Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-10-13
UNCLE BLACKS HEIREss.

II can get along with him. I'm
very sure,' said Joscelind Darkridge.
Nobody could get along with himp
chorused the three other Miss Dark
ridges in unison.
Uncle Black was the parsonage of
whom they spoke-a Grabbed, i'll
tempered, little old man-who lived
in a superb old country seat among
the Catskills.
He had money to leave, but his
nieces and nephews secretly believed
that it would be deal easier to go to
California or Golconda, or some of
those fabulous places, and dig fort
unes out, nugget by nugget, than to
stay at home and earn them by max
ing themselves acceptable to an old
gentleman who had as many angles
as rose diamond, and as many
prickly spikes of temper and dispo-
sition as porcupine.
Naomi Darkridge had tried it first.
Naomi was soft-voiced, slender girl,
with head which reminded one of a
dropping lily.
mo one can help loving Naomi, "
said Mrs. Darkridge, as she kissed her
daughter goodbye.
But in three weeks Naomi came
back, half frightened out of her wits.
"He scolds 30 dreadfully," said
Naomi "And he looks at me as the
wolf must have looked at Little Red
Riding Hood. Oh, mamma, / couldn't
stay there, not if l was to be made
richer than Miss Burdstt Coutts her
selfp'
Magdalen Darkridge went next
but Magdalen. although a fine, tall
girl, with a spirit of her own, was
covered by Uncle Blacks savage eyes
in less than week.
"Pd sooner sweep crossings for q
living," said she, "than to be Uncle
Blacks beiress."
And SO she came home without loss
of time.
Rhoda Darkridge, in no wise
abashed by the successive failures Of
her sisters, was the third one to try
Black Grange and its possibilities
But she also succumbed before the
terrible scourge of Uncle Blacks
tongue.
''It's scold, snarl, snarl, scold, from
morning till night" said .Rhoda, as
in three days time she tearfully re-
lated her experience to her parents
"Oh, you don't know-nobody can
knOw--what q dreadful man Uncle
Black isp'
"Oh, hang the old scampr' said
Mr.. Darkridge, who was of a free
and-easy nature, and thought his
girls a great deal too sweet and nice
to be snarled at by any rich ole
miser. "Let him alone. My daugh
ter needn't go begging for any mans
money"
But here Joscelind, the youngest
tallest and prittiest of the four girls
spoke up:
"I'll gow said she.
"You don't know what you are un-
dertaking," said Naomi. with shud-
der
"He'd wear out Stones" said Mag
dalen.
"Hs's a ghoulp shuddered Rhoda.
II can get along with him, l am
very sure" said Joscelind, brightly.
And she packed up her little trunk,
and went to Black Grange.
It was sunset-a red, flaming sun
set, like one of Gifford's pictures
when she came up the terraced flight
of steps that led to the old house.
Everything blushed blood red in the
deep light, and Joscelind could see
how lovely was the scenery; how sub
stantial this old gray house, with its
square towers and semi-circular, col.
onnaded porch. Uncle Black stood
on the steps, in wig and black silk
stockings, surmounted by huge silver
kneebuckles.
$50 you are Joscel nds" said Uncle
Black, surveying her with little twink
ling eyes, like black beads.
"Yes, / am Joscelindr said the
bright-cheeked girl, giving him a
kiss.
you're late!' said Uncle Black.
II am late" said Joscelind. II
thought tho old thing Of stage never
would have got here. The horses
fairly crept and the roads were
horrid."
Its dreadfully warm day."
growled Uncle Black.
"I'm almost roasted, ," sighed Josce-
lind.
"The whole summer has been in
tolerably warm" said the old gentle
man.
: "We might as well be in the tropics
and done with it," retorted Joscelind,
fiinging off her shawl and tanning
herself vehemently.