Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-02-19
MY RICH UNCLE.
Wl,y the Nephew Never Missed
His Lost Expectations"
CHATTER 7.

CHATTER I.
NV innate idea of q rich uncle was bland
old Gentleman, with tips. e. sovereigns-
ut his fingers ends. Experience corrected
that. Asked at a school examination the
derivation of the term scurmudgeon," I
answered, unhesitatingly, "Uncle Dick"
He had aualrelcd with my mother-his
darling sister-for marrying a Frenchman,
and never seen her since. He lived unmar-
ried, and alone. My mother, long widowed,
had partially recovered the loss of a tender
husband, never this arrangement from a
cruel brother. 1t embittered two lives, not
to say three. He had tacitly accepted me
as his heir, expressly, I know for the pleas
ure of plaguing me to death beforehand.
Two annual visits l paid him at Hamerton
Grange. Conceive a young Daniel, con-
demned twice a year to cast himself into a
lions den. Each time l escaped alive, only
by miracle, | felt sure. One morning nv
mother received a l~etterin his handwriting.
Its perusal so excited her that / foolishly
d,eamt he had relented. Her tones unde-
ceived me
"Dayidn' she exclaimed, impressivelv,
hiding her face, prepare for the very
worst!'
What! is he lead or dying" Inquired,
thoughtlesslv-I was only nineteen.
dying: No such thing! Lives to dc
fraud you-my poor, i~nnocentboy. Robbed
strous revenge is this? He's going to be
married. she explained.
is that all!" said I, like the nincompoop
''Ihe lady, Miss P. Celia Watson, is
twenty-six, of excellent American lineage.
Her father was formerly commander of the
constahuialy, and died in the diplomatic
service at Indianapolis. Her mother was
Howard, connected with certain leading
amlIes among our old nobility. Miss
watson is a lady of culture II refinement
wei worthy to share my name. / think it
touches You SO nearly. My nephew is well
come to come next month, as usual. /
snail even be happy to see him at the cere-
ln9 non on tie 3!st proximo."
Here She broke down. sobbing %nervously.
. insult n heaped uron injury. I believe
you always meant to, Dick"
Suddenly she looked up with a CLEAN of
Inspiration.
"a don't believe she's a lady-or Ameri-
sSh; one never was christened Celia.
enes forty if she's a day. Diplomatic
W. f un'onapolis-why, that's where
70. IN write to him for full particulars
Ap r5 Miss P, Celia Watson"
lme approaching University boa race
ISmei men to me of more consequence
r Taa tne aitecedents of my future aunt.
Wv weeks later my visit to Hamerton
'h EsW from Indianapolis.
ovl lm's exceeds my brightest hopes" con
e S,gIu my mother, as she read.''
!'iSS W atson's all right then," said l.,
. n'iT;esntly. With fond, plying look she
David, give your uncle this letter. He
TIL vnHos on the verge Of a precipice-this
in save him. He who said 1 disgraced
cad 1t, David.n'
NO, thank YOU" said l, pocketing the
ad linen n seemed to feel it there like a
II wSauingp present for an uncle like Dick!
n was a W hours journey to Hamerton
htn Il change at Pidcot. Absorbed in
n"'", barely noticed my fellow-passen-
i Ta nI,.niee ladies', one young, and an
fn mHpEdS cleric; thought we must be near
sssn IN an extraordinary name I'm
En mH1ah short, sharp whistles sounded.
! elf Mif" on t9e young lady oppsite flung her.
n. 81 ~ we back seat beside me, ~steadying
h m s .a;s against the woodwork. '"Sit STILL"
. o. n",u, "ltll be smash directly"
Mai 'hhonaent spent in no-man's land.
. NE n'y onapEened, l never exactly knew.
= a al next thing l was aware of was my
e,IIInDors voice saving:
le're all right now"
md peheu my dazed eyes. Human forms
Id d }et together, broken glass, splinters,
. b ~ I1ehtlGmen insensible, old Indies shrek
odv 1lJou streaming from a cut in some
6y : nead. Horror paralyzed me; not so
d Ufpen the door," she said.
. rs locked" | objected.
o nTsI YOU railway keys Take mine"
l ho EYED, and we eXtricated the parson,
ID ~ was beginning to recover.
alore frightened than hurt" she decided.
"t some brandy" Then, as I gazed help
1 ms aaown the ditch, she added: Don't
hun sc Ghe tavern sign behind those trees!
= Sund l. ran. When l returned she had
/ Is; thn vas looking at her watch" I shall
aNy t tre lalnerton t%rain,h she said. sect
:" m navellng beg out of the carriage,
in,ea got it. Nobody seemed really
r hh ou,, out the line was hopelessly blocked
RI the - ,HoW far to Pidcot?" she asked
at IN time,n ~
id sac sUnIy cabs grew wild, like those prim-
r NJ l sighed. "Hamerton is my destina-
W d see see a %spring-cart in the tavern shed,
larses in the field. Come across. Per.
rs we can talk them into putting tor
wv, by energetic persuasions, she actu-
u Bidlu nnuuced somebody to drive us-she
~ s = olered to take me-to Pidcot for a
II esidee'r.aaGion. l hesitated, thinking the
.mmueratlon excessive.
n nIaI,s no concern of ours" she re-
kRsfoum me, charge it to the conpany.n
klizootIe our fellow passengers had we'll
,matlaea their souls and still belonged
'ranseii, we W were half way to Pidcot, I
j inftmnng boundless admiration Of her
LAST os sne remarked, II was In a bigger
once' III tho States"
{ln us.s' l started. A fair American,
R u lGT Hamerton.
y all The laws Of likelihood, my future