West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-05-21
MY UNCLE'S HOBBY.
A Tale of Science, Love and I'm
ported Imagination.

Reginald" said my uncle, one
morning after breakfast, Rose dag
incourt is coming to stay with us to-
morrow
| suppose that most young fellows.
shut up in dull country house, with
no companions except scientific uncle
and faded aunt. would have been pos
sessed by extravaganza delight upon
hearing of the approaching visit of a
bright Devonshire maiden. You will
begin to understand the unnaturalness
OF my position when | tell you that |
was not. At my uncle's announce
ment my heart sank like lead. The
lear OF his hobby was upon me.
Her father was fine kniphtlv
soul, continued my uncle. land her
mother was distinctly a clever woman
General dAgincourt, her uncle. was
the handsomest man / ever saw. am
inclined TO waive certain ancestor in
the maternal line, who is reported to
nave been a Valetudinarian and bore;
and as TO Miss d 'Agincourt's great
aunt, Lady Somers, who was undoubt-
eddy creature of weak intellect. there
IS trustworthy tradition of fall in
the nursery, which will dispose of the
supposition of any hereditary faint
These remarks of my uncle terrified
me. waited anxiously, but L knew
what was coming Taking his pipe
from his lips with that meditative Gest-
ure which / knew so well, he pro-
ceeded:
My researches into the life history
of the family have been, upon the
whole, satisfactory. / now propose to
devote seven days to the analysis of the
young lady herself. At the end of a
week, If the result of my observations
points in that direction, | shall ask YOU
TO propose to her"
expected the blow. but it staggered
me nevertheless. Argument, | knew.
would be worse than useless
But what is she like, uncle?n /
asked.
she will be, as far as can Judge
from my present data, of the synthetic
order of mind. That is my hone.
What you want in a wife, my dear boy.
is synthesis. You're so coflfoundedlv
analytical; you haven't spark OF
imagination in your whole compost
ton That was your poor mother
fault"
But, uncle, meant what is she Ike
personality
Shell be handsome enough for Won.
YOU young rogue. I'll be bound. But
you II judge for yourself tomorrow.
You can take the dog cart down to
Crompton station 10 meet the five
o'clock train. To-day is Thursday: on
saturday week l will tell YOU if Won
may propose to her
My uncle beamed benignantly, and
s'rolled into the garden.
/ loved no one in the world better
than loved my uncle. the kind old
guardian Of my boyhood, but ever
since had arrived at man estate
lived in dread Of his hobby. / was
convinced of sneakiag tendency to
the romantic in my own disposition
which would harmonic i'll with his
scientific plans for my future. and
shrank from the trouble which
thought was sure 10 come between us
when the time came for the practical
working out Of his theories. 10 listen
and assent to his learned dissertations
upon heredity was one thing: to marry
girl because the match would dove
tail with bis principles was quite
another. As ] drove down 10 Cromp-
ton the next day, / felt that had al
ready conceived deep aversion for
this young lady who had been selected
a~ q fitting complement to my ex-
i-tence
This feeling lasted for half an hour.
a soon - the train arrived and Miss
d'Agincourt stepped from her carriage.
began 20 relent when I had intro
duced myself, and heard the music Of
her replie-e ] began 10 ike her. and
when ] handed her into the dog cart. !
was in love with her The rapidity of
my subsection amazed me. foralthough
had always protested 10 believe iu
love no first sight. had never acfuslI,
rsaIIcd the possibility Of such an
c'cnt happening 90 myself But now
felt like q newly awakened Cymou.
my soul suddenly expanded with the
most delicious sensations ] had ever
experienced j can not describe her.
never could understand how any one
dare attempt 20 reproduce in words the
nameless grace Of womanhood In
deed, % make an inventory Of her
charms would be misleading. for 60
was not the aggregate sum Of her at
fractions which rendered her 80 fasci-
mating, but rather the ever shifting
play and variety Of their combinations
ln word. she was tno most winning
young woman ! had ever SEEM
My dear uncle welcomed her with
bis usual kiudlincss, mingled with 70
critical admiratiOn delightful .o be-
hold. His hobby had never produced
such fruit beforei He was very af-
tentive 20 her during the evening. and
indeed moDopOllzed 30 much of her
conversation thag could not help feel