St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-03
MY RICH UNCLE.


My innate idea of rich uncle was a
bland old gentleman, with tips. e. SOW
ereigns-at his fingers ends. Experience
corrected that Asked at school examina-
lion the derivation of the term eur
mudgeon," 1 answered unhesitatingly,
''Uncle Dick"
lie had quaTeled with my mOther-his
darling sister-for marrying Frenchman,
and never seen her since. He lived unmar-
ried and alone. My mother, long widowed,
had partially recovered the loss of tender
husband-never, this estrangement from
her cruel brother. 1t embittered two lives,
not TO say three. He had tacitly accepted
me as his heir, expressly, l know, for the
pleasure of plaguing me to death before
hand. Two annual visits | paid him at
HamertOn Grange Conceive young
Daniel condemned twice year to cast him
self into lions den. Each time l escaped
alive, only by miracle, l felt sure. One
morning my mother received letter in
his handwriting. Its peruSal so excited
her that / foolishlY dreamt that he had
relented. Her tones undecelyed me.
david" she exclaimed impressively,
hiding her face, prepare for the very
worst!"
''What! Is he dead. or dying?" l inquired,
thoughtlessly-I was only nineteen.
dying? No such thingl Lives to de-
fraud you-my poor innocent boy. Robbed
of your own-your all! Dick, what mon
strous revenge is this? He is going to be
married." she explained.
''Is that alp" said /, like the nincompoop
/ am. She read aloud:
1.-The lady, Miss P. Celia Watson, is 90,
of excellent American lineage. Her father
was formerly commander Of the constabu-
larry, and died in the diplomatic service at
indianapolis. Her mother was Howard,
connected with certain leading families
among our old nobility. Miss Watson is a
lady Of culture and refinement, well worthy
to share my name. l think it my duty to
apprise you of an event that touches you
SO nearly. My nephew is welcome to come
next month, as usual. shall even be
happy to see him at the ceremony, on the
31st proXimO."
Here she broke down, sobbing nervously.
Insult heaped upon injury. 1 believe
you always meant to, Dick"
Suddenly she looked up with CLEAN of
inspiration.
Il don't believe she's lady-or Ameri-
can. She never was chlistened Celia. She's
40 if she's a day. Diplomatic service.
Unionapolis-why, that's where our former
solicitor, Hopkins. emigrated to. I'll write
to him for full particulars about Miss P.
Celia Watson"
The approaching university boat race
seemed then to me of more consequence
than the antecedents of my future aunt
Five weeks later my visit to Hamerton
Grange fell due. That morning arrived the
answer from indianapolis.
This exceeds my brightest hopes" con-
fessed my mother, as she read.
Miss WatSon'S all right, them" said [,
innocently. With fond, plying look she
replied:
David, give your uncle this letter. He
stands on the verge of precipice-this will
save him. He who said l disgraced him by
marrying D'Aubigny! You may read it,
David"
mo, thank you," said I, pocketing the
document. / seemed to feel it there like a
red-hot coal. Pleasant, carrying bomb as
a wedding present for an uncle like Dick
1t was two hours journey to Hamerton
with change at Pidcot. Absorbed in
Punch, barely noticed my fellow passen-
gers-three ladies, one young, and an elderly
cleric, l thought we must be nearing Pid-
extraordinary manner. Unpleasant short.
sharp whistles sounded. Suddenly the
young lady opposite flung herself on the
back seat beside me. steadying her feet
against the woodwork. ''SiS still" she
said, it'll be smash directly"
One moment l spent i'll no-man's land,
What happened never exactly knew. The
next thing was aware of was my neigh
boris voice saying:
1--WE are all right now"
opened my daZed eyes. Human forms
damned together, broken glass, splinters, old
gentlemen insensible, old ladies shrieking,
blood streaming from cut in somebody's
head. Horror paralyZed me: not so my fair
companion.
''Open the door," she said.
''It's locked" objected.
Lost your railway key? Take mine. "
obeyed, and we eXtricated the parson,
who was beginning to recover.
''More frightened than hurt, 'she decided
''Get some brandy" Then as gazed help
lessly adown the ditch, she added: Don't
you see that tavern sign behind those trees?
Run" ran. When / returned she had
bonnd up the cut, Quoted the hysterical la
de- and was looking at her watch. Il shall
Hiss The HamertOn train" she said. ''Get
my travelling bag out of the carriage, please. -
l got it, nobody seemed really injured, but
the line was hopelessly blocked for hours.
''How far TO Pidcot?' she asked of the
guard. six miles? One could drive that
in time"
''If only cabs grew wild like those prim-
rosesP' sighed. ''Hamerton is my desti-
nation, too
Il see spring cart in the tavern shed
and horses in the field. Come across. Per-
haps we can talk them into putting to-"
And, by energetic persuasions. she actu-
ally induced somebody to drive us-she
kindly offered TO take me-to Pidcot for a
consideration. l hesitated, thinking the
consideration excessive.
That's no concern of ours" she reminded
me, ''charge it to the company"
Before our fellow passengers had well
realized their souls and bodies still belonged
fQgether, we two were half way to Pjdcot