Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1885-09-19
TURNED ADR1FT.


Eyes, Uncle Phineas."
ats nine o'clock, Rosamond. The
clocks just struck"
81 know it Uncle Phineas."
"Well, take off them logs as hasn't
got fairly to going and put EN- keerful
in the chimney-corner, and kiver up
the rest with a good coat of ashes. Dy'r
hear, Rosamond ?"
ayes, Uncle Phineas."
"And be sure you lock the big front
door and bolt both the bolts, and put
a cheer agin the hinges, soft it'll tum-
BILE over if anyone Hampers with the
fastenings."
"I'll not forget, Uncle Phineas.'
George Hand rose from his seat,
with smile, as Rosamond Fosters
troubled eyes met his own.
"Perhaps | had better be going"
said he. Evidently your uncle thinks
my room will be better. than my COM
pany"
"You won't mind him ?" said Rosa
mond family.
"Not in the least" said George "He
is quite right. Nine o'clock is time to
90 home, I'll come some other time and
finish my visit"
He held Rosamond's hand in his a
trihle longer than there was any ne
cessity for, as they parted? and the
girl sighed softly as she bolted the door
and adjusted the "cheer" at the exact
burglar-catching angle.
George Hand had been very near
saying the word for which her heart
had longed all these months, just then
Uncle Phineas' cracked voice made
itself audible, over the bend of the
stairway.
1t was rather hard, but Rosamond's
life had been succession of mute self
sacrifices, and this only made an adj
ditional one.
But Uncle Phineas renewed the sub
ject, next day with some acrimony.
81 tell you what, Rosamond," said
he, ''the candle-box is morn half
empty?"
Eyes, Uncle Phineas, it's the middle
of January you know" said Rosamond
family.
81 don't keer eff twas the middle of
April" snarled the old man. "That
amt no excuse for wasting candles.
AFTER this, the house has got to be
shut up at half-past eight o'clock at
night, and all the lights out. / amt
goin' to end my days in the poor house
not to please all the shiftless young
fellers in the place. Eff they amt got
homes Of their own to set up in, amt
goin' to furnish one for EN-"
Resamond made no answer. What
comment had she to offer? Did not
Uncle Phineas remind her a dozen
times day that she was penniless
orphan, entirely dependent on him for
the bread she ate, and the clothes she
wore? To be sure, there had been a
hundred dollars for her, when the
estate of Eliakim Foster had been divi-
ed but Uncle Phineas had insisted on
her laying that aside for rainy day.
Some said it was sensible thrift I;
some called it un offshoot Of the miser-
illness that underlay his whole nature.
But the old man deigned no explana-
ton; he only shifted great sniff when
he heard that Rosamond's only brother
Jared, had put his share into an inven-
ton of his cwn which he was trying to
push through the patent office. "Hum'
ph p said he. "Fools and their money
are soon parted.
To-day, however, he had no sooner
settled the candle question, than he
preached new topic.
GIVE me that there money o yourn,
Rosamond," said he. "Tve got good
chance 10 invest it, where it'll double
itself in a year or two"
Rosamond turned red, then white.
She did not speak. Don't ye hear me?'
cr.aked the old man, impatiently.
what are you standing there for ?
Get me the money, | sayw
"Uncle Phineas," gasped Rosamond,
driven to desperation. II haven't got
it! IL lent i: to Jared!"
Lent it to Jared!' Numbered the
old man. "Flung it in the fire, you
mean-made ducks and brakes of il
Lent it to Jared y
"Heneeded it, Uncle Phineas," plead.
ed the girl. "And, after all, he's my
brother"
"And you never asked mel!
81 was afraid you would not consent,
Uncle Phineas."
The old man snarled like an infuriat-
ed wolf; his wlinkled skin turned a
dull yellow.
"Ef ye're so very independent" said
he, rye can clear out o this house; my
roof shan't shelter we no longer. Clear
out, say! !"
Rcsamond stood appalled,.
"But, Uncle Phineas. I've nowhere
to CO." she faltered.
"Ye'd oughter ha' thought o. that
afore we 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 r
"What's that to me?" shouted the
old tyrant "Do you mean to start, OF
must 7 take you by the shoulders and
put We out2 Go. | sayl"