Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-18

suemp cuofactcT WOuio 0Atv ocassss~
she had cause for her fears. The
young man had already gone away,
sadly telling himself that Nab did not
care for him In the least; that be had
laid his honest heart u her feet only TO
have II trampled upon.
"lf she does nos come shall know
what to think" be had said 10 himself.
rather bitterly, when she had hidden
him laughing goodbye. But In oil
this be wronged her, for Nab was Is
true and faithful . little soul IS ever
breatbed.
Mabel thought her ill-luck had
reached its climax when her Uncle
Powell was announced.
None Of the girls cared for their I'm
Gle Powell's visits. lie was not cx'
cessiyely rich like their Aunt Selma.
from whom they had goodly expecta'
,ions. so no one expected them to keep
| him in good humor and though he
was Mr.. Temp]eton's hslf-brother, no
two men could be more unlike. lie
vas q small, wiry man, with . precise,
methodical voice, and manner that
was somewhat dry and caustic, and
which did not inspire his young rela-
tons with much affection, though they
certainly had no reason to dislike him,
| for be was good to them in his own way
and according ohis lights. Like many
other elderly people, his heart was a
great deal softer than his words.
He looked at Nab rather sharply as
be entered-the little girls red eyes and
pale cheeks did not escape him-but he
asked no questions, LEAVING Nab to ex-
plain rather lamely the reason for her
| solitude.
$50 they have left you all alone" be
remarked CURLY. "That is rather dull
at your sge, Ell? Doyou mean to allow
| yourself any dinner, Miss Housekeeper,
and do you think you could spare me q
little?-for / have been about town all
day, and am almost famished."
Nab replied, little reluctantly, that
she would 60 and see. Oh, yes, she
was sure there was enough for both.
Pauline was never stingy in her
minoqe but as she accomplished her
errand her conscience pricked her for
want Of ready hospitality.
What if she were unhappy? Other
people must have their dinners. Uncle
Powell was an old man-old. very old,
quite fifty .five, and he looked tired
and in spite Of Violet's sarcasms abo1t
his old.fashioned whiskers and the
ridiculous cut Of his waistcoats he had
always been kind to her, bringing her
little presents, and showing her little
attentions. lie would do it rather
awkwardly, and his voice would be a
little gruff; but, after all, it is not
every one who has pleasant manner.
These reflections were so salutary
that Nab tripped upstairs, bathed her
aching head with eau.de- Cologna, put
on her fresh white gown, though she
had only an old uncle for her ris-a-ris,
and putting away her sad thoughts with
a brave effort she set herself to enter
tain the unwelcome guest.
Now, the dinner was very good, and
Mr.. Templeton's claret was excellent,
and Nab made the prettiest little hostess
possible, in spite of those tell-tale traces
on her eyelids and, as the soft, child
ish eyes raised themselves to his face
with that pathetic, panied look in them,
something seemed to tug at Uncle Pow
ellis heart-strings.
L" You were not quite happy, my
dear little girl?" be said at last, in the
kindest possible voice. "Tell me all
about it NAB"
And then, with some difficulty, he
drew the whole story from her; only,
Of course, the Beauchamp part was sup
pressed, for there are some things that
cannot be told even to the kindest I'M
Gle.
The summer twilight was stealing
through the room, and Uncle Poweil's
face was in shadow as he listened to
Mab's artless narrative. When she had
finished-and be had not interrupted
her by a single murmur-he seemed
revolving the whole matter carefully in
his mind, for it was some minutes be-
fore he gave vent to his thoughts.
Humph just like your Aunt Sc
lima A selfish, worldly woman-as l
have always tcld Ralph. And pray
what harm would it have done her to
have taken you as we'll? I'll be bound
Pauline and Violet backed her up in
her selfshness-girls are so inconside-
rate. hate such stuck.up doings."
Nab began to cry.
Never mind, Nab! You shall not
spoil your pretty eyes while you have
your uncle to protect you. You have
been a good girl this evening, and you
shall not miss your treat. We will do
them finely, Nab, and Owen shall help
us. They are at the Randolph, you
say? Very well, will telegraph for
rooms at the Mitre. You just 60 and
pack up your fineries, and we will 60
down by the same train tomorrow.
"Uncle Oh, Uncle! !" Nab could
hardly bring out the exclamation, she
was SO breathless. "Oh, Uncle, what
do you mean?"
~ mean just what l say, and say
what l mean. And / will come and
fetch you tomorrow, as sure as my
name is Anthony Powell"
"But, Uncle" stammered poor Nab
flushing and paling by turns; Papa
and Pauline-what will they Say when
they see me? Pauline will be so an
cry, and Violet will laugh. and be sar-
CASTLE"
"Let them taught" returned Uncle
Powell, shortly. "Bless me, Nab
little testily-"I suppose may give
my niece treat il like. Your father
and l will make that all right, so the
women need not interfere. II Pauline
speaks to me l shall tell her my mind
pretty plainly, SO put all this nonsense
out Of your head. / want to see OK
ford and SO do you, so we will just
have our little trip together"
Mab's only answer to this was to
throw her arms round his neck and
kiss him, as certainly she had never
kissed him in her life. Perhaps Mab's
cheek was little wet. Uncle Powell
cleared his throat rather huskily after