The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-05-02
JACKS UNCLE.

--4.ae Car
JACKS UNCLE.
oll Josiah Flegg was by no means at
tacisei 70 his nep.seM Jack. The fact was
thai. as the sole trustee and executor Of
his late broilers Will, Josiah had been
accustomed for many years 10 bully the
lads Sidowed mother, and hal rendered
the poor uoalan's ife :. burden 10 her by
tyEanEoas interference and uncalied far
criticism But when JACK Fiesg. aho
Esss lie Ridoas eldest soa, beeau,c Odd
enouzh to realize the position Of affairs,
he maaifesieda defiant and somewhat re-
bellious spirit toward ilis uncle, and chain-
f,ioBed ms inoiller's cause with more zeal
;ban discretion.
The result was that IL the course Of
tinie old Josiah discovered that his A.
cendency over his ssster-in-iaw had cess-
ei, that as nephews and nieoes would
Eot brook his interference or listen TO
his lectures and that, though welcomed
with re>lecI ia his late brothers house,
le was regarded much in the same li-hi
- an ordinary visitor-or. Al least, - an
unc.e and guardian, who had 10 particu-
lar oi4ims either TO reverence or aifec-
ton.
THIS VAS very painful to Mr. Josiah
Fiesg's feeling, foT, being pompogs.
sane;inonioils old humbaz, he consider
Cd that he sas tie benefactor Of his de-
ceased brothers family. ilsos,-h he wouli
have found II difficult 10 justify his pre-
tensions Regardless OF his being rich
bachelor. he was quite Incapable OF any
act Of kindness or generosity, and the
general inpsessicn that his nieces and
nephews xere more or less dependent on
bis l-sonsy Frs,s entirety erroneous, s.seirc
thai the income which he grudgingiy
sioled oG: 10 them was really derived
from the proceeds Of his late brothers
estate.
II : not surprising under these eicum-
stances that Old josiah, being as viadici-
I've Is be vas easily cowed. refused to
lift finger to assist in giving Jack a
s.aEt IN lie, and he WAS secretly dislp-
+ pointed when the lad not only succeeded
IN obtaining 4 situation for himself in
the eity, bat that he oren contriyed to
keep II
Nevertheless. the aIniable old gentle
man INDUCED himself IN the cheerful
conviction tilst his nephew was worth
less ielioK, and he experienced a thrill
I Of satisfaction when Jack burst into his
I Office ore afternoon, locking 80 agiizted
and anxious that it wAs evident at
F glance that something serious had hap
pened.
Can yoa give ne ive Minutes. un-
Gle q inquired his nepheR. in a
much more aeferential tone tnan Wa
usual.
Wei, wei. what i the IDa;ter2- in
/ quired Oh josiah, quickly.
! Uncle JOSIAH, / have come to make an
4 appeal 10 your generosity and kindness
Z I ana afraid thai have been. perhaps.
sometimes not guite-Well, a. respectful
+ as might have been. don't yoa know
Z. Bat hope you VII forgive and FORGET all
that Was much younger then. you
kaow. and my mothers health 5 50 bad
4 that really felt bound to stand Up for
+ her
Jack Flegs delivered tliis speech in
I sE.h an eager, breaihless, and ineoheTeIlt
manner, 80 unlike bis usual calm de-
/ nleanor. that q disinteresied observer
aoald Immediately have suspected the
cause Of his emotion There Was wiid-
ness abont the ri Of his necktse and a
general disregard Of appearances in his
dress which are sure tokens Of IoTe SEX
ness Bot old Josiah. 30: l,eias secus-
{ toa.,1 70 interpret these tender sigas, and
being. moreover. of an uRseniiInenial
nature, could ar,ge at 10 other conclu-
son than that MS nephew was inioxica-
ted
go on. SIR 20 on. You have come 70
say thai yen have lost your situation,
suispose." he said. siernly.
~OA. no. answered JACK. With such
an easy assurance that his aBele's heart
saak, nothing Of the kind In fact.
! sisould get : raise nsxt year If should
stay.
If you should stay? Aren't you
going 10 stay, then - be inquired,
anxiorzly.
That depends upon you, uncle said
Jack, very humbly. The fac, Is. that !
have no rhsnce OF making anything Of
an income fo- years TO come In time. 10
doubt. ! should obtain decent position.
F. but that xill noi be for years 10 come
naia too late. in aact.T
Too la:e for WHAT inquired cd Je-
siah. more convinced than ever that his
nephew WIS intoxicated.
Il am coming TO thai. uncle Josiah.
! The truth Is. said Jack, looking into the
eEoxn II h.s hat and eyiaeihg either
symptoms Of embarrassment, the truth
isl am engaged"
~whew that's il, Is Il, - said old Jo-
siah. with au nneongenial laugh
Yes Itisn't that I'm in such a tear
irg hurry 70 get married said Jack, ca
gerry !; am quite prepared to wait a
reasonable time, ans. 20 i Lonise- BIZ;
hardly ike to ge 10 her father unless /
can show him some better prospect than
have at present Of being to support
3 xifa-v
And no wonder ssseersngly remark
ed old Josiah, who thoroughly enjoyed
the youtf's evident coafasion-
What came then 70 ask you, uncle
Jeeiah,T said JACK. rousing himself, was