The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-12-22

I
TO run away With ,ou."
| "Oh, my, Clara!"
And while Clara was sayine,-e But I
didn't mean it, Char lie, I didn't, In.
deed" had csnght her in my arms and
pressed lovers kiss on her unreois,ing
lips.
| IT was very sudden-T dare say Il was
very wrong-but Clara and I were en-.
gagged. How the dingy office hecsme
| beaurified and glorifed all at once! Un
happily, the engagement was TO be kept
secre, from the paren,s-an unpleas-
! att and unhappy state Of affairs. It
vas not nv fault. however, but the fault
of Uncle John. For myself. could have
been content to have shouted my hap
piness from the hOusc.tops.
At last made up nv mind to brave
fhe lion Ia his dem and | pooncsd upon
EUocle Jobr. l wstched my opportunity
and caught bin one afternoon as he was
returning from bis club, and had Just
reached biz door step.
~ ,cle." l salt. Il want to speak to
von on deeply Important matter which
concerns my happiness, and perhaps your
own
.Well, Charles" he said: 81 am very
husv 10 day, and you had better perhaps
send me letter"
M, l said: IL can't send you a let.
ter; and it i, matter that concerns you
almost as much as m,self"
He took out his la'ch.key, and no.
toned me to follow him. He led the
~ay into his study behind the dining.
room. and sitting down, composed him.
self into an inqniring attitude
well. Nephew Charles" he said,
ourilv, "snd what do you wantf"
"Uncle." said. ~ love nv Cousin
Clara and feel must tell you so, and
| implore you take nv avowal kindly"
My uncle gave erimly sarcastic look
and then went on. dIylv,-
You desire, presume, to make me q
proposal of marriage for my daughter.
Mis- Clara B oeusp"
Yes, uncle,' ! replied. little crest
fallen at the pomposity of his announce.
ment.
MAY l inqnire, Nephe~ Charles"
said my uncle, wi The pompous ele-
ment unpleasantlY predominating,
whether you are able to maintain nv
daughte. in that state Of Ii e to wbiA
she has been hitherto accustomed ?"
Uncle" replied. IL love my G C,usin
Glars, and believe she Is not altoge her
indifferent to me-"
] believed that was the proper way of
putting things mildly. The old gentle
man looked greatly disgusted, but waved
bic hand and interrupted:
my daughter Clara is so young and
inexperienced that she does not know
whether she is Indifferent or whether she
is not Indifferent LIT me repeat nv
question, young cir. NV daughter Is
accustomed to carrisge. to her own
msid, to the opera and to parties May
| simply ask 5ou how'mueh you have
year
"Ahout q thousan dollars q year,
uncle"
"Ahsolute poverty! Sheer desli,u-
tion !" sal nv uncle. ! could not for
moment entertsin such an exceedingly
absurd proposition. My daughter is
about to visit some friends in E inburqb.
We have some notion that thorough
change OF scene will be good thing for
her. Good morning, Nephew Charles
NV uncle bad spoken. cruel man
There we're no more messages, and no
more pleasant meetings. ascertained,
beyond doubt. that Clara was 10 Edia-
hureb, bus / could not find her address.
The late summer and the dull autumn |
wore away, and had q dull pain in my
heart, and went mechanically through
my hardening Office work and nv heart
hardened 10 it. Now it so happened
that on Christmas eve was returning to
nv ro"ms in q very dispiriied etate of
mind, opened the door with nv latch
key and ct uck light. II was Christ.
mas eve, to be sure, but even ct Christ
mas there are ,ll-disposed people who
insist on litigation.
! took out balf dozen letters cd.
dressed TO the firm, and there were q
couple for myself. Ooe was from my
mnther. knew it would he long. low.
ing and coDsolatory, and l laid the treas
ure aside with The intention that it should
strengthen and help me on Christmas
day. The other, TO nv great surprise.
vas letter in handwriting which Ger.
Esinly seemed to be the handwritilg Cf
Uhcie John. II ran thus
rMY DEAR NePHEw:
Your mother mentioned In letter
shat you we're staying in town this
christmas. do not like to think Of
pour spending 1t alone in your rooms
.hile you have flesh and blood of your ,
twn in London Will you come to an .
'arIv dinner on Christmas day7 Win :
of the season, your saec.
ionate uncle, sJoHN BLoeUE" ,
Confess | was astnnished at this lei-
er. Was Uncle John burving the ,oms.
lawk aGd extending the olive branch OF
,eace
II was little late when I reached nv =
lDcle's. Bat nv Aunt Jemilna received :,
ne very graciously. The twinkle in .
Jacle Johns eve was a merrier twinkle
han ever l thought it could have been,
nd vet be had an al x.ous look.
After dinner we we're taking about a
christmas gifts. ri
II think the custom of giving Christ.
,as presents will never go out" said a
DIS. blogue. >
"Would you like Christmas pift. Il
lephew Charlie ?" said U cle John, with v
peculiar twinkle ol that solitary redeem
1g feature. his eye. J.,
mo kind offer refused. uncle" I an = !,
wered. "The smalles, Christmas pres. . :
ut thankfully accepted" ;;
1--WE have not forgotten YOU, Charles" - -
q said. with some kindness. L have a :
trisirnas gil. for you somewhere. Let "
'e see; where is "" And be felt in
is pocket, and prete ded to look about lu
,e room. "Ah! recolect now. he st
iii You will find it lying unon the "'
,fa in the dra ~ing.room. You had to
etter go and look for it" CT
I went up-stsirs, wondering very great. th
what mi sht he the meaning of this dI
nusual piece of civiity on the part Of