The Washington critic., 1886-09-28
A QUEER WEDDING GIFT.

$50 you are going TO be married,
girls, are your" said Uncle Nahum. A
little, silver-haired man, with deep
wrinkles plowed in his parchment.like
forehead, and suit Of bright, old.
fashioned blue cloth, gayly garnished
with brass buttons, he looked gro-
tesquely unlike the surroundings of
that elegant suite of drawing.rooms in
which he sat, like the fairy godfather
In an enchanted palace.
Eunice Dalton, his eldest niece,
tall, lovely brunette, as graceful as n
silver birch tree, with eyes and hair
dark enough for Gypsy, sat opposite
on a low fanteuil of crimson velvet, her
slender fingers toying idly with the
golden festoon Of chain that hung
around her neck; while Nina, the
youngest sister, was nesting close to
Uncle Nahum's side, with her golden
curls almost touching his cheek and
her blue eyes fixed with a sort of in.
nocent, childish wonder on his face.
''Yes, Uncle Nahum" said Nina,
1--WE are really going to be married.
Eunice and 1. Will you come TO the
wedding2"
Uncle Nahum lifted his keen gray
eyes to Eunice's face. She neither
spoke nor looked up. Evidently she
had no intention of confirming her
sisters cordially given invitation.
mo, child, no, said the old man,
evidently little disappointed. I'D
cut poor figure at your grand wed.
dings. l only hope that you have
chosen WE'LL"
"Therc can be no doubt at all about
that" said Eunice, haughtily. II am
to marry Mr.. Lesderner, broker, and
gentleman of Independent wealth"
"And | s'pose, you'll have lots of
presents" said Mr.. Dalton. "Silver
and gold and china fol.de.rols, and
goodness knows what ALL "Well,
we'll, / wish | had something to send
you that would be of use in your grand
way of living"
"Your good wishes will be sufficient,
Uncle Nahum" said Eunice rather
stitily.
"But I'll tell you," said the old man, (,
with frightening face, "what | have
got. Your Aunt Rebecca's receipt
books-that's my wife. dead and gone
y
ter lot of receipts, not in the whole
State of Connecticut. You'd like that,
girls, wouldn't ye?"
Eunice broke out into peal of ire
sistible laughter, needless of the hurt
look which gradually crept over the face
OF the old man, but Nina pressed her
lips to his wrinkled brow and stroked
his hand softly in hers.
uTto ynrv hind nF Won IN thipk nf II
Uncle, I'm sure" said Nina, "and
whatever you send we shall accep,
gratefully. Here comes papa now to
take you out to Central Park in the
carriage; so let me go and get your
hat"
Uncle Nahum did not prolong his
visit to the city beyond day or two.
But q few days had elapsed when
tidings came Of the sudden death of the
kind old man.
"Its very strange" said Matthew
Dalton, discontenledly, when the legal
statement of his brothers monetary af
fairs was laid before him. II thought
Nahum was worth more money thar
that"
I'VE can't always judge by appear
ances. sir. you know" said the lawyer
NO" said Mr.. Dalton, coloring, and
looking somewhat uneasy, "you arg
quite right there"
Two little leather.bound receip
books, worn and greasy with age, ant
bearing marks of frequent usage, wer,
found In Nahum Dalton's stained pint
desk, labeled respectively with tn,
names of his two nieces, Eunice an(
Nina, "To be presented upon thei
marriage"
"Fiddlesticks' said Eunice, disdain
fully. II don't want the vulgar ole
thing"
There" said Nine, softly; 81 will
keep them both for Uncle Nahum
sake
SO, in spite of Eunice's sarcasm, sh'
put them carefully away among hei
treasures.
"Who knows but what / may wan
to make the real election cake one o
these dayst she said, laughugly.
The double wedding came of gor
geously at the Dalton mansion, but
proved to be the last glitter of the ex
piring torch of wealth and fortune
The cake, all glittering with its sugare,
fairies and pictured orange wreaths-
the bridal bouquet-the very ban,
which discoursed sweet music +
the wedding guests-were obtaine
on credit and not one of the luckles
tradespeople were paid.
For the next day Matthew Dalton
entire and total failure was rlngin
over all the town, and with this wa
also involved the ultimate ruin Of hi
son.in.law, Herbert Lesderner.
From suite of elegant apartment
at the st. Saffron Hotel, Mrs. Lesderne
descended to second floor in IT
spectacle tenement house, and grca
were her weepings and wailings an
enashing of teeth. Jerome Falconc
struggled bravely against the advers
tide as long as struggles were of an
avail, but the failure of his father an
brother in,law induced withdrawi
of confidei cs and credit, aud his ten
pOrary embarrassment followed.
so you've come down in the worlt
tCo," said Eunice, bitterly, as sh
&, ated herself in the pleasant rool
whore Nina was domiciled.
up in the world, rather" said tn
CHEEKY girl, "Wby, we are on the thir