Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-04-28

that was somewhat dry and caustlc, and
which did not inspire his young relations
with much affection, though they certainly
had no reason to dislike him, for he was
good to them in his own way and according
to his lights. Like many other elderly
people, his heart was great deal softer
than his words. ~
lie looked at Nab rather sharply as he
entered-the little girls red eyes and pale
cheeks did not escape him-but he asked
40 questions, leaving Nab to explain rather
lamely the reason for her solitude.
$50 they have left you all alone, )" he re-
| marked curtly. "That is rather dull at
your age, eh Do you mean to allow
yourself any dinner, Miss Housekeeper,
and do you think you could spare me a
little ?-for | have been about town all day,
and am almost furnished"
Mabel replied, a little reluctantly, that
she would go and see. Oh, yes, she was
was never stingy in her naenage; but as she
accomplished her errand her conscience
pricked her for want of ready hospitality.
What if she were unhappy? Other peo-
pie must have their dinners. Uncle PoTe.l
was an old man-old, very old, quite fifty
five, and he looked tired-and in spite OF
Violet's sarcasms about his old fashioned
whiskefs and the ridiculous cut of his
| waistcoasts he had always been kind 20
her, bringing her little presents, and show
ing her little attentions. He 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- Cologne, put on her fresh
white COWS, though she had only an .old
| uncle for her Uis 0-Uis, and putting away
her sad thoughts with brave effort she
set herself to entertain the unwelcome
guest.
Now, the dinner was very good, and
Mr.. Templeton's claret was excellent, and
Nab made the prettiest little hostess pos
sible, in spite of those tell-tale traces on
her eyelids; and, as the soft, childish eyes
raised themselves to his faca with that
pathetic, panied look in them, something
seemed to tug at Uncle Powell's heart
strings.
"You are not quite happy, my dear little
girl ?'' he said at last, in the kindest pos
sible voice. "Tell me all about it, Nab. y
And then, with some difficulty, he drew
the whole story from her; only, Of course,
the Beauchamp part was suppressed, for
there are some things that cannot be told
even to the kindest uncle.
The summer twilight was stealing
through the room, and Uncle Pow
ellis face was in q shadow as he listened to
Mab's artless narrative. When she had
finished-and he had not interrupted her
by single murmur-he seemed revolving
the whole matter carefully in his mind, for
it was some minutes before he gave vent
to his thoughts.
"Humph just like your Aunt Selma !
4 selfish, worldly woman-as have always
told Ralph. And pray what harm would
it have done her to have taken you as
well? I'll be bound Pauline au Violet
backed her up in her selfshness-girls are
SO inconsiderate. 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 yoa shall not miss
your treat We will do them finely, Nab,
and Owen shall help u.s. They are at the
Randolph, you say? Very well, l will
telegraph for rooms at the Mitre. You just
go and pack up your fineries, and We will
go down BY the same train Tomorrow"
'sUnc!e 'Oh, Uncle l'' Nab e3uid Sid
ly bring out the exclamation, she was SO
breathless. ooh. Uncle, what do you
mean?"
81 mean just what say, and say what l
mean. And / will come and fetch you to-
morrow. 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 angry, and Vio-
let will laugh and be sarcastic"
'Let them laugh !'' returned Uncle Pow
ell, shortly. ''Bless me- Mab''-a little
testily-'1 suppose I may give my niece a
treat if | like. Your father and | will make
that all right, so the women need not in
terfere. If Pauline speaks to me shall tell
her my mind pretty plainly, so put all this
nonsense out of your head. want to see
Oxford 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 Alab's cheek was little
wet. Uncle Powell cleared his throat
rather huskily after that, and he even
stroked her hair as he bade her good night.
1t was a radiant Nab who was Watching
for Uncle Powell next morning as he drove
up with his portmanteau. The passengers
on the Paddington platform looked half
curiously and half-admiringly at the bright
face peeping out from the pretty shady hat
No little brook purled faster than Nab
talked all the way to Oxford.
But she grew more sober when they
reached their destination. AS no one ex-
pected them, there was no one, Of course,
to meet them at the station. Nab, who
was yearning for sight of Ovens bright,
boyish face, felt unreasonably damped at
this And there was further disappont-
ment in store for her, for when, after
luncheon, they went straight to Magdalen
in search of him, the young underg raduate's
rooms were empty.
ooh, l forgot,' exclaimed Nab, with
sad droop of her lip; sit is the aower-show
at Worcester, and Of course he has taken
them there"
"Never mind; we will charter fly and
follow them," returned Uncle Powell,
briskly, not liking to see the cloud on the
girls face; but she bowed her head discon-
solately at this.
''We have no tickets; we should not be
admitted: all that has to be arranged be-
forehand."
Anu etiou ouo odlu, Will du 0iiOit, Ulie
very sweetly:
',Never mind, dear Uncle, we shall find
Owen by and by; and I am glad to see his
rooms How pretty and cosey he has made
them The scout says he is expecting
some people to tea. Do you think" rath-
er timidly, shat we might walk about a
little, and come back later on p -
And as Uncle Powell pronounced this an
excellent idea, Nab adjusted her hat, and
they sauntered out together, turning their
steps in the direction of Addison's Walk
The Templeton girls were not enjoying
themselves this afternoon. In the first
place it was rather hot, and Aunt Selma
was rather tired. Then Owen was in one
Of his sulky moods, and had not offered to
introduce any of his friends. He had turn
ed crusty from the moment he had met
them at the station and found Nab was not
with them.
"What shame, leaving that poor little
thing alone at home p he had blurted out.
81 call that confoundedly hard Of you
women y
"Hush Aunt Selma will hear you ~
demonstrated Violet, rather alarmed at this
tragical vehemence
81 don't care who hears me p retorted