The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-02-19

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know she is some sort of distant con-
nection, and might be easily magnified
into a second cousin with claim to
any loose money that might be going"
Il shall fall upon Maria some day,
and rend her in pieces" says Cecil. L
shall, indeed, mamma. There Is little
use in appealing to what you are pleased
to call my better self
q et us 90 and see Uncle Gregory to-
day. and speak to him. and get it over"
saws Ronnie, decisively.
~Yes, do let u.s." cries Cecil
And so it is arranged.
About five years before, the Honor
able Mrs. Rivers had been left a widow,
with two little girls and incOnsideTable
fortune. When only seventeen she had
married the younger son of an impecu-
nious earl, and, therefore, on her hus-
bands death, found herself possessed
of few worldly goods beyond her pen
sion and small sum bequeathed to her
bv a maiden aunt. Her uncle. Sir Greg
ory Growle-an old bachelor holding
eccentric views of life generally, and
the possessOr of a large fortune that
had been amassed in India-had come
to her rescue, and, though a crotchety,
had settled upon her a rather handsome
allowance, to be continued or dlscon-
tinued at his good pleasure.
This allowance, however, was imbit-
tered to her by sundry seedlings, de
livered at odd intervals, and much un-
called for advice about "the girls" who,
as they grew up. were frequently de-
clared by their granduncle to be too
much for their mother, who plainly did
not go the right way to control them.
He Furthermore gave it as his opinion
that they ought to be kept in subjec-
ton.
All these hints and innuendOes did
not help to endear Sir Gregory to his
grandnieces, though there was still an
other person, who. if possible, was
more Objectionable in their sight. This
was an old friend Of their uncle's-a
swarthy AnglO-Indian. named Major
Jervis, about sixty years Of age. He
! had been a sO-caled friend indeed of
the whole family for many years, and
/ under that name had managed to make
himself particularly obnoxious both to
Ronnie and Cecil Rivers. who had taken
little pains to disguise their dislike,
/ and, by chilling replies and remarks,
which sometimes bOrdtred upon inn
/ pertinence. had let him know what they
/ thought of him. These signs and tok-
/ ems of ill-will had Of course been no
ticed by the Major, and treasured up in
/ his memory. to be repaid fourfold
! should occasion offer. He had one
! daughter, certain Maria Louisa, on
whom he had centered all his ambitious
/ hopes. She was tolerably goOd-look-
70 ha-- 4p 4
wealth. or even wealth without the rank,
was the dream of the Majors life.
Just at this time he had for her in
his mind a partie unexceptionable in
4 every respect, and only awaited the Op-
pOrtunity to throw her in his way.
Maria Louisa, who was well known to
( the Rivers girls. was very distasteful to
them. principally perhaps because they
attributed to her father the meanness
of retailing to their Uncle Gregory all
the stories he heard of them-simple
stories enough in themselves. but, when
distorted and exaggerated, black as
Erebus.
To-day, as Mrs. Rivers and her daugh-
ters enter the library in the handsome
house in Cromwell Road that calls
Gregory Growle master, they find their
leg well bandaged and a rather sour ex-
preston upon his cadaverOus cOunte-
nance.
Glad you felt it your duty to come
to see me. even at the eleventh hour, 4"
he says, unpleasantly. "One might be
dead and buried for all ones relations
would carel Perhaps, indeed, you
would prefer seeing me buried. But
beware, beware!7
"'Trust her not, she is fOoling thee, ~
quotes Miss Cecil, in low tone, to
Ronnie. who can hardly suppress a
smile.
Dear uncle says Mrs. Rivers, who
is really distressed. not having heard of
his illness, i had no idea you were laid
up again with your old enemy"
She is plainly alluding to the gout
which is a devoted adheTent of Uncle
GreCory's. Indeed, he is a perfect
martyr to it. and it does not help tC
sweeten his temper.
"If we had known of it, the girls and
would have been here long ago to in
quire after you" she continues, in q
conciliatOry tone.
That may or may not be" returns
Uncle Gregory. uncOmpTOmisingly
though somewhat appeased by her gen.
tleness; 4 only know you never did
come. WelI-eh! And what news
eh?"
He is, as every one knows, the most
notorious old news-mOnger in town
and is just now utterly disheartenedbe be
cause he can not attend his club, where
the choicest nlOrcetGc of scandal ART
disseminated daily.
"Very little news anywhere just al
present" answers Mrs. Rivers. absent
ly. She is anxiOusly wondering how
she shall bring IN the subject of tht
country scheme.
q hope you have not been LETTING
those girls out again without Yourself
says Uncle Gregory, irasciblv q hearl
about that kensingtOn trip from MajO
Jervis, who saw them there. Wrong
very wrong. my dear Elinor: young wO
men should never be allowed to go any
where without their mother or guard
IAN"
~Sir Sydney Walcott IS such an OLE
friend. Z" responds Mrs. Rivers, nervous
". "that / thought they might safely g,
with him"
old! Poohl Seven-and-twenty,
suppose! A boy indeed And no doub
diss .pated too"
Ronnie's eyes flash fire.
The present generation" ]" pursues s.
Gregory, knows no boys. They are nj
grown up from their cradles; and girl
should not be trusted out Of ones sight
You can't be too careful, my dear Eli
nor"
Il should wish to be careful, o
course" SAYS poor Mrs. Rivers, in de
pressed tone.
Then make Sir Sydney discontinue
his visits. l hear from certain quaI
ter how frequent they are"
Vt this ROpnie grows male and lift