Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-05

! L OIt4AlcTO.S tenant Ir0In the following
Monday at the large rent Of five pounds
| ten per month.
CHAPTER "A HIGHLAND LADDIE.
Uncle Sandy lost 10 time in shifting his
quarters.
| Early in the forenoon of the day on which
| his week in the Camden Town lodgings
| ended, he appeared at WestboUrne Villas
| with all his effects
| 1t was . curious collection-a battered
| leather portmantea1 a couple Of cushions
| strapped on top CT it; a tin box bursting
| with the number of medicine bottles, To-
/ lions, and embrocGtons crammad into it;
! a large. untidv parcel Of books tied with
many pieces of Irvine knotted together;
and one ineXpicable item-a large, wide
mouthed, brown earthen jar, square of
| canvas fastened carefully over the orifice.
These-a spare umbrella and two walking
| sticks Of different thickness-were care
| fully transferred 10 his apartments.
Mona and madame had endeavOred to
make them look Rcat and cheerful, had
contributed some flowers aad q growing
fern to the decoration Of the sittfng-room,
and flattered themselves that Mr. Craig
would be charmed with the attention
'Ahp' he groaned-a cultural T. 'ah"-
dropping into chair as soon as he had
mounted to his rooms. Its anawfu' way
up! l was better on the ground-fioor in
yon house"
ooh, I hope you won'tregret the changed"
said Nine. Debrisay, politely You viii
not WanC to go up or down stairs much;
and you see the folding 4 ~s to your
chdmbre q cO1tchcr make ii MS I'D airy. -
n v-vi.. sST
dinna understand foreign languages.
Your bedroom. You see, my dear sir,
I am half French, and the language I have
been so long accustomed to slips out now
and then"
Uncle Sandy gave an inaCticulate grunt
in reply to this explanation.
would you Like any refreshments"
| asked Nine. Debrlsay.
"Weel, l might take biscuit and glass
| OF apollonaris water"
Water alone, my dear sir? VIII you
not put something in to qualify it?"
81 am temperance man. you see; but
the doctors say L ought to take a drap
whisky for my stomach's sake"
81 am so sorry! bat we have not such a
thing in the house! viii send Jane for
some'
London whiskyr' cried Uncle Sandy,
very audibly; adding, with pious earnest
ness, ''God forbidr' Then rising, he clutch.
ed Mona's arm with one hand and his
stick with the other 81 have drappie in
my portmantle, and I'll just get it,"
"Can get it for you, uncle?"
"Nawp' very decidedly. 81 never give
my keys to anyone!"
With many groans he bent his knees,
leaning heavily on Mona-for the port
manteau had been placed on the floor-and
managed to unlock IL. Mona had stepped
back as soon as he let her go, lest he should
think her inquisitive; but the heavy lid
was too much for him.
"Why don't ye give me han':" he asked
ENORMOUSLY.
Mona came to his assistance, and the ex-
ceeding1y mixed contents of the portman-
teau were displayed to view.
Uncle Sandy pitched out trousers and
waistcoats and socks recklessly till he
reached the layer where the whisky-bottle
was embedded; he handed it to his niece,
and, having thrust his garments in again,
locked the receptacle; and, rising with the
help of Madame and Mona. tumbled into
his chair again, with many EXPLANATIONS
of pain The desired refreshment was
procured, and then Mona proposed that he
should have the newspaper, and rest till
dinner.
''Ayr' said Uncle Sandy "that'll do fine
I am just awful weary. Are ye going to
give me a bite the day, as there is nothing
preparit?"
"Certainly!'' said Mona.
cit was our intention to beg the pleasure
Of your company" said Nine. Debrisay.
''Then Pll come It's a pity l have to
gang downstairs; but it Gamma be helpitp'
From the date OF Uncle Sandy's settle
ment the partners felt that the freedom of
their holiday was over He unhesitatngly
claimed constant help and attention.
Moreover, he caviled at the price paid for
everything they bought; and many were
the commissions he gave both.
Still Nine. Debrisay chung to the idea
that he was millionaire, though she care
fully kept her impression to herself.
With all his peculiarities, there was a
certain originality in Uncle Sandy which
attracted Mona. Although his ideas of
expenditure were narrow, he was rigid in
paying whatever he believed he ought to
pay. Nor was he conscious of eXacting
more than he gave. Still, his recognition
of the rights of others was by no means so
clear as his perception of his own. But
what attracted his niece most was his
strong liking for herself.
The fact of her having red hair. as he
considered it, seemed to be one of Mona's
strongest claims upon his affections. 1t
appeared to be kind of proof positive that
she belonged to him.
Naturally the holiday enjoyments Of the
two friends were considerably curtailed by
the presence of Uncle Sandy. Still they
contrived to spend two or three TRANQUILITY
pleasant days at Hampton Court, Rich
mond, and other suburban places of re-
sort, though Uncle Sandy grumbled good
deal at being left alone.
The six weeks of vacation passed swiftly
withal
The autumn was exceptionally fine after
| a wet summer, and pupils prolonged their
absence from town. October was half
| over, and Nine. Debrisay was again in
harness. Mona, too. had resumed work,
and on the first evening of her return, she
found her uncle sitting over the fire, hic
feet on hassock placed inside the fender.
"Come your ways" he cried. ''The sight
of you is good for sair cen nowadays!
Have We had your bite, Ayr Then we'll
have good spell o. the papers before bed
| time. But, first, there's bit note / want
20 write to a laddie have neglected in a
way-my sisters son, Kenneth Macalister.
He is in an office in the city-a big place
doin' well. believe"
"a nephew of yours?"
Gay, a nephew" Che pronounced it may
few'' HE used to come and see me there
| in Camden Town. But he and Jamie
Black-the lad L shared the lodging with
I1sad To make q noise and arOIle and pn