Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-06
THE ODD END ROOM.
uNCY.E sARToRfs.

UNCLE SARToRiss
Twas the eldest Of eight, and was
pert, boisserous, inquisitive girl OF 81.
tcsn when l went to stay with my MD
dle-sged maiden aunt, Miss Annie Ssr
toris, 1t the small village Of Mains
borough in one Of the Midland shires
One week after was installed In m.
aunt's pretty bat sggravatinsly It'd!
little house, she came TO rie one morn
ing in . perfect flutter Of JOY ana sx
pectation.
"Doris," she exclaimed, 81 hav'
such good nsws--your uncle Sartcri'
viii be here tonight; he is going Z
spend . month with me and think
child, l have not seen him for twenty
two years."
Nv aunt sat down and burst intt
tears. which thought exceedingly fool
ish Of her.
"You don't mean, Aunt Nan, that !,
Is Uncle Sartoris, Colonel Sartoris, who
is coming .---your eldest brother, my
uncle whom i have never seen, who has
been In India for the last century, who
is covered all over with scars, medals,
and decorations--who, they say, bears
. charmed life-who is the hero Of our
familys Do you mean to say no is
come TO England Why, | have been
dying TO see him ever since can re-
member anything" Here | paused for
. second for lack Of breath, then re-
sumed with augmented force, no doubt
bavIipg rs l was wont to do at home,
where only the strongest lungs had any
chance Of making themselves audible in
full family conclave. "Do you mean
he is soming9 How jolly! He shall
tell me how many he has slain and all
his bloody deeds. Hurrah !"
~ will not allow you to laugh at
your uncle /; you laugh at everything.
Doris, it Is q way you have, and | try
not to mind it. but you shall not make
fun Of him. love him best in oil the
world. II is so long since we met.
We we're young when we parted. Oh
that sad, sad parting, and now we are
gray and old" :,
The little old maid was quivering all
over, and looked pitifully, just as Snap,
our Skye terrier, does when we have
leased him. ! melted at once. For
all the world l would not have had
Tom or Jack see me go on my knees
penitently and kiss the trembling, fra.
gile old body, promising to help her all
/ could and never to laugh any more;
and yet this is exactly just what did,
and also was the happier for doing.
That afternoon we were in the draw
ing-room, when my aunt was summon
ed to inspect some special culinary mys-
terry. Just as she was leaving the room
she CHANGED to look at the table, and
exclaimed, ~ had forgotten,
and your uncle may be here any mo-
ment; take away that brown morocco
case which lies near my work-basket.
Take it up to my room, Doris, at once,
please" ] always took my time about
things, so fingered over my book, and
then slowly went to the table to do
her bidding, but equally, of course,
before doing so opened the case to see
W hat was in it. 1t was not right Of
me, because it was evident there was
some secret in il; but j was inquisitive
and sixteen; so, right or wrong, l opened
the uninviting little brown case, which
bad not tempted even my curiosity be-
fore. "What a lovely face :" ex-
as I looked intently at it. 1t
was indeed most beautiful. A girl with
dark, wavy hair clustering round the
brow, and giving it the only really becom-
Ing fringe, because natural one. She
had wonderful gray eyes with long,
black lashes; a pale, clear complexion.
and the most exquisite mouth | ever
beheld-not too small, but with the
dantiest curves and q readiness for
laughter, which made you smile in SYM
paihy as you looked at it. was COM
pletely engrossed by the portrait. when
the door suddenly opened and my aunt
came in with q stranger, who proved to
be Colonel Sartoris. | thrust the case
under newspaper, there being no time
to do anything else, and turned quietly
10 greet him.
NV interest in the new arrival soon
made me forget the little brown case
My uncle must have been
SO handsome when young, but huge
scar half across one cheek had spoiled
his good looks forever. Still, he was
very MISUNDERSTANDING, with a firm
upright carriage and soldierly bearing.
His expression was sad, his manners re-
served, his voice peculiarly soft and
clear. He met me most kindly.
so this is Doris Hathaway, my
godchild. How like her mother Is
She not, Annie? l think can see Bes-
sic standing before me now; she was
just your age, Doris, when l left Eng
land and just as saucy-looking."
l made some stupid answer, for | felt
shy before this stately man, who was
somewhat different from what / ex-
pected. Presently, while he and my
aunt were busy talking, he came and
sat near the table, and began fidgeting
with the things on it. First he took up
the newspaper, and while answering
some trivial question looked to
see what shade Of politics his
not very strong-minded sister was
addicted to. Then he saw the little
case, and began lingering it, holding
and half twirling it between his fingers
rs he talked. remembered now, and
oh, how / longed to seize it from him
but dared not. My aunt was busy
pouring him out cup Of tea and no.
ticed nothing. He touched the spring
accidentally and the case flew open.
His face flushed deep red when he saw
the likeness, and rising quickly he ex.
claimed in hoarse, agitated tones
"Annie, whore did you get this
Oh, God, how like il is her very self. ,
My aunt jumped up, almost upsettinl
the little tea-table IS she did 50. Sh'
gave me one reproachful glance, which
stabbed like stilleto, then ran to he
brother, crying, Ralph, you wer
never meant to see that--neyer."
"But Why should l not see it?" h
asked, inpatiently. "Why did yo'
not give 1t TO me long ago? You know
how always wished for likeness Q