The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-05-01
THE HENDRICKS MYSTERY.

How those Fendricks do hold their
heads up, I'm sure Really their pride
and arrogance gets more and more insult
ferable every day, that il does -
The speaker was a Mrs. Buller, widow
Of a retired grocer, and the present owner
of a stucco villa near Englewood.
The day was sunday. and Mrs Butler
with hcr particular friend, Miss Since
formed part Of the stream OF people leaving
the Rev. Mr. Scattergood's church.
You are certainly right, dear" gigCIed
Mis- Since, such preuensions are simply
disgusting, and pretensions, pray, upon
whutg"
An uncle, an iron box and a mystery
retortet Mrs. Butler, tossing her head till
the hothouse Of flowers on her bonnet
quvered to every petal. This action
brought her eyes on a level with a gentle
man Just then approaching.
W hy Nj. ClonUroOk, how do you do ?
Are - u Wen to day -
" Perfectly but would you kindly tell
me the name Of that family lust going IN
the road there: 1 mean the lady in the
turquoise silk"
:" rhem-them's the Fendricks. How
them. Everybody notices the FenS-
Ticks.'
Il should think so. Such airs aiggled
Mss Smee, wriggling herself into the con
The gentleman, Harry Clonbrook, looked
little surprised and ANNOYED. IF Won
were speaking Of them, then may infer he
words | caught-'an uncle, a strong box
and mystery had something to do with
them ?"
" Yes. You see They're always boastin' Of
this uncle, who was the making of their for
tune, who mixed with all the Swells on
Murray Hill. who found out they were
connected with the Knickerbockers and
who lett the proofs OF theirnoble connection
in an iron chest, which he made a compact
shouIdn be opened until a certain day.
And a lot the Fendricks has made out o.
that, III warrant you."
And who is the gentleman walking with
That is the nephew The lady is a
daughter-a proud thing who turns uD
her nose at trade. His name is Paul
Avenal"
Until this moment the Butler family
have been following the Fendricks but
now reaching the crossroads the two
diverged.
We will follow the Feydricks.
The father W as as pOmpous a piece of
humanity rs could be. II anything was
more inflated in expression than his face 1t
was his white waIstcoat.
Mrs. Hendricks was a mild-natured
woman-the daughter resem bled the
father-while Paul was "a br9zht honest
looking young man with no poInposity
about him
Now here, Paul, " said the father. con
tinuing the conversation % I wont have it
and that sail aboutit I've brought YOU up
to be gentleman and You shan't dis
grace my family. You disgrace, ! say, the
noble founder Of my family, I refer to
your great-uncle."
Confound my uncle - it was on PauI's
lips to say, for he was nearly sick of the
name, but he said a. have no wish 10
disgrace the family, uncle I'm sure, and |
can see what my marrying Hettie Travers
has to do with it -
why, Paul, I'm surprised " said Fannie
LAM gNtl IN
daughter Of man who keeps book
shopS"
And who was a gentleman and
scholar - exclaimed Paul, hotly. ' He
had more brains than half the aristO-
cratic -
Brains. sir-brains - burst forth Fend-
ricks the elder, what is brains to blood
Think of your uncle the associate of the
aristocracy. Of the Van Spooners and the
Roosevelt Magillicuddys, who could talk
and talk OF EN- as we do OF the .Ioneses
and the Smiths" F"
Until Uncle VIII went 20 seek his for
tune I believe our family were poor
enough
Poor but proud /; but remember. Paul,
he was always worthy fellow"
"But with a liking for low company.
1t was ridiculing his stepmother's grand
airs that got him kicked out by his father"
All, but he was young and eccentric
even to the end. Are you aware that the
mystery of my Uncle William will be
cleared up on the 22d of next month
So don't want You to rush into any beg
carly marriage and SO hinder the ex-
cellent match | expect for your cousin
Fanny"
Paul bit his lip and was about to reply
when hand touched him on the shoulder.
Turning round he brheld Harry ClonbroOk
and extended his hand.
Why, old fellow, who should have
thought of meeting You here - he ex-
cl8imed, recognizing hi, old college chum.
intrOductions followed and then the two
turned back for walk and talk.
What are you doing now p asked
Harry.
Oh, reading law, and consequently de
pendent on my uncle. | wish lac had made
me a carpenter or an uphOlsterer then by
this time might have been making nay
fortune" cried Paul.
(Which means you want the fortune
for somebody else. There is a lady in the
case.'
Exactly Did you see in the gallery to
the left OF the organ a young lady in n
blue bonnet ~
Well, my uncle theatens to turn me
out If ] marry her, because her father was
a tradesman and you know. said Paul
with n scOrnful laugh, owing to our
uncle, that's beneath MS
q know, my dear fellow? / know moth
ing about it or Of the strong box and
the mystery"
Wei, to explain matters ] must go back
some years My grandfather, who was a
simple farmer. married the daughter of n
poor, but aristocr8tic family From that
day life was burden. BY her pride ana
arrogance she made his days miserable
and finally succeeded in driving his only