The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-09-01

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cts nearly that now-dont you think
so? Uncle will do something for us. I'm
sure he will, when he sees baby. Look at
her Isn't she an angel? Such large
brown eyes, just like yours She's the
image of you, Mark"
"Your uncle may help you, but not me, i"
returned Mark gloomily,
"He can't help me without you, love
that's one comfort
"He'll try it on, though. [ know he'll
try it on" muttered Mark, as he walked
to the stove and placed four small knobs
of coal, with great care, between the bars.
But Pattie did not catch the words, be-
cause she was listening to footstep on the
landing outside Then the door was open
ed abruptly, and her uncle, James Gels
worthy, walked into the room.
''Phew! Here's pigsty! Hope you
are satisfied, girl?'' was the old mans
greeting to his niece.
at wasn't pigsty took her to first"
broke in Mark, with flash of indigna-
ton.
'You shut up, Mark Roper. You're a
fool, and you'll never be anything else"
said ellsworth, waving him away con-
temptuously. "You married Pattie in
spite of me. You ran away with her, and
thought you were mighty clever, no doubt.
But you shan't have much of my money
you shan't."
'Uncle dear uncler' exclaimed Pattie,
''you must help us-you really must, if
only for baby's sake. See what beauty
she is She smiles at you already
ooh! yes. She's all right. [ don't
mind her, nor 1 don't mind you; and I'll
act straight by the pair of you, if you do
what | want p
"What is that p
"Why, look here, Pattie You just
bring your kid, and come back to live with
me like you used to before you took up
with that penniless scamp against my will. ="
"And what is he to do ?"
"Do! Work-emigrate- to Australy
go to Canady! Anywhere, so long as he
keeps out of our way. [ don't mind
stumping up the coin to pack him off
|
"You want-to-se -separate-me- and
Mark ?" she inquired, very slowly, fixing
her eyes sternly on his face.
"Jes' So" said the old rascal, unabashed
by the glance; ''that's it. He can't keep
you, and [ can. IF he likes to hook it,
I'll help him to keep hisself; not other
wise"
"Mark p cried Pattie, sitting bolt up
right upon the mattress, as burning flush
mounted to her thin cheeks, and her trem-
bling finger pointed to the door. "Mark,
turn that man out p
''You ungrateful, disobedient hussy p
cried Gelsworthy, in passion. "After
all I've done for you Brought you up
from a child; fed and clothed you, beg
gars brat that you were p
That was the last they ever saw of I'm
Gle Gelsworthy alive.
suppose it was the keen northeaster
and the driving sleet, in the teeth of which
James Gelsworthy had to fight his way
home that evening, that made him think
what very threadbare; thin and comfort
less overcoat he had on. And seeing that
he had worn it now for some ten winters,
and had originally procured it secondhand,
his reflections upon the subject are not
surprising Anyhow, the following morn
ing, as he gazed from his window at the
unabated inclemency Of the weather, and
turned his eyes upon the dilapidated gar
ment, hanging from nail in his bedroom
door, he settled it definitely in his mind
when he muttered: 'That's what I'll do;
I'll have a coat made a-purpose." So he
went to a tailors and overhauled his entire
stock of piece goods before he finally hit
upon a cloth to his taste. 1t was heavy,
closely woven, waterproofed, drab-colored
texture, of the best quality; similar to that
worn by grooms in livery in frst-class es-
tablishments. Then he gave minute in
structions as to the shape, the size, the
pockets, the buttons, all according to his
own notions of what a coat ought to be-,
without any regard to the prevailing
fashions, which the tailor vainly sought
to bring under his notice.
When the coat was finished and sent
home, he took it back to have an inner
lining stitched in, because it was not warm
enough; and afterwards he took it back
again to get another lining added, because
the first was not strong enough. "Im
not a-going to pay for a concern that Ii
wear out in month" he explained.
By this time the tailor and his journey
men were thoroughly sick of that coat, and
distinctly refused to make any further ad-
ditions or alterations whatever
James Gelsworthy was extremely proud
of this new item to his limited wardrobe.
He wore it on every possible occasion.
He turned it to account by knocking off
fires in February, and keeping it on in the
house, for the sake of its more economical
warmth. He used it as a second counter
pane thrown over his bed at night. This
last fact was discovered in March by his
landlady, who, not having seen anything
of him for two days, became alarmed on
the third, and caused the door of his room