The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-09
THE PR E s s.
SATURDAY MORNING, FEB. o.
Frank Nelson's Relative.
written for the Press.l

OF Wlciffe. 1t does not exactly lie in val
ley, nor does it, strictly speaking, nestle
among the hills; still less does II crown
some lofty height. A part of it is stretched
out in rather straight valley, but ON both
sides IL extends, In narrow strips, well UT
the hills.
From certain points of view the village
gives the effect OF one Just rousipg from
sleep, stretching his arms in fina! yawn,
and preparing to step for his morning bath
into the lake below.
IL is pretty village; at least certain parts
OF Il are pretty. What the ambitious CHI
zens call "the business portion of the place"
LOOKS no worse than in the average country
Town, and some of the streets are very pleas
ant III summer.
The region around is certainly beautiful.
Even lie pIoudest residents would agree
that the chief att actions in their locality
are he natural ones. Indeed, this admis-
sion was once publicly made by one of Wi
clltfe's most eloquent young men, who
maintained in The village lyceum the propo-
sition that The works of Nature are more
beautiful than the works of Art" The ora
tor, while expressing his appreciation of all
that man bad done to make Wchffe a charm
ing abode, yet claimed, in a speech remarka-
bic for It's logic and pathos, that that favored
spot was "a gem of Natures own setting,
the fairest ornament upon her breast"
On one Of Wicliffe's "eiernal hills" is the
neat, ever fresh-looSing farmhouse of Uncle
Al Bates. And in the Well-kept yard in
front, on pleasant afternoon of late sum-
mer, dozen years ago. young lady stood
and young man sat. They were not lovers.
The young lady was CoTnelia Bates, Uncle
AIS older daughter.
Her companion, Horace Starks by name,
Was the son of the nearest Deighbor, and he
had always been perfectly at home in Uncle
AIRS front yard. Horace Stalks was, to use
his own expression, man mot wholly I'M
KNOWN" He had po.e than once been
spoken OF IN ihe county newspaper as enc of
Wlcliffe prominent citizens.
He was the orator to whose remarks In
defence OF nature as against art, have
taken the liberty to refer. You would not
have thought it bad you looked upon him
that day. He was not a slight young man
with pale forehead and dreamy far looking
eyes. Oh the contrary, the youth VINO sat
upon the grass was very stout, with large
head placed quite abruptly upon very broad
shoulders, and with'eyes small and of I'M
certain color.
He wore linen coat and trousers of the
same material, and both coat and trousers
showed, all too plainly, that the season was
near TO its close.
Altogether be was not a delight to the
eye; but he was the sou of rich farmer, ht
was the possessor of college diploma which,
framed 10 pine, hung in the parlor at his
home, and he was now a professional man
"a lawyer.
Unc'e AIS summary of the young man was
in tue main, correct one. Horace knows
enough" he used to say, Though when he
wants 10 use his knowledge, it seems to kin
der come bottom side up; and he's sartin
got the gift o. CAB. Gu the whole you'll
find that haS A. IN wall met fat ho-
fore him has,"
Cornelia Bates, as she stood swinging a
eroqueL maIlet, certainly made a sufficient
contrast 10 our friend Horace. l shall a.
tempt no picture of her. When she was a
little girl, the village photographer had con-
fessed that he could not lake her satisfac-
tOrily" because she would not sit still long
enough. 10 certain sense the same diff
Guilty would always encounter one who
should attempt 10 portray her.
There was ever the quick change of att
tude, of expression, in short, of appearau ce,
that was her chief charm but which defied
description.
Moses Howe, a stalwart young farm neigh
Dor once said, ''Some thinks Cornely's hand
some aud some don't; but nobody denies
that she's mighty inter esting"
Horace" the young lady was saying,
''yoa are very unkind. Mr.. Nelson has ceI-
tainil CNCl1 dVpCdtdnCC vi d ScHbiculdlls 4
don't think you've any call to say what you
have about him.
well rejoined Horace VINO was busily
engaged in whittling the heel of his boot,
"perhaps you'll find out in time. l didn't
like his locks from the first. He's spruce
enough no doubt, aud good looking perhaps,
AID that's enough for you girls, | suppose.
Blu don't believe in him, aud I've studied
him thoroughly for the three months that he
l..sa
Seen more of the world than you have, or
your father either, and | have met these
smartly dressed fellows before, who come
from II Jbody knows where. Ma my words,
he's an adventureF of some kind"
NOW Horace" said C0rnelia with little
fash of the eye, Il won't have this. You
don't like Mr.. Nelson, because be likes
jnke, and yon think he laughs at you. He
does have a little fun with you, and, to tell
the truth, don't wonder. You are so wise
sometimes, that it is t)o ridiculous for any
thing. But what he avs and does is before
your face; he is above saying mean things
behind your back, and YOU had better take
pattern by himself thereP' ana Cornelia
started to go INTO the house, regardless of
the laws of hospitality.
Just then a young man sketch book in
hand, came into view from under the brow
of the hill, aud COrnelia seemed to change
her mind about going into the house.
"Ah Mr.. NeIson," she said, you have
lost your dinner. The table is cleared and
we show no mercy TO truants."
VERY WE'LL" he replied, "Aunt Zilpha's
pantry is good enough for me. Well Horace,
moi driven by business to-day?" he added, in
a tone that struck that gentleman as some
what 100 fami lar.
II came from my office few minutes
since, Mr.. Nelson" replied Horace rather
suffiy.
by the way" continued Nelson in no
way aoashed, II have little excursion all
arranged for tomorrow; thai is, with the ex-
ception of he consent of the parties who are
to go; % wit, namely, as you lawyers say.
Miss Cornelia. Miss S arks. Matte, Moses
Howe, and you. It's all right, hope?'
"My sister may co." reioined Horace.
Hb 1t you must excuse me, l have case to
try tomorrow" and he assumed the air of a
man to whom cases are an everyday occur
rene
"Why, so you havep' cried Nelson. 81
had forgotten, tomorrow Is the day of the
great ASSAULT and battery case. That breaks
the backbone Of the excursion, for would
not miss that trial for half your lee. Some
other day will do as well for our sail. Good
bye, Horace; have an engagement in aunt
Zlipha's pantry"
Wuen supper time came, Nelson was
again away, and Cornelia told her father
what Horace had been saying, and made
severe cOmmtnis thereon.
''Well daughter" said Uncle Al mildly,
"Horace isn't naturally Que to be suspicious,
or to think evil of nobody. But he's going
TO be a layer, and he thinks he must lie
keen, and he's dretful afraid he'll get took in
by somebody. He thinks it amt lawyer
like TO take stranger for what he pretends
to be. But Horace is well meaning, and let
it go at that. As for this Frank Ne'son, he's
been boarding here since June, and haven't
seen no harm in him. When young fellow
appears like gentleman, and gives out to at
he's mtdical student resting himself, why,
l consider him gentleman and medical
student, as long as he behaves and pays his
board regular
"Why father, / wouldn't speak of the
board in that connection. You make me
ashamed. should hope that that was of little
consequence"
''That's true, daughter, that's true; the
board is of little cOnsequeDce-to you; and
suppose | hadn't ought TO of mentioned it
before you. But to old folks like your
mother and me, that has meats TO provide
and daughters TO dress, the board is an item,
aud occasionally we think of it,"
The assault and battery" case in which
Horace was TO appear, had excited consider
able interest in Wctfe. MIR. Kendall, a
A. ala