed between his uncle and himself that af-
ternoon, and expressed the hope that she
would help him.
Surely you would not wish to take me
from the being I love,'' said he.
s'Of course not" the widow replied with
an earnest smile. 81 should be decidedly
opposed to any such thing. know Lizzie
we'll and I know, too, that she will make
you good wife. You may depend upon
nv assistance, for I can tell your uncle
that 1 won't and that will be the end of
it,"
They chatted while longer, and Jack
took his leave.
! HELL be here tomorrow forenoon"
the young man said, as he reached the
door.
81 shall be ready for him." was the re-
ply, and funny light twinkled in the
widows eyes as she said so.
About II o'clock on the following day
Uncle jerry called upon the widow. She
had left off her weeds, and now appeared
as fresh and fair as maid of sixteen.
She welcomed the captain with one of
her sweetest smiles, and finally took seat
close beside him. By dexterous turn
she got him engaged in relating wonderful
STORES of his adventures at sea, and thus
an hour slipped by. OF course he must
now stop to dinner.
ooh, no! I must 60 home to dinner"
said he.n 'sBut, before 60, have lit