Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-04-02
MY RICH UNCLE.
Why the Nephew Never Missed
His "Lost Expectations"


CHAPTER I.
Ny Innate idea Of rich uncle was bland
old gentleman, with tips. &. sovereigns-
at his fingers ends. Experience corrected
that. Asked at a school examination the
derivation of the term 'curmudgeon,"
answered, unhesitatingly, "Uncle Dick"
He had quarreled with my mother-his
darling sister-for marrying Frenchmnn,
aud never seen her since. He lived unmar.
ried, and alone. Ny mother, long widowed,
had partially recovered the loss of tender
husband, never this estrangement from q
cruel brother. 1t emhittered two lives, no.
to say three. Ho had facility accepted me
as his hcir, expressly, know for the pleas
ure Of plaguing me to death beforehand.
Two annual visits paid him at Hamerton
Grange, Conceive u young Daniel, con-
demned twice year TO cast himself into
lions den. Each time | escaped alive, only
by miracle, felt sure. One morning my
mother received letter In his handwriting.
Its perusal so excited her that foolishly
dreamt he had relented. Her tones unde-
ceived me.
"Dar.dl" sho exclaimed, impressively,
hiding. her face, prepare for the very
worstlh
What is he dead or dyingl" inquired,
thoughtlessly-l was only nineteen.
"Dyingi No such thing Lives to de-
fraud you-my poor, innoceHtboy. Robbed
OF your own-your all Dick, what mon
strous revenge is this! He's going to be
married, she explained.
"ls that all said !, like the nincompoop
am. She read aloud:
"Tho lady, Miss P. Celia Watson, ia
twenty-six, OF excellent American lineage.
Her father was formerly commander Of the
constAbulary, and died in the diplomatic
service at Indianapolis. Her mother was
Howard, connected with certain leading
families among our old nobility Miss
Watson is n lady Of culture and refinement
woll worthy to share my name. think 1t
touches you so nonrly. Ny nephew Is well
como 10 come next month, as usual.
shall even be happy to see him at the oere-
mony on the 3lst proximo.n
Hore she broke down, sobbing nervously.
Insult heaped upon injury. l believe
you always meant to, Dick.n
Suddenly she looked up with q gleam OF
Inspiration.
81 don't believe she's a lady-or Ameri.
can. She never was christened Celia.
She's forty IL she's 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.n
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-
feseed my mother, as she read"
Miss Watson's all right then,n said /,
innocently. With fond, pitying look she
replied;
stands on the verge Of q precipice-this
will save him. He who said disSraced
him BY marrying D'Aubiguyl You may
read II, David"
mo, thank you,n said l, pocketing the
document seemed to feel It there like a
red-hot coal. Pleasant carrying a bomb
as wedding present for an uncle like Dick
y was two hours journey to Hamerton
with a change at Pidcot. Absorbed in
Punch, barely noticed my fellow-passen-
elderly cleric. thought we must be near
ing Pidcot when the carriage began jerk
ing In an extraordinary manner. Un-
pleasant short, sharp whistles sounded
Suddenly the young lady oppsite flung her
self on the back seat beside me, steadying
her feet against the woodwork. "Sit still, "
she said, "it'll be smash directly"
Ouo Spun IhQu
What happened, l never exactly knew.
The next thing / was aware of was my
peighbor's voice saying;
"We're all right now.n
Iopened my dazed eyes. Human forms
jammed together, broken glass, splinters,
pld gentlemen insensible, old ladies hriek-
ing, blood streaming from a cut In some
body's head. Horror paralyzed me; not SO
my fair companion.
"crpen the door," she said.
"It's locked" objected.
Lost your railway keyl Take mine"
/ obeyed, and we extricated the parson,
who was beginning to recover.
More frightened than hurt, she decided
"Get some brandy.n Then, as gazed help
lessly adown the ditch she added; "Donht
you see the tavern sign behind those trees
Rum ran. When. returned she had
bound up the cut, quieted the hysterical la
dies and was looking at her watch" shall
miss tho Hamerton train" she said. "Get
my travelling bag out of the carriage,
please.n / got 1t. Nobody seemed really
Injured, but the line was hopelessly blocked
for hours. "How far to Pid .otl" she asked
Of the guard "Sixmiles. One could drive
that In time"
"If only cabs grew wild, like those prim-
roses II" sighed "Hamerton Is my destina-
tion, too"
~ see a spring-cart in the tavern she'd
and horses In the field. Come across. Per-
haps we can talk them into putting to-"
And, by energetic persuasions she aotu-
ally induced somebody to drive us-she
kindly offered to take me-to Pidcot for a
consideration. | hesltated, thinking the
consideration excessive.
"That's no concern Of ours,n she re-
minded me, "charge it to the company"
Before our fellow passengers had we'll
realized their souls and bodies still belonged
together, we two were half way to P!doot, !
expressing houndless admiration Of her
cool intrepidity.
"O," she remarked, II was In bigger
smash once, In the States.n
| Statesl started. A fair American,
bound for Hamerton. tfff
uBy all the laws Of likelihood, my future
aunt, Miss Walson," / surmised, squirting
at the initials Of her bag, which seemed not
| to correspond.
~ see what you're doing,n she said.
| "They're not mine yet, but they will be-
I'm to be married on the 9lstn
Aha Now was master of the situation.
| might know the fortunate mans namei'
asked.
: aRiohsrd Grimston, of HamsrtOn
Grange"
"a man Of fortune, too, ehi'
| "Why, certainly she rejoined, "You
don't suppose a pauper would come pro
| posing TO met"
"Your senior -considerablym
twenty-five years. You needn't call II
quarter OF century, you know. And
fancy he can look In the glass with boys Al
young as you, and take the shine out Of
some"