The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-10-23
A w edding Gift.

little, silvpr-haired man. with deep
Wrinkles pluwed in his parchment.
tEe forehead. and suit of bright,
t't1-fashioned blue cloth, gayly gar
Hfslled with brass buttons, he loo ketl
Erofesduely unlike the surroundings
f't thatelegant suit of drawing-rooms
n which he sat, like the fairy god
I3lher IN an enchanted palace.
Yes. Uncle Nahum" said Nina,
I'VE are really going to he married.
Eunice and I. Will you come to the
Wedding ?v
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 cordial invitation.
I mo. child, no." said the old man,
feshlentIy little Disappointed; ND
cut poor figure at your grand we'd
dings. Only l hope that you have
chosen WE'LL"
"There can be no doubt at all about
that,p said Eunice, haughily II am
to marry Mr.. Lesderner, a broker.
and Nina is engaged to Mr.. Falconer,
gentleman Of independent wealth."
And l s'pose you'll have lots of
presents" said Mr., Dalton. "Silver
and gold and china fol.de rolls, and
goodness knows what all. Well, well,
| wish | had something to send you
that would be of use in your grand
way of living"
"YOur good wishes will be suffi-
cient, Uncle Nahum" said Eunice,
rather stiff1y.
"But I'll tell you" said the old
man, with Frightening face, "what
l have got. Your Aunt Rebecca's
receipt b0oks-that'S my wife, dead
and gone these ten years-and there
amt a better lot of receipts, not in
the whole state of fConnecticut. You'd
like that, girls, wouldn't YEP"
Eunice broke cut into a peal of
irresistible 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.
Its very kind of you to think of
it, uncle, Pm sure" said Nina, "and
whatever you send we shall accept
gratefully. Here comes papa now to
take you up 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 few days had elapsed when
tiddings came of the sudden death of
the kind old man.
Its very strange" said Matthew
Dalton, diSapp0intedIy, when the
legal statement of his brothers. none
tary affairs WAS laid before him. !
thought Nahum was worth more
money than that"
I'VE can't always Judge Ivy appear.
ances. sir, you KNOW" said the law
yer.
mo-" said Mr.. Dalton, coloring
aud looking somewhat uneasy, "you
are quite right there"
Two little leather-bound receipt
books, worn and greasy with age, and
bearing marks of frequent usage,
were found in Nahum DaIton's stain
ed pine desk. labeled respectively
with the names of his two nieces,
Eunice and Nina ITO be presented
upon their marriage"
"Fiddlesticks I" said Eunice, dis
dainfulIy, IL don't want the vulgar
old things"
"There," said Nina, softly, 81 will
keep them both for Uncle Nahum's
sake"
So, in spite of Eunice's sarcasm,
she put them carefully away among
her treasures.
"Wh0 knows hut what / may want
to make the real election cake one OF
these days ?" she said laughingly.
The double wedding came off gor-
geousIy at the Dalton mansion, hut
II proved to be the last glitter Of the
expiring torch of wealth. The cake,
all glitteriDg with its sugared fairies
aud pictured orange wreaths-the
bridal bouquet very band'which
discOursed sweet music to the we'd
ding guests-were obtained on credit
and not one of the luckless trades
people were paid.
For the next day Matthew Dalton's
entire and total failure was ringing
over all the town, and with this was
also involved the ultimate ruin of his
son in-law, Herbert Leederner.
From a suit Of elegant apartments
at the st. Saffron Hotel, Mr.. Lesder-
ner descended to a second floor in a
respectable tenement house, and
,x.,,n H.. .,,oa.....u, o.A x,,.,.I