Woodstown register. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 187?-1892, 1883-09-04
MIS-
TAKE.
It'll " do-never.

49, -
some imaginary auditor as he stood
warming himself with his back to the
fire.
The blazing hickory logs snapped
and cracked, sending a cheerful
warmth through the snug room, with
its heavy mahogany furniture, fresh
ingram carpet, and gaily lowered cur
tains.
"Rob's a likely young fellow, and
if he does get married, there's no rea-
son why he should throw himself
away on a poor girl. with nothing to
bless herself with but a pair of cherry
cheeks and coal-black eyes, or what
ever color they are-I amt never sot
eyes on the girl. But Rob Greenway's
my own nephew and its my dooty to
look after him. Marrying. indeed |!
What the dickens does he take such a
foolish notion into his head for any
way? l amt never married, and look
at me-"
And, truly. Mr.. S~patterdock seemed
an enviable man if he was an old
bachelor. nearly forty.
His housekeeper was a model Of
thrift and neatness. Not a crook nor
a Granny of the big old farmhouse
but what was swept and secured and
garnlhed Not ,eaf class but
what was sheer and speckless as a
French mirror. And you might dance
a jig on any of the carpets, and not
raise a mote of dust to show in the
brightest sunbeam.
Wash-day came every Monday and
ironing day every Tuesday, rain or
shine, week in and week out, from
years end to years end.
Look at mer' continued Mr..
Spatterdock, still addressing his inn
aglnary auditor. 1--we never married,
and what's more, | never wanted to.
And Rob will get over this notion, too,
if only-Let me see. It's no use ar
outlying with, a young fellow that's
as sot as a mule when he takes a no
ton ; and the Greenways always was
| obstinate.
"Tll send him away awhile-three
months, or so. anyhow.
There's sister Roseanna, living over
to Sweetgum Holler. I'll send him
there for two or three months and
he'll forget all about her in that time.
Or mebbe l can see the girl herself,
and sorter buy her off, like. Yes, that's
what I'll do. Hillo, Rob, that you I
MIR. Spatterdock's greeting was sus-
| piciously warm, but Rob seemed not
to notice it.
Good morning uncle !" he return
ed, rafferty, soberly. "You wanted
me, | believe"
eyes, Rob-"
A rather stormy interview ensued,
in which the uncle came out success
! full. X
"WeIl, well. and so that's settled,
anyhow"
Mr.. Spatterdock had come home a
few hours later. having accompanied
his nephew to the depot and watched
him speed off or the train.
"Rob's off safe and sound" nut
tured to himself, punching the fire till
it blazed like a young Vesuvius. "He
didn't like the notion of going at first.
Reckon he thought was agoing to
send him clean to Injy! But soon as
he found twas only forty miles away,
to Sweetgun Holler, he got as ehirk as
a b%ull-tarFier. He's promised not to
let q soul know where he's gone. an
if they're both in the same notion
three months from now, ! wont say
nothin' more agin, them.
"Rut It's my business 10 see they
amt both in the same notion. must
60 and call on Miss Penai-Peti-
whatever the name is-and try to fix
it UP somehow or another"
To tell the truth, it was more the
meddling Of the women folks than any.
thing else which had set Mr.. Spat.
terdock against his nephew's choice
Real common sort of folks they
are" declared Mrs. Rumaha Chickpea
land nobody knows where they come
from, nor where they've been.
shouldn't low it Mr. Spatterdock.'
But as Mrs. Chickpea's eldest daugh.
ter, Rebecca. was known to be setting
her cap for Rob Greenaway. perhaps
her testimony should be taken with
some allowance.
"Poor as church mice, too" put in
the Widow Smilax, who was supposed
to have an eye on Mr.. Spatterdock
himself. "Of course, it's Rob's money
they're AFTER"