The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-04-30
Woodbird vas not at ali Of an m,


Woodbird was not cit all OF an I'M
pleasant species of roet. He had not
been soured BIZ the vanity of human
wishes any more than ordinary people
who are unable to pen their aspira-
| tions. He did not seem at all addicted
| to incoming, but entered heartily into
every thing that was going forward,
and, when he saw how matters stood
between Rose and me, he most honor
ably refrained from any poaching upon
my preserves. So much was I pleased
with this delicacy that / resolved to
take him into my confidence. As be
was poet, a being of imagination all
compact, 7 he would doubtless be able
| to imagine some scheme for attacking
my uncle's hobby. I was not disap-
pointed. tits true that he embraced
the situation with an Olympiafl roar of
| laughter, which somewhat outraged
my sympathies, until remember the
privilege which superior men possess
of looking on the humorous side of
things. and / did not take offense. He
made very light of the hobby, and
promised me that my uncle should be
won over in few days.
ut is not the first time, he said,
s.that have done battle with the sub
jects of Queen Entelecheia, 'et militayi
non sine gloria. !"
The allusion to Rabelais was beyond
me, but had learnt enough Latin at
Elton to cOnstrue the quotation from
Horace, and felt much relieved at hav-
ing secured so excellent a champion.
What his plan of attack was he would
not tell me, and he made me promise
to leave every thing in his hands, and
to wait patiently until the enemy sur
rendered. / can not say that | waited
patiently, for | was burning with anx-
iety to know what would happen, but
| RETAINED from any interference. The
campaign was unexpectedly brief.
On the very day after my conversation
with Woodbird, whilst I was indulg-
ing my melancholy in the garden, /
saw my uncle coming towards me with
a glow OH his face that made my heart
leap.
Reginald, : he said, laying his hand
upon my shoulder, and speaking in an
excited way very different from his ha-
bitual manner, .go at once and ask
Rose to be your wife; she is in the con-
sevatory alone. Heaven grant that
she may say yes!h
What were my feelings do you think?
Oh, the JOY, the uncertainty, the de-
spondcncy! If she should refuse me?
All, now | began to see upon what
slight hopes I had built my foolish cas-
tie in the air! Never did man pre-
pare for a surgical operation certain TO
either kill or cure him with more pain
full emotions than went to put my
fate to the touch. How it all happened
| do not know. From the time at
which [ entered the conservatory to
the time when Rose and left it to-
gether swimming ina dream of mutual
happiness, can only remember dis
tinctly my words; do you care for
mcp" and her precious answer: Eyes. "
We went to my uncle, who blessed
us with tears in his eyes; there were
not three happier individuals in the
world, The afternoon glided away in
rapture. The hobby was forgotten;
and it was not until the evening that /
had any thought of gratitude to Wood
bird, or curiosity as to the reason of my
uncle's sudden change of front.
''You must give up writing poetry,
my dear, when you're married, said
my uncle to Rose, as we were taking
coffee in the drawing-room.
ooh, | could never write line of
poetry!' she answered, blushing. "Un-
cle-for must always call you uncle
| see [ must make a confession. Will
you ever forgive me? 1t was all Mr..
Woodbird' doing. Those verses which
| showed you this morning were never
written by poor me! Did you really
think that | could have written them?
1t was little conspiracy between Mr.
Woodbird and me. He wrote them for
the Grosvcaaor Magazine, and said he
wanted q perfectly unbiased opinion of
them, so promised to give them to you
without telling you who wrote them,
but pretending they were mine, as if [
could write poetry! And I didn't tell
you, Mr.. Woodbird, how pleased he
was with them. He said they actually
showed what was it, uncle?- 'sny-
thetic Imagination Oh, you dear
uncle, did you really think I had any
synthetic imagination?' Tn afraid
you will be so disappointed with me!''
So this was the secret of my uncle's
conversion! / looked at Woodbird,
who was sitting with acomical twinkle
in his eye, intensely rclishing the situa-
ton. AS for my uncle, his face was
study. A battle was going on in his
heart between the hobby and his afec-
ton for Rose and myself Science and
love together puckered up his face into
the most grotesque complex expression
of annoyance and satisfaction. But
his kindly nature proved too strong for
the resistance of his crotchets, and he
submitted. He rose from his seat, and,
going up to Rose, kissed her upon the
forehead and said
Il shall never be disappointed with
you, dear Rose. You have won my
heart, as we'll as Reginald's.'
And so the hobby was yanquished.
When I told Rose the whole story, she
was at first rather concerned at her in.
nocent part in the conspiracy; for it
appeared to her feminine sensitiveness
q cruel thing to deceive my uncle in
any thing, and she was not satisfied
until he had been Informed of Wood
birds wickedness. But my uncle was
so pleased with the result that he read
lily forgave the means by which it had
been obtained. Cur marriage took
place after short engagement, and
we have taken up our quarters not far
from my old home. We do not forget
when we are obliged to listen to tho
kind scientists discourses, which be-
come longer and more prosy as the
years press over his head, that we owe
all our happiness TO MY Uncle's Hob
by. j. Bitisoe, Ia Home Chimes.
WORDS OF WISDOM.
Every Man and Woman Would Do Well
to Remember
That opportunity is the cream OF