Wichita eagle., 1888-02-05
UNCLE OR NEPHEW.

l.
Allowing for disparity of years Godfrey
Middleton. nephew, was as like in person to
Geof1rey Middleton, uncle, as he was in name
and nature.
The two were the last representatives OF
their race, Middletons, of Middleton Castle,
and strangers VINO saw them together were
sure 10 fancy them father and son until in
formed TO the contrary. They were both
tall, thin and MISUNDERSTANDING in their
degree the arrogant Lancashire proverb
which aftirns that 'the south grows trees,
the north grows men," Their features were
rugged and boldly defined, speaking, without
words, of force of character and vitality OK
will. None could look either uncle or nephew
In the face--as they looked their neighbors--
and read weakness there But the nephew,
as became stalwart seven-and-twenty, had
pretensions TO be described as handsome
upon the family pattern, which his kins-
man lacked.
As has been limited, the physical resem-
blance was supplemented by analogy Of tenn
per. Each was stiff, reticent. locked in the
prison house Of a natural hauteur and capa-
bic of a smoldering, dangerous resentment.
And in the case of old Godfrey these at
tributes had Of late come every one into
play In his own fashion he was showing
his extreme disapproval of the sayings and
dOingS of his heir, now on a visit to Elgn
house, Seton Park.
The prosperous Liverpool shipbroker saw
the maxims of his life, those rules of caution
and exactness by which he had built up a
house the envy of thousand rivals, appar-
emily set at naught by a harum-scarum
young surgeon He had wanted young
Godfrey to come into the office, and, mis-
liking the outlook of perpetual quill driving
and equally systematic supervision, Geoffrey
refused. This was first offense, and il had
been condoncd. Funds were found to edu-
cate the refractory one for the profession he
selected; and later, TO purchase for him
share in a practice where he might still he
under his unclc's eve. Fairly launched thus,
young Godfrey had incontinently exchanged
with dissatisfied brother of the scalpel
located at York. The score against him on
his unclc's tablets of memory was herewith
doubled
And after many days he had come back in
anything but the prodigals role of hui
mility and contrition, though the main pur-
pose of his cross country journey seemed
TO be 20 invite extrication from a financial
difficulty.
Its an awful nuisance, Of course, I'm dis
gusted with myself az having to come TO you
on such an errand, sir. But never dreamed
that it would turn out more than what Ar
buthnot called it-'a mere form,'" he said
"And after all ] suppose it's l that will be
the loser in the long run"
Whether young Geoffrey's native talents
were few or many, that of diplomacy was
not among them If it had been, he would
instincrively have avoided at this juncture
the remoteSt reference to his uUcle's we'll IN
derstood intentions concerning the ultimate
disposition of his wealth. 1t was inevitable
that such an allusioj. must under the crcum-
stances, CRATE upon the listeners ear.
III reality IL stimulated old Geoffrey's
anger to perilous pitch. The shipbroker's
brow was furrowed like warped plank of
one Of his own vessels, the cold gray eyes
scintllatej with scorn. the lines deepened and
grew rigid at the corners of the iniiexible
mouth. Yet the bride was upon his tongue
he was never the man to handy futile re-
proaches reveal the depth Of his indigna-
ton in scathing, impetuous speech The pas
sion of his wrath found its familiar outlet
sarcasm.
=
YES, it is you who viii be the
sufferer. There cannot he n doubt of that.
And 1 quite acquit you of intending to sub
init me to this triRing annoyance-the figures
you mentioned were e 800, Think
Young Godfrey writhed upon his chair
and felt uncommonly hot, although he was
sitting at an open window with the June
breeze tanning him Foolish lie might be, a
wit to see his error after committing it--no
great thing, perhaps, TO say in his favor, and
no unusual phenomenon And he
both the storm signals on his
uncle's countenance and the irony of the olo
mans tone and words. Yet such was thu
turn of his own mental and moral idiosyr.
crasies that no made no pretense of apology,
but frightened his lips and replied to the sill
perfiuous query in accents equally frigid and
calm.
'Yes-rather more, in fact; fifteen hun
dred and eighty"
"And YOU expect me 10 find you this Sum!' |
"To whom else shall | apply, sirg | have /
no other resource. Ii my father were living !
it would be different. Bat you've stood in
the place of both parents to me for many
year. And this is how | repay you!"
IL was a sudden climax, and not the less a
stroke of happy augury. If the young sur !
geon had paused there. there might be no /
story TO tell. His spasrn Of emotion, his re- /
genuine if destined 10 be short /
lived. had favorably affected old Godfrey,
who loved his adopted boy with every fault /
1pon bis head.
But surely some mischievous Sprite must /
have stood at young Geoffrey's elbow and /
have dictated new words of strife
And you can punish me, sir, by leaving ,
as much more away to the Office boy, If You
ike. l rather wish you would,r he fatuously /
added, as the lull grew harassing.
He had whistled for the wind, and the
tempest was his reward, if such an epithat
nay properly be applied to the measured and
condemnation to which he was
to attend.
you are still harpiug on thu same cheer
iul string" said old Godfrey, with bland
yet bitter smile upon his FACET was as
hough patience should smile at the futiIity
II her own forbearancs-''I leave you 10 de-
jermine whether there is not after all the
| only venture To say the
,hance--of another flaw in your calculations. /
on appear TO have made one in RELYING
lpon your friend Nj. Arbuthnot's honor,
md backing the bill which he cleverly leaves
-ou to pay. Very possibly he, 100, is aware
ii Your great expectations Or ii may even
20 planned business between YOU
"Sir!-uncle.' The victim of this dubious
money transaction sprang to his feet.
'Sit down" said the other dryly; Its not
he Middleton way to go pop like ginger
,eer bottle because shaken by a mere per-
,sps'
Young Geoffrey resumed his seat and Bit