Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-03-04
UNCLE JEHORAM.

1lflS. SHls! CTleU 1, GTlutnp1aHGly.
waving an old-iashioped yellow enve,op in
the September air, 1--WE got letter from
Uncle Jehoramr'
"Open il.' cried Nelly Pinkham, who
was my first bridesmaid.
''Do let us hear what he saysv' chimed
in Alice Eden. my second.
So sat down the big canvas-covered
travelling trunk. with my hair all down my
back. had just unlastened it for Nelly
to es pertinent little with the bridal wreath
and with the bevy Of girls clustering
eagerly around me broke the seal of Un-
Gle Jehoram's letter, and read it aloud
with all the elocutionary air and grace that
had learned at Mad. Benton's 'Insti-
tute.''
"DEAR NIECE" it said, in queer little
cramped hand like the characters on Chi.
nese tea-set, ''yours of the 21st inst, duly
received. AM glad TO hear that you are o
he married to worthy young man who is
able to support you. Accept my good
wishes. BY this days express | send d
present which hope you may find useful,
and no more at present from your uncle.
JEnoRAM JOHNSON.
"There! cried l. "What do you think
of that ?''
Alice Eden clappi her dimpled hands.
"The old darlipg?" cried She 'It's a
real Cashmere shawl, Nanny, you may be
certain"
'Or perhaps Persian rug" said Nelly
Pinkham, ''all dim blues and greens and
delic ous blotches of yellow"
1.-THE deed of house and lot," said
Mary Moxley.
Diamonds, most likely" interposed
Juliet Grayson, cor real Oriental pearls,
each one as big as a tear drop"
"He's very rich. isn't he ?'' said Alice.
''Of course he is, " said |, "or at least,
I've always heard so.'
''And an old bachelor?''
eyes, an old bachelor -
''But he don't say whether or not he's
coming to the wedding!'
''Ob, of course he'll come" said I.
What is helike ?" asked Nelly, thought
fully.
burst out laughing.
'.Do you know girls" said !, ''that
never saw him in my life?''
And then Harry came Ill with delicious
little bouquet of white rose bud :, aud Of
course that put everything else ont of our
heads. For my hair had to he twisted up
in hurry, aid Harry would insist on see
ing the wedding wreaths and veil on. and
an exquisite tete-a-tete set of royal pink.
Sevres came in from Mrs. Montague lad
kyll, and we never thought of Uncle Jeho-
lam until next day, then there was a pro-
digious peal at the door.bell, just as we
we're sitting down to gypsy sort of tea in
the old scbOol-roOm-the parlors and din
lng-room were in the hands of the confec-
toners men-and Betty. the maid, made
her appearance with puzzle expression of
face.
Its bundle, ma'am," said she.-
"Camc by express, with Mr.. Jehoram john
sous compliments On card"
jumped up overseeing cup of tea and
plate OF peaches aid cream in my excite
ment.
bring it here, Bett )" cried at once.
"5less your heart dear mss" said Bet
ty, '"ud take four men to lift 1.-THE ex.
prssman, he swOre awful when he lifted 1t
up the steps, and said as il oue ht to be paid
double rates.
We looked at each other in a sort of de-
iightfnl bewilderment.
1T must be something very valuable"
said Juliet, breathlessly.
IA sewing machine, perhaps" suggested
Harry.
"Nonsense! cried Alice, 'sas if a ch
old uncle would send an, thing as common
place and poky as that!''
'Wel, perhaps ii might help to solve the
riddle somewhat" said Harry, gravely, s.if
we were to go out and Look at it,
At this suggestion we all rushed out en-
m0sse.
There, in the middle of the marble-pav
ed hall stood huge, oblong bundle some
three feet high and wide in proportion.
mo wonder the expressman swore - said
Hairy. with shrug OF the shoulders. "It's
carpeting"
'Ob, the dear old creature cried Nell
lie. "a zeal Anbason, from Paris Oh do
open it, somebody"
Harry slowly produced from his vest
pocket q tortoise-shell- handled knife, and