The Opelousas courier., 1888-02-04
Uncle Rudo,ph's Choice.

It was a bitter cold night in Febru-
airy, snow lying high he ped along the
villa &c street and icicles tinkling in the
bleak wind at every gust that swept
through the boughs Of the old cherry
tree in front of our door, while a full
moon, shining in the frozen dome of
heaven, made the outer world look even
more frigid than its actual reality.
The little clock on the mantel-an
ancient, japannel toy, that had once be-
Iongcd to our great-grandmother-for
we had ancestors, although we were
poverty-striken enough now-had just
chimed eight, the faded moreen window
curtains were closely drawn and we
were all three of us sitting around the
dining-room fire (our parlor was only
warmed on state occasions), trying to
keep up the c~aloric, when mamma came
in, holding a newly-opened letter, and
with a sort of scared look on her face.
"Another unpaid bill, mammla' said
|, but she pail no attention to me-.
"Girls,' said she, 1--WE got a letter
from Uncle Rudolph. AND he's coming
to visit u.s."
I jumped up and clapped my hands.
Splendid cried I. 81 should be
thankful for anything to rouse US up,
wen if it were an earthquake!"
Philippe Jour beauty contracted her
dark eyebrows,
.oh, dear Y eri@ she, 9ehat a pity it
is VIC haven't got those new Turkey red
curtains, for the best bedroom"
etNot a decent new dress among the
lot of u.s. groaned Laura. mamma,
when is he coming2'
ANow. Tonight. Probably within
an hour |
.Gnl my goodness" said Philippe,
jumping up. Light q fire in the best
parlor, Laura. Polly to mc, .get down
The Powered china teapot at ONCE.
Mamma, / think you'd better open a a
Of Holsters, and
"Quite unnecessary-auite unneces-
sary,' 4 spoke up gruf voice, just back
IF mammals shoulder, and then we all
became conscious Of q roLnd, red face,
like a full harvest moon, a pair Of leg-of-
mutton whiskers, and d head as bald
aud smooth and polished as the bali Of
vegetable ivory on the parlor mantel.
ssUncle Rudolph we cried in chorus.
Yes, I said Uncle Rudolph, begin
ming to unroll about six yardsof spotted
red mufIer from around his neck.
aCame By the evening train. All
want il sight of the fire and an old
fashioned bowl Of your mothers tea.
SO you are my three @nieces, eh2 Come
and kiss me.
And this was the of-hand manner in
which we became acquainted with the
rich and eccentric uncle we hadhitherto
only known by reputation.
We had lived in ~sibleyville all our
lives, and Uncle Rudolph had been .
wanderer over the face Of the globe
far-of and distinguished individual, d
whom our mother had spoken reveren-
| tally. al people will speak Of their rich
relations.
"A pretty good-looking set OF you, 7
remarked Uncle Rudolph, as he viewed
us over the edge Of his tea-cup. Let
me ice think I've got your identity
pretty well decided III my mind. This
is Philippe, the beauty; this is Laura,
tie literary one, and this, with d kindly
touch Of my eurls. s.is Polly, the oas
chat has no particular vocation. ana con
sequently i set to doing everything.
Well, girls, i've brought yon each 4 pres.
| emit.
Plilipna's imagination, 30 she after
ward told me, jumped At onco Il
diamonds. Uncle Rudolph might havi
strung Us 81 over with precious jewels
and never missed ii out of his wealth,
Laura thought, vaguely, Of i new set b
parlor furniture; 4 hoped Il might be
black silk dress for each q Is, not farl
getting rnaflmas whose Sunday gow
was positively shabby.
But Uncle Rudolphs next words dis
PEELED tie illusion
HERDS Il 6fsy-dollar bill apiuce,
aid he; mind, now you spend i seq