The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-10-01

500 mond. The clocks jus
struck"
Il know il, Uncle Phineas."
"Well take off them logs as hasn'
got fairly to going and put 'en
keerful in the chimney-cOrncr, an
kiver up the rest with a good Goa
of ashes. Dye hear, Rosamond?'
eyes, Uncle Phineasp' with :
sigh.
Because yol know, Rosa non l.
nine o'clock's the time folks was il
bed"
Yes, Uncle Phineas."
"And be sure you lock the biz
front door and bolt both the bolts
and put q cheer agin the hinges 81
it'll tumble over eff any one tamper:
with the fastenIngs."
"Pll not forget, Uncle Phineas.'
George Hand rose from his seat,
with a smile, as ROsamOnd Foster {
troubled eyes met his own.
'Perhaps 1 had better be going, y
said he. evidently your uncle
thinks my room will be better than
my company"
"You won't mind him?" said Ro-
samond, family.
''Not in the least" said George.
'He's quite right. Nine o'clock is
time to go home. I'll come some
other time and finish my visit"
He held ROsamond's hand in his
a trifle longer than there was any
necessity for, as they parted; and
the girl sighed softly as she bolted
the great door and adjusted the
cheer at the exact burglar-Catch-
ing angle.
George Hand had heen very near
saying the word for which her heart
had longed all these months, when
Uncle Phineas' cracked voice made
itself audible over the bend Of the
stairway.
1t was rather hard, but Rosa
mond's life had been a succession OF
mute self sacrifice and this only
made an additional one
But Uncle Phineas renewed the
subject next day with some acrim-
ony.
Il tell yc what, Rosamond,' said
he, THE candle box is more'n half
emptyr'
Yes, Uncle Phineas, it's the
middle # January you know" said
Rosamond, gently.
81 don't keer ef twas the middle
of April" snarled the old man.
That amt no excEse for wasting
candles. Arter this the house has
got to be shut up at half past eight
O'Clock at night and all the lights
out. l amt going to end my days
in the poor house, not to please all
the shIftless young fellePs in the
place. .'Ef they amt got homes of
their own 10 set up in, amt going
to furnish 'em one"
Rosamond made no answer. What
comment had she to offer? Did not
Uncle Phineas remind her a dozen
times g day that she was penniless
orphan, entirely dependent on him
for the bread she ate, the clothes
she wore? To be sure, there had
been a hundred dollars for her
when the estate of Eliakim Foster
had been divided; but Uncle Phi
meas had insisted on her laying that
aside for a rainy day.
Some said it was sensible thrift !;
some called it an offshoot of the
miserliness that underlay his whole
nature But the old man deigned
no explanation; he only shifted a
great sniff when be heard that Ro
samond's only brother, Jared, had
put his share into an invention
of his own which he was trying to
push through the patent office
s'Humphm said he. "Fools and
their money are soon parted"
To-day, however, he had no soon
er settled the candle question than
he broached new topic.
Give me that there money O.
yourn, Rosamoad," he said. ''Pve
got a good chance to invest it
where it'll double itself in year or
| two
Rosamond turned red, then white.
She did not speak.
Don't We hear me?" croaked the
old man, impatiently. what are
We standing there for. Get me the
money, say"
Uncle Phineas," gasped Rosa
mond, driven to desperation, Il
haven't got it, IL lent it to
Jaredw
Lent it to Jaredr ~ Numbered the
old man, Flung it into the fire,
you mean-made ducks and brakes
of it! Lent it to Jaredr
'He needed it, Unc.e Phineas, -
pleaded the girl. "And after all,
he's my brother"
"And you never asked me?'
II was afraid you would not con
sent, Uncle Phineas."
The old man snarled like an infu-
rated wolf; his wrinkled skin turn
ed dull yellow.
"Ef ye're so very independent, y
said he, "ye can clear out O this
house; my roof shan't shelter ye no
longer Clear out, | sayl"
Rosamond stood appalled,.
"But Uncle Phineas, I've nowhere
to CO." she faltered.
s'Ye'd oughter ha' thought O
that afore ye was so free with your
money" growled the old man as he
held the door wide open for her to
pass out.
But it's dark, Uncle Phineas
And it's showing hard !"
''What's that to me7" shouted tht
old trvSnt. DO you mean to start
or must take ye by the shoulders
and put We out? Go, 1 s@cgF
There was something in the saw
age light of his eyes that appalled,
his niece, even while she had open
ed her lips to demonstrate still fur
ther. Without another word, She
gilded out into the twilight tempest
Everybody in Beckersfield re.
membered that January storm fol
years afterward. Young people
| dotad hack To n. oil inhahitont